By Rosie Desmond and Roisin Garton
From a fictional world with magic, superheroes and villains, to a book detailing a dystopian future, fandoms exist everywhere. Today, fandoms create direct pathways to staying socially connected.
Fandoms are communities that offer people who love a form of media a chance to go beyond merely consuming the content. They allow fans to bond, connect and form lifelong relationships over their love for the media.
Spanning across all different genres of pop culture, music artists like Taylor Swift has her ‘Swifties’ and BTS has their ‘ARMY’. While TV show fandoms have well known nicknames including ‘Whovians’ (Doctor Who) and ‘Gleeks’ (Glee).
With the rise of fan conventions and mass media, fandoms today are more diverse than they ever have been, they are now an experience.
One in three Australians are experiencing loneliness. Loneliness is a form of social disconnection and has been linked to many negative health and social outcomes.
Increasing since 2008, and skyrocketing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing issue primarily affects young people in Australia. Often replacing face-to-face interactