Participatory Culture and Trolling
Fandom spaces at risk
Hanmer’s (2013) piece discussed how social media can offer a common platform for activism and a place where usually silenced, marginalized voices can be heard and supported between one another. It was interesting to read about how “Xenaverse” enabled women to “discuss their personal experiences within structures that allow emotions and feelings to be understood as valuable to creative processes” (p. 620).
Diana Foegel’s lecture showed how toxic fandom spaces can become, an issue I lacked prior knowledge about. She argued how structural normativity results in inequities in “fic work” communities. Racial dynamics, gender dynamics, sexuality dynamics and class dynamics inevitably seep into our lives as a result of the hierarchical structure of our society. White people from English-speaking countries problematically tend to dominate fandom spaces. This can be dangerous for innovative, collaborative platforms such as fandom spaces, places where individuals have the potential to construct their own “families” consisting of strong social ties. However the formation of “cliques” from these inequities disrupts the community-forming opportunities behind fandom spaces.
Trolls take advantage of digital spaces
As a woman feminist and journalist, Lindy West wrote about her personal experiences with trolling, and how they have become unfairly normalized in her life. This can have severe mental impacts, demonstrating how although digital spaces are embraced, gendered sexism is increasingly undermined and forgotten. West’s story showed how trolls often forget there is a human being with feelings on the other side of the screen. Trolling portrays the dark side of digital media and its impact on society’s moral code, particularly when individuals abuse their First Amendment rights for hate speech. West’s resilience was inspiring, and her troll’s remorse was rare but hopeful for the future of trolls.
West’s story connects to Sobieraj’s (2018) piece on resistance to women’s participation in digital spaces. Trolls use strategies, which Sobieraj found are intimidation, shaming, and discrediting, to attack women on social media platforms. Such gender-based discrimination is a major democratic cost, resulting in a loss of voices. In relation to Sobieraj’s (2018) study, I occasionally find myself self-censoring social media content that would be considered too controversial. It is more of a subconscious action, but after reading the author’s study on how women’s fear of gender-based discrimination and exploitation prevents them from freely expressing themselves, I instantly connected with it. Despite the assumed positives behind new digital spaces, they can encourage gender inequalities and sexism, particularly towards female journalists and activists.
Final project connections
Hanmer’s piece on social networks of lesbian fandom trough the “Xenaverse” relates to my final project because it shows how powerful social network platforms can in identity-formation. Such platforms go beyond this, however, and become a place for daily inspiration, particularly between women who share common struggles. In Hanmer’s piece, “Xenaverse” helps teach lesbian fiction writers. For my final case study, I want to study how certain Instagram Influencers can encourage self-empowerment or diminish it, as well as authenticity.
Additionally, Sobieraj’s piece shows how self-censoring due to fear of sexual harassment and denigration can severely alter a woman’s authenticity since she is consciously considering non-controversial content when forming her social media image.
