What I would like to ask these people is "how is any of this fun"? For me the baseline of fandom activity should be that's it's an enjoyable pastime, nothing about hunting down journalists online to threaten them seems like a relaxing way to spend one's free time. It's cruel. Is it an outlet for personal frustrations? Although I don't know how yelling online on behalf of a billionaire helps the person doing the yelling.
Honestly, I think the intimidation is fun for a lot of these fans. But I agree, it just feels like a really exhausting use of one's time. Then again, when I became a critic, I made the call to just sit out fandoms of all kind, if only to keep the borders clear between personal and professional.
oh jeez. A freelance journalist friend in the UK just gave a better review to the new Taylor Swift album than she gave to the new Ariana Grande album, and now the Arianators are deluging her with death and rape threats, also directed to her kids. It is absurd and terrible that this is a consequence of the job, and no journalist is paid enough for this shit either
I'm not one for the future dystopian society where all citizens are mind controlled, I used to think, but I am rapidly reaching the point where I think "fans" like this should be rounded up and put into de-programming camps. And until they can show they can handle themselves as adults and tell the difference between fantasy and reality, they should not regain their Internet priviliges.
"These multimillionaires are somehow simultaneously unimpeachable bad bitches and beleaguered underdogs" really says it all. Sorry you're dealing with this.
I feel like there’s something to be said about both the idea that consumption = personal identity + performing politics and the weird online performance of Being Cool what makes fans SO defensive. It feels like people are under the impression that if there’s ever any criticism of an artist or their work: a) Their tastes are Bad (or, god forbid, *cringe*) and b) their politics are aligned with this creator/art and if this art Is Bad, then their politics, and therefore they, Are Bad. It feels like people are in pursuit of being cool AND morally right, rather than dealing with the nuances of art and recognizing that (good) criticism usually is born from respect and also consuming “minimally problematic” art is not actually political engagement or proof of morality.
A lot of it feels very connected to the age-old "art versus artist" conversation. We're always trying to find ways to disentangle our hobbies and interests from the realities of human behaviour (and also capitalism!) It's easy to get into this rut of thinking that things are Good because you are Good. Frankly, it's easier than fully confronting one's own biases and trying to grow, which is a lifelong process with no simple binary of yes/no to follow.
I genuinely don’t get the desire so make demigods out of pop stars and swear never ending allegiance? Like, everyone is fallible? Especially in the celebrity bubble?
I have so many complicated thoughts about what this means for us as a society and our ability to connect and humanize. But for now…woof.
Honestly, that's a conversation deserving of a full-on thesis. There's a lot to dissect. Fandom and such interests can be comforting, creatively rejuvenating, inspire curiosity, etc, but for a lot of people, it's a way to invest too much of themselves into something. Yeah, I don't have the time or bandwidth to write that PhD!
Understanding that you did not write the review in question (what a bizarre thing to have to say, LOL), I don't understand why some supposed "fans" are so threatened by dissenting opinions that they have to respond with asinine comments. If I like something, I like something. If someone else doesn't share my opinion, that doesn't change how I feel whatsoever. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. But for someone to actually attack someone else for having a different opinion? That's just pure bullsh-t.
What I would like to ask these people is "how is any of this fun"? For me the baseline of fandom activity should be that's it's an enjoyable pastime, nothing about hunting down journalists online to threaten them seems like a relaxing way to spend one's free time. It's cruel. Is it an outlet for personal frustrations? Although I don't know how yelling online on behalf of a billionaire helps the person doing the yelling.
Honestly, I think the intimidation is fun for a lot of these fans. But I agree, it just feels like a really exhausting use of one's time. Then again, when I became a critic, I made the call to just sit out fandoms of all kind, if only to keep the borders clear between personal and professional.
oh jeez. A freelance journalist friend in the UK just gave a better review to the new Taylor Swift album than she gave to the new Ariana Grande album, and now the Arianators are deluging her with death and rape threats, also directed to her kids. It is absurd and terrible that this is a consequence of the job, and no journalist is paid enough for this shit either
Oh man, I'm sorry for your friend. There's not enough hazard pay in the world for this crap (not that any freelancer gets that. If only!)
I'm not one for the future dystopian society where all citizens are mind controlled, I used to think, but I am rapidly reaching the point where I think "fans" like this should be rounded up and put into de-programming camps. And until they can show they can handle themselves as adults and tell the difference between fantasy and reality, they should not regain their Internet priviliges.
Brilliant piece. Absolutely brilliant, and much needed commom-sense analysis.
"These multimillionaires are somehow simultaneously unimpeachable bad bitches and beleaguered underdogs" really says it all. Sorry you're dealing with this.
I feel like there’s something to be said about both the idea that consumption = personal identity + performing politics and the weird online performance of Being Cool what makes fans SO defensive. It feels like people are under the impression that if there’s ever any criticism of an artist or their work: a) Their tastes are Bad (or, god forbid, *cringe*) and b) their politics are aligned with this creator/art and if this art Is Bad, then their politics, and therefore they, Are Bad. It feels like people are in pursuit of being cool AND morally right, rather than dealing with the nuances of art and recognizing that (good) criticism usually is born from respect and also consuming “minimally problematic” art is not actually political engagement or proof of morality.
A lot of it feels very connected to the age-old "art versus artist" conversation. We're always trying to find ways to disentangle our hobbies and interests from the realities of human behaviour (and also capitalism!) It's easy to get into this rut of thinking that things are Good because you are Good. Frankly, it's easier than fully confronting one's own biases and trying to grow, which is a lifelong process with no simple binary of yes/no to follow.
I know this incredibly naive but …
I genuinely don’t get the desire so make demigods out of pop stars and swear never ending allegiance? Like, everyone is fallible? Especially in the celebrity bubble?
I have so many complicated thoughts about what this means for us as a society and our ability to connect and humanize. But for now…woof.
Honestly, that's a conversation deserving of a full-on thesis. There's a lot to dissect. Fandom and such interests can be comforting, creatively rejuvenating, inspire curiosity, etc, but for a lot of people, it's a way to invest too much of themselves into something. Yeah, I don't have the time or bandwidth to write that PhD!
Understanding that you did not write the review in question (what a bizarre thing to have to say, LOL), I don't understand why some supposed "fans" are so threatened by dissenting opinions that they have to respond with asinine comments. If I like something, I like something. If someone else doesn't share my opinion, that doesn't change how I feel whatsoever. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion. But for someone to actually attack someone else for having a different opinion? That's just pure bullsh-t.