Final Fandom Blog - Nash Bostdorf

    I have only recently become acquainted with Tarantino as a director and actor, having seen Pulp Fiction, Django, Inglourious Basterds, and The Hateful Eight, being the first movie I ever watched from him. When I started my research, I didn't realize there was such a big following for his films, and how in-depth his fan base can be was very interesting to me. If you’ve seen Pulp Fiction and liked the dialogue, or watched Django Unchained and enjoyed the sheer audacity of it, you’ve already taken your first step into a larger world. But watching a Tarantino film and being a Tarantino Fan are two different things. Tarantino isn’t just another filmmaker; he blends history, pop culture, and stylized storytelling into a genre all his own. Being a part of this fandom isn’t just about enjoying movies; it’s about appreciating a unique cinematic universe, a distinct voice, and a relentless love for film history. Here is why joining the Tarantino fandom is the best decision for any film lover.

    Of course, you have to start with the movies themselves, as this is what the fandom is all about, kicking off with one of the most interesting traits of his films, a dialogue that pops. Tarantino’s films are not just about the car chases, though they are great; they are about the conversations between the characters. The "hangout" vibe his characters create feels real, funny, and cool, often discussing pop culture in a way that makes you feel like you're sitting at the table with them. He crafts intense, unpredictable scenes that can shift from a friendly chat about cheeseburgers to deadly tension in seconds. These conversations are often discussed throughout many online forums as little inside jokes among true fans, which is always a fun way to connect with others about something you already enjoy. 

    As you might not have known, the Tarantino films have a deep, interconnected universe within each of the films. As a fan, you get to explore the complex, hidden structure of Tarantino's two distinct universes. The first being the "Realer than Real" universe, including the characters from Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and Hateful Eight. One example from this universe is Vic Vega from Reservoir Dogs and Vincent Vega from Pulp Fiction are actually brothers. Characters from True Romance from the "Realer Than Real" universe as appear elsewhere, and brand names like "Red Apple Cigarettes" pop up across the entire filmography. The second universe, called the "Movie Universe," includes characters from Kill Bill and Dusk til Dawn. In this way, watching his films bridge together in ways that make his filmography feel like solving a massive puzzle. Fans are finding these hidden Easter Eggs, connecting the dots all the way from 1970s L.A. to his historical epics.

    The best part, however, of joining the Tarantino fandom community is the online interaction with other fans in many ways. One of the most interesting ways to interact with other fans is through debating common questions that are presented in his films. Some common ones about Pulp Fiction include what was in the Pulp Fiction Briefcase? Theories such as Marsellus Wallace's soul retrieved from the devil, the diamonds from Reservoir Dogs, or Elvis's golden suit. Did Jules actually witness a miracle? Fans debate whether the bullets missing Vincent and Jules was divine intervention or simply a coincidence. Also, what happens to Marcellus Wallace? Does he die, or does he get his property back? All fun theories and puzzles that can be dabted with in the fandom. Along with all of the cool fan art that is posted online and live events to attend, like "Tarantino Live" in Los Angeles, with a rock 'n' roll performance, dance, and action based on his movies, there is plenty of entertainment within the Tarantino fandom.

Blue People Aren't Just In Movies- The Avatar Fandom

Blue People Aren't Just in Movies

     Have you ever wondered what our world would look like if it were glow in the dark? What if we as people were glow in the dark? Well James Cameron created the Avatar movies to capture these ideas. Avatar movies are well known for their use of special effects that create a memorizing visual of this Earth-like world called Pandora. This planet is run by multiple clans of ginormous blue people called the Navi. Humans cannot breathe on their own on this planet, so the marines found a way for them to be transported into a Navi body to go explore on the planet.

    Within the Avatar fandom, the fans create a sense of community for one another which allow others to not feel judged for their interests. Many fans tend to dress up as certain characters from the movie or just turn themselves into Navi. These fans support each other by commenting on each others posts in these outfits saying how the costume is so realistic and it is the best costume they've ever seen. The continued support between these fans makes room for more fans to join and express themselves freely. 

