Punching Bag on Pages

Ethnography Essay on Tumblr/Fandoms

I'm just really proud of my latest English paper, I had to write an ethnography on a group of people (and observe them). My friend and I both chose Tumblr/Fandoms, but focused on different things.

It ended up being about 11 double-spaced pages, which it only needed to be five... whoops. I'm hoping to enlighten my male English teacher with the fangirl universe, "the feels", shipping, etc. I did cut out the stuff on Supernatural and Jensen Ackles (took up a little over 3 pages f.y.i.) because I'll blend it in with my future rants.

So, here we go!

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There exists a world, one that is far beyond the imagination of most. The species that lives in this world is known as the "fangirl." Instead of thriving on greed and hatred, like humans, this species thrives on fiction. Although most of this world's inhabitants are separated by distance, they are united through a unique array of emotions often referred to as "the feels." As a result of their highly unstable emotions, fans communicate with an almost indecipherable language. There is even distinction within the species, directing them into territories known as "fandoms." Together the fandoms must preserve their culture, and protect fiction from Queen Reality's oppressive policies. This is their story.

Shipping & Fanfiction

First, one of the most essential concepts in the fandom universe must be explained... a concept called "shipping". No, it's not the added fee you pay on a package. The price of this kind of shipping is your emotional stability. When a fan pairs two characters together romantically, it is called a ship. The names of those characters are then combined to make a title. For example, the most recognized ship in the Supernatural fandom is Destiel, Dean and Castiel. The fangirl will hopelessly wait for the relationship to be official, otherwise termed "canon". If others want Destiel to be canon as well, they will ship it. Thus, the phenomenon is used as a verb and noun. A fangirl only has one true pair, or OTP, in which their loyalty is attached to. As many ships sink, depression will settle in. However, a romance that finally blossoms brings the most joy. Fans love imagining the moment when their OTP may become canon. They create scenes based off of how that ship could develop on-screen, called a head canon. The two most common types of ships are gay ships, like Destiel, and straight ships.

One of my favorite qualities of fangirls is that they are more apt to accept someone of a different race, religion, or sexuality. The LGBT community is respected and defended in fandoms. I encounter people every day who really need someone to shake their shoulders shouting "Happiness is happiness, and love is love. Stop being ignorant and you may actually see how ludicrous your hatred is!" I think it's beautiful that fangirls can see love everywhere even though it's not officially there. On Tumblr's "Year in Review", the top twenty ships were posted. I printed the page at the end of this essay, but you'll notice that fifteen of the top twenty ships on Tumblr are gay. It's a perfect representation of the nature of fangirls. Some of the best fanfiction can recreate the special bonds between two characters. If you couldn't interpret what fanfiction means, it's fictional stories that are created by fans. Fanfiction is appealing because it expands on the original plot lines that we've already come to love, and explores different possibilities. For example, if someone's wife died in a random movie, a fanfiction may be written as if it never happened. The variety in fanfiction is listed at the end, for relevant reference. Popular websites that allow people to upload their own works are Wattpad and Archive of Our Own (AO3). Twist and Shout is a Destiel piece that is praised by thousands of fangirls for its ability to capture the true personalities of the Supernatural characters. This AU throws Dean and Cas back to life in the 1950's and 60's, an era that our generation has only heard about. The two authors who wrote Twist and Shout take the reader on a beautifully conveyed journey, where two men struggle to be together under the weight of society. It was a time when men prayed not to be drafted for the Vietnam War, and homosexuality was some sort of disease procured by Satan. I was truly heartbroken yet moved by this fanfiction, the best one I have ever read.