Really enjoyed the discussion on fandom and politics here. When researching this book — https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/political-sign-9781501358104/ — in 2019, I spent a lot of time thinking about how both the Trump and Obama campaigns had, in their own way, differed from what had come before. Hadn't thought of the fandom angle before hearing this discussion, though, and it's a very resonant take on all of this.
I’ve been thinking over the past few days that the toxicity of toxic fandom is so multiplied, even reified, is that it is so relentlessly in our face all the time. I think it maybe starts with Trump’s adoption of WWE roles, memes, etc.; but it has spread like a potentially toxic ooze everywhere, even into the ways we think about business communications. The theme seems so often LOOK AT ME and everything else is decorative content 😳
Toxic fandom and Trumpsim arise from the same soil, a pursuit of 'purity.' The GOp was weakened to the point that a conman could take it over by the endless 'RINO' hunts and celebration after each not pure conservative was chased, like me, from the party. Without the various sects and cliques of the party to correct Trump was an inevitable conclusion. Toxic fans are the same, insisting that there is only ONE TRUE interpretation of the holy text.
Saw The Last Dance today (on IMAX) and was very entertained. It is not a bad movie. It's a movie that critics and ivory tower types who go on ad nauseum about the genius of Kubrick (his best movie was faking the moon landing) or Scorsese (great director but not a lot of laughs) who love to hate because it offends their belief in art. Okay I don't believe it either but leave it alone and accept if for what it is. Fun.
To answer your closing question about toxic fandom, neither. I submit that toxic fandom and Donald Trump are both the products of something else. And I submit that that something else is the rise of Gen X. Gen X gives Trump his strongest generational support and we also powered the rise of geek culture, for good and ill. And we are very tribal, with the conservatism of the survivalist.
Did you attend the movie with them or were you simply transportation. I remember seeing (sleeping through) numerous animated movies when my niece was little and her mom was will to pay my way so she wouldn't have to go. A cherish every moment even if I was napping through them.
I have always associated “Toxic Fandom” with the increased access to data due to the web, which has created a large contingent of know-it-all internet “geniuses”. People who think that their opinions and thoughts on any subject is as relevant and reliable as any expert.
Really enjoyed the discussion on fandom and politics here. When researching this book — https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/political-sign-9781501358104/ — in 2019, I spent a lot of time thinking about how both the Trump and Obama campaigns had, in their own way, differed from what had come before. Hadn't thought of the fandom angle before hearing this discussion, though, and it's a very resonant take on all of this.
I’ve been thinking over the past few days that the toxicity of toxic fandom is so multiplied, even reified, is that it is so relentlessly in our face all the time. I think it maybe starts with Trump’s adoption of WWE roles, memes, etc.; but it has spread like a potentially toxic ooze everywhere, even into the ways we think about business communications. The theme seems so often LOOK AT ME and everything else is decorative content 😳
Toxic fandom and Trumpsim arise from the same soil, a pursuit of 'purity.' The GOp was weakened to the point that a conman could take it over by the endless 'RINO' hunts and celebration after each not pure conservative was chased, like me, from the party. Without the various sects and cliques of the party to correct Trump was an inevitable conclusion. Toxic fans are the same, insisting that there is only ONE TRUE interpretation of the holy text.
Saw The Last Dance today (on IMAX) and was very entertained. It is not a bad movie. It's a movie that critics and ivory tower types who go on ad nauseum about the genius of Kubrick (his best movie was faking the moon landing) or Scorsese (great director but not a lot of laughs) who love to hate because it offends their belief in art. Okay I don't believe it either but leave it alone and accept if for what it is. Fun.
To answer your closing question about toxic fandom, neither. I submit that toxic fandom and Donald Trump are both the products of something else. And I submit that that something else is the rise of Gen X. Gen X gives Trump his strongest generational support and we also powered the rise of geek culture, for good and ill. And we are very tribal, with the conservatism of the survivalist.
My 14 year old and his friend enjoyed it but thought it was too short. lol
Did you attend the movie with them or were you simply transportation. I remember seeing (sleeping through) numerous animated movies when my niece was little and her mom was will to pay my way so she wouldn't have to go. A cherish every moment even if I was napping through them.
I have always associated “Toxic Fandom” with the increased access to data due to the web, which has created a large contingent of know-it-all internet “geniuses”. People who think that their opinions and thoughts on any subject is as relevant and reliable as any expert.
So yeah, that sounds like Trumpism to me.