    Along with cosplay, many fans tend to develop theories. These movies make it very easy to do so with the intense spiritual connection their mother nature (Eywa) brings in the films. If you ever watched these movies and started to think about the what if's, then joining this fandom could be for you. Every year usually in January, there is an online global event for the fans to attend called Omaticon. At this event they have brought special guests in, two of them being actors that played in the movies like Bailey Bass and Steve Lang. During Omaticon, fans can learn the Navi language, learn how to introduce yourself in Navi, play games, read movie lines, and more. This is an event that brings all the Avatar fans together with 5,000-10,000 fans attending. 

Many fans also tend to collect different items. Some collect the popcorn buckets and drink cups specially made for the movie at the theatres and some collect little figurines and keychains off Amazon or gift shops at Disney World. Disney also offers clothing that glows in the dark to attract more people.

    As talked about previously this fandom creates a sense of belonging and community making each and every fan feel safe about expressing themselves. So, if you've ever caught yourself making up different theories, or you have some collectibles, or you've dressed up as Navi... are you ready to go blue yet?

Final Fandom Blog - Natalie Cooper

   

    

Marvel's God of Mischief

    

(Figure 1) 
Tom Hiddleston as Loki 

    There is no doubt in my mind that growing up in a Marvel fan household has made me a die-hard Marvel fan. When a new Marvel movie is released to theaters, my family are among the fans who show up on opening weekend and wear clothes that relate to the movie's main character(s). Stan Lee, the executive vice president and publisher of Marvel Comics, helped design each character with unique
qualities, allowing different audiences to feel a connection with a specific character. One Marvel character that I truly connect with is Loki. Loki Odison, also known as the God of Mischief, is the adopted son of the King of Asgard, Odion, and brother to Thor (“Loki: Character,” (n.d.), para. 1). Loki (Figure 1) is known as the misunderstood villain who causes chaos. When you become an active member of  the Loki fandom you experience the feeling of fan loyalty, fan interaction, fan tourism, and fan creativity.  

    Many different groups of people join the Loki fandom because of the complexity and reliability of the character. Loki is a variant who has multiple identities from different parallel universes. These alternate identities allow different fan bases to connect with a certain identity of the character. Posted by r/marvelstudios subreddit (2020), many Loki fans truly connect with the character because of Tom Hiddleston's charming portrayal (para.1-9). One fan, 613 greysloan, expressed their love for Loki because of Tom Hiddleston's portrayal of Loki as misguided, because of being hurt and betrayed, and the character is someone you can empathize with (para. 5-7). The love fan have for the character wouldn’t be the same without Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of the character. Since the Loki fandom is associated with the Tom Hiddleston fandom, genuine Loki fans generally identify with the simple direct name Loki’s Fans. A character's following relies on the support of fans. Without fans, there would be a fandom, so  it is important for actors and directors to portray characters in ways that allow the fans to feel a connection and understand the character’s dynamics. When engaging with the fandom, you'll gain the feeling of connection to Loki and express you're love for Tom Hiddleston as Loki. 

   Many true member of a fandom will go see the movie in the first week of release to prove their loyalty. Marvel fans are notorious for wanting to experience the movie firsthand to form their own opinions to share with other fans. Along with seeing the movie to prove loyalty, fans will collect movie souvenirs from the theater. This regularly includes movie-inspired reusable popcorn buckets and soda cups. When you become a part of the Loki fandom, you will be praised for Loki or marvel inspired merchandise acquire. Fandom communities love to show off the collectibles, so if you gain the fandom, it would allow you to indulge without the feeling of guilt. Aloysius (2024) highlighted that fans express loyalty to their fandoms because they feel this bond and develop a sense of familiarity with the figure (para.12). Fans observe the films to help support the figure, but failing to see the films gives the fans the sense of guilt for betraying their idol. The tremendous support for all Marvel fans led to the production of the 2-season Loki TV series. The directors were influenced by the fan base that the character Loki had accumulated over the releases of all the Marvel movies. The Loki series had been. The Loki series had been long sought after because many other Marvel characters got their own spin-off TV series.  If you join the Loki fandom, you earned the right to express that you helped the Loki series creation movement. 

(Figure 2) 
Loki Cosplayers at Comic Con 

 

 As a member of a Loki fandom, you are encourage to dress up as Loki. Many other fans cosplay as Loki because of the character's ability to be in many forms. At the Loki TV series premiere, many fans excitedly dressed up as Loki in many different forms to boost morale when watching the long awaited series (Figure 2). You could be one of the fans, being admired for your cosplay. Cosplay is a fun way to express and connect with the fandom on a more personal level. One fan goes above and beyond to bring their cosplay into their hobbies. Fahr Sindram is a cosplayer who loves to ice skate. Fahr made a Loki-inspired professional ice skating outfit (Figure 3). This shows that Fahr, like other fans, inspires creativity to bring Loki into their everyday lives. 

(Figure 3) 
Fahrlight Loki Cosplay

Fan art is another way you can show appreciation towards a fandom when you join. Most fan art that is made by fans are drawings of Loki, but fans are encourage to think outside the box. As a fan, you can take your creativity to make art not only from you to enjoy, but also the whole fandom community. In a fandom, fans are often very supportive of others' creative drawings. Other forms of fan art are written alternate versions of the character's story or narratives based on the character, drawing, and merchandise for other fans to enjoy. One place to find many Loki fan merchandise creations is on Etsy. Many fans make fan art to establish a better connection with their fandom. 

     Gilliland (2016) revised that, “Online fan art can be a way for                    communities to celebrate a particular fandom, characters, or                         relationships; yet though these pieces have been studied for their ability      to create community and express identity, one area that has yet to be             fully explored in connection to fan art is as a form of activism (para.1).

    As a fan participating in the fandom, you will feel accepted by the fandom community and want to show what they can offer with their love for the character. 

(Figure 4) 
Loki Fans at Comic Con

  When you join the fandom, you become apart of a communities where people come together to express their love for a shared interest without judgment. Fans set up many different gatherings to connect with other fans with the same interests. One of the biggest events of the year for Marvel fans is Comic-Con in San Diego. Comic con is an event that hosts anything that has to do with comics and other related art. Many fans dress up in cosplay of their favorite character and meet others in the fandom. Many Loki fans gathered at the San Diego Comic Con in 2013 to meet Tom Hiddleston in character as Loki in person (Figure 4). The fans were very excited and showed their excitement through chants and cheering. A video posted by the official Marvel Studios, with huge crowds of fans chanting and waiting to meet their film idol, Loki. Fans also host simpler events like trivia nights to build a smaller fan community with people in a closer range to them. A college located in San Jose hosted a Marvel Trivia Night as an ice breaker for college students. Many students came wearing Marvel-themed outfits and had a great time. Tran (2023) articulates that students came together to make friends and have fun with other Marvel fans who also go to the university (para.21- 23). Fans want to connect with other fans to build a sense of community with people who are surrounding them. Being an active fandom member allows you to participate in these events with a community that accepts you. 

    When you are a fan, you can connect with other fans on a global scale through many different social media platforms. One of the biggest ways fans interact is through video game battles. A new video game called Marvel Rivals allows fans to play as any Marvel character against other fans. Many other video games took suggestions and designs from fans to design the character Loki in other video games. Fans also connect through posting on and creating fan pages. Fan pages allow fans to express their thoughts, opinions, questions, and more to others in the fan community. One very active fan page allows Loki fans all over the world to post Loki-related items for other Loki fans to enjoy. On this page, fans post events in different locations to get togethers. Fans are actively engaging with each other, making a community of people who have the same love for something. Fans are able to interact, post, and comments on others post to stay in contact as a community, but not just any person is invited to join these platforms. You must be an active fan of the same fandom. This prevents fakes fans and unsupportive people from disrupting the communities peace. 

   As a Loki fan, you can engage with fan tourism. You can explore the filming locations of any movie where their favorite characters once performed. There is the ability to schedule multiple tours in one filming location and still not see everything because of the scale of Marvel sets. According to Klein (2026), one of the essential experiences for the die-hard Marvel enthusiast is to tour the Old Royal Naval College in London. This was where the movie Thor: Dark World was filmed (para. 8). If visiting the film's site didn’t satisfy the fan enough, the theme parks Universal and Disney World have many different areas in their parks that take fans into the magical world the characters come from. Zapata stated, “They develop deep emotional connections with narrative, and it heightens attachment to the setting. It doesn’t just mean the setting is a backdrop—it becomes personal and brings people to experiences they’ve seen on screen” (para. 2). Fans develop an emotional connection not only with the characters of the film, but the setting that the character was created in. This makes the fans feel as if they were there for the whole production process of the character they adore.

Fandoms provide fans with community, support, and belonging. Being in a fandom helps fans find a loving community in which they will be accepted. Many fans are able to find the people that they identify with and aren't ashamed to be themselves. Fans use their creativity to show their love for their idol while socially interacting with others. Fandoms can also provide the fan stress relief by blocking out reality. 

References:

Aloysius, S. (2024, July 17). The allure of the tribe: exploring the psychology of fandom. Team Lewis. https://www.teamlewis.com/magazine/psychology-of-fandom/#:~:text=A%20particularly%20intriguing%20aspect%20of,of%20friendship%20and%20even%20intimacy. 

Andress, J. (2021, July 19). All of Loki’s video game appearances. GameRant. https://gamerant.com/loki-video-games-fortnite-lego-marvel/ 

fahrlight (n.d.) Home. [The Comics Blog]. Tumblr. Retrieved April 25, 2026, from https://comics.tumblr.com/post/80263554945/first-look-ice-skater-auloki-cosplay-by 

Gilliland, E. (2016). Racebending fandoms and digital futurism. Transformative Works & Cultures, 22, 1. https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2016.0702 

Loki: Characters. Marvel. (n.d.). https://www.marvel.com/characters/loki 

[Marvel Entertainment]. (2013, July 22). Loki at marvel studios' san diego comic-con panel - official [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmM0ahZzWuc 

r/marvelstudio (n.d.) Home. [Subreddit page]. Reddit. Retrieved April 20, 2026, from https://www.reddit.com/r/marvelstudios/comments/iyxpdv/fans_of_mcu_loki_what_in_the_movies_made_him/ 

 Tom and Loki, Gods of Mischief (n.d.). Home. [Facebook page]. Facebook. Retrieved April 13, 2026, from https://www.facebook.com/groups/tomandlokigodsofmischief/

Tran, C. (2023, March 14). Marvel night tests fans’ knowledge. Spartan Media Group. https://spartanmediagroup.net/5556/a-e/marvel-night-tests-fans-knowledge//ratings/?ref_=tt_ov_rat  

Zapata, S. The magic on-screen is drawing crowds to filming locations, boosting local economic growth. Destination Film Guide. https://destinationfilmguide.com/cinematic-tourism-when-stories-become-destinations/

Dig, Fight, Explore, Build, and More: The Terraria Fandom

By Zachary Ruth     

      There is a lot more to do in the Terraria fandom then people may think, and I think that most people are missing out on some of the best parts of the fandom and the best experiences the game can give you. A lot of people don't know about these, or just didn't think to try them, but here are three things you should try in the Terraria fandom.

    The first thing Terraria fans should try is playing with others. The Terraria Discord server is one of the biggest and best places to interact with other fans and find friends to play and enjoy the game with. Terraria with friends is a very different experience, and Discord helps improve that experience with built in voice channel and screen sharing capabilities. Playing Terraria with others not only makes the game more chaotic and fun, but it also gives you and others an opportunity to socialize, which is something people need more of these days. There are also servers out there that allow for large amounts of players to play together synchronously, so if that sounds up your alley, I'd suggest you give it a try.

    

    The second thing I'd suggest Terraria fans try is getting involved in building competitions. Whether or not you enjoy building within the game, trying out the building competitions is a great way to know the game and the community at large better. Plenty of fans across the numerous Discord servers, subreddits, and forums could share building tips or strategies to create magnificent structures. Competitions are held at various frequencies across the various spaces with which Terraria fans coalesce, each with various stakes. For example, the competitions held on the official Discord server are bigger and less frequent but can come with better rewards, some of them even tangible; as opposed to the weekly build competitions held in the subreddits that only give a week's worth of glory. Getting involved with these competitions not only gives you the chance for glory, but also the opportunity to interact with other master builders, cultivate your creativity, and have your work be recognized.

    The last thing I'll encourage new Terraria fans to participate in is becoming a wiki contributor. Now contributing to the Terraria Wiki is a step beyond the majority of fans level of commitment, but it has a lot of perks and merits that people don't often see. First of all, the Terraria Wiki is massive, like terabytes upon terabytes of information massive, which means that collaborating with other editors and contributors is essential. This allows you to engage with other fans and cultivate collaborative skills that could serve you outside the community. If you decide to actually edit and write within the Wiki, that brings a whole other set of benefits with improving your writing skills and creating something that people will use and appreciate. 

 

   At the end of the day what you do is up to you, but I hope you can at least see now how the Terraria fandom can help you create lasting connections, cultivate your creativity, and possibly give you valuable life skills. It is a truly amazing community of people who have been around for a long time, and I hope this has given you a reason to go out there and participate in what the Terraria community has to offer.

Back to Black the beehive never fades: Amy Winehouse

 Back to Black, the beehive never fades: Amy Winehouse Fandom 

Arbre Salem 

Amy Winehouse may have died in 2011, but for her fans, her presence really never disappeared. Discovering Amy Winehouse's music in the States and using it as an anthem when crossing the pond and exploring the United Kingdom, my love and admiration for the artist flourished. From the streets of Camden to online fan forums across Reddit, TikTok, and Spotify, her legacy continues to grow through participation, keeping her memory alive. Unlike passive listeners, Amy's fandom connects to her through more than just streaming playlists. Fans recreate her iconic beehive hairstyle, winged eyeliner, and tattoos as a way to identify with the honesty she represents ( see figure 1). Her image has become a global symbol of vulnerability and individuality, proving that her fandom is not simply admiration but a product of constant participation in preserving her legacy. 

Figure 1- Fan recreating Amy's iconic look.

What makes Amy Winehouse's fandom distinct from others is how powerful the emotional connection the audience feels towards her message and music. Albums such as Black to Black continue to attract new generations of listeners because of their raw discussions of addiction, heartbreak, and instability. Fans also often describe Amy as being "real," acknowledging her willingness to expose her intimate emotions that many other artists often hide or stray from. Through streaming platforms and social media, her music gains new interpretations through edits, covers, lyrical analysis, and discussions that allow participation worldwide to connect to one another. Online communities involved in the fandom create safe spaces where individuals feel like they can openly discuss personal struggles, share experiences, creativity, and transform her music into more than entertainment, but a source of connection and comfort. 

After Amy Winehouse's death, her fandom experienced a shift from simple appreciation to collective remembrance. Fans continued to show Winehouse honor through memorial visits, murals, and statues in Camden (see figure 2). Tribute posts and global remembrance also occur on July 23 (the day of her passing), and creative projects inspired by her life and music continue to be produced. These acts of remembrance show how fans shape cultural icons even after their careers come to an end. Amy's legacy now exists in the fans who continue to reinterpret and preserve her story through fashion, conversation, art, and ongoing emotional connection, not just through her existing recordings. Her fandom illustrates how music can create borderless communities built on creativity, authenticity, and shared collective memory.

Figure 2- Winehouse statue in Camden, London. 

 

The Fightin' Phils

     Ever since I could understand what being a fan of a sport could be, I was a Phillies fan. From watching the late night games when they are losing by 9 runs to when they almost won a world series. I was there watching them on the TV or in person from time to time. But during my research project about the Phillies fandom as a whole, I learned some much more about the team than I thought I ever would while doing this research project. Here are just a few more things that helped me expand my knowledge about the fandom but also the Phillies.  

    One thing that I found interesting during my research is how many different fans clubs that are endorsed and sponsored by Phillies sponsors. Now I knew there were a lot of different fan clubs that have no endorsement by the Phillies but again what took me by surprise is the number of sponsored fan clubs. According to the Phillies website they have a four fan clubs that are endorsed by sponsors. Now that is more than I thought there was going to be. But at the same point, that is a good thing because it will help people of all different ages become more involved in the club and more into the Phillies fandom.

    Another thing that I found interesting during my research was just simply some of the creativity of people to show they are a part of the fandom. From fan art to hype videos and other things. The videos and art that is made is out of this planet and I could only imagine doing half of what these people do. I

think the creativity of the people is what a fandom like the Phillies need because it can help diversify who is a part of the fandom. Diversity in something like a fandom is a great thing because if everyone was the same, it would make the fandom boring, and no one would want to be a part of the fandom. 

    Lastly, something that I found interesting while doing my research about the Phillies is some of the history. Something that stuck out to me was that the Phillies were once a bad influence on younger people. The Phillies team causing kids to have "grapefruit size hunks of tobacco" is not a great look on the Phillies end. But knowing that is a good thing because it can help the fandom stay clear of instances like that again and the fandom can grow as a whole. Knowing the history of the Phillies fandom can help make better decisions for the generations of the fandom to come. 

    All in all, there are so many different ways to be a part of the Phillies fandom. It can be through history, creativity or through fan clubs. No matter how you feel you want to be a part of the fandom, there is always a way you can be a part of the Phillies fandom. So, what's stopping you from becoming more of a Phillies fan?

 

A New Generation of Potterheads! ~Grace Shenk

 Growing up a Harry Potter fan has its perks, going into my research I thought I knew there was everything to know, I was wrong. The Harry Potter fandom is clearly larger and more powerful than I had previously thought, still as strong as it ever was and if you haven't dove deeper into the fandom yet, then you are missing out! 

Figure 1
"All The Young Dudes"

    The fandom has created its own entire universe. Fan fiction is very popular within the fandom, exploring different romances and different alternate ending of what happened to the loved and favored kids in the story, but it doesn't stop there. What if I was to say there has been a whole new generational story, the world of Hogwarts before Harry was born, the life of his parents and their friends, including James Potter, Lily Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin. The most notable being "All the Youn Dudes" by Mskingbean89, no one knows their real name but their original fan fiction has become published and has been deemed "canon" by the fandom, and a lot of other fan fictions and theories come from this story. It includes love stories, drama, and the character development of the characters we only ever knew as adults, or never knew them at all in the case of Harry's parents. It is so much more than the original childhood characters we grew up with, Harry Potter is now multigenerational when it comes to storylines. Looking beyond just the original series will lead you into an entirely different word. There are also examples of this when the main characters grow up and have their own children, the creativity has no limits.

    This does not end with just the characters that we all know and love, parts of the fandom have also created entirely new characters that were never mentioned or seen in the books or the movies. These original characters (OC's) have become very well known and even have their own discernible personalities and backgrounds. They start off in fan fictions but some fans will make drawings of them, letting people visualize what this character would look like even though they do not exist. Some of these include long lost siblings, children, friends of known characters, new love interests, etc. In reality, there are too many to count, but some of the most well known being Lorenzo Berkshire, the first son of Bellatrix Lestrange (Fandom), Grant Chapman, a boyfriend to Remus Lupin in "All the Youn Dudes" (Fanlore), and Mattheo Riddle, the son of Voldemort (Fanlore). These characters all have highly detailed backgrounds, trauma, personalities, and relationships with the characters that Harry Potter fans already know and love. There is so much to know it seems almost impossible to know it all. 

     If that still isn't enough for you, Harry Potter is coming back on our screens! The new Harry Potter series will premiere on HBO Max on Christmas Day of 2026 as a TV series! According to the Harry Potter Editorial team, the series is said to follow the movies and books quite well, and even include some more details from the book that we did not see in the original films, like Harry's time at muggle school, and how he was relentlessly picked on. The trailer has already dropped and fans are excited, the trailer looks detailed, and nostalgic to the 90s when the story takes place. All of the beloved characters that Harry Potter fans grew up with will be returning with new faces but the same magic! The cast is a new generation of children, and the adults being played by talented young adults that are all very excited to bring this magic on the screen, the lead role of Harry being played by Dominic Mclaughlin, a talented 12 year old from Scotland.

Figure 2
Dominic Mclaughlin

As well as Hermonie and Ron being played by Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout. This new series is going to give much more context into Harry's life when he was young and will undoubtedly created more storylines and creativity opportunities from this strong fandom, tuning in if you are a fan is absolutely necessary. 

      This is your sign to dive deeper into the fandom if you found yourself falling out of it. This is the perfect time to get back into it! The new series is about to raise a whole new generation, so catching up with what has been going on in the fandom recently will better prepare you! The fandom is as alive as it's ever been and is about to be set on fire by the wave of new young fans, and there is so much to learn and so much to discover! Go look up a fan fiction, go reread or rewatch the series and reconnect with the love and magic you felt when you were a child! It is so worth it, and there is so much more in store for this beloved and powerful fandom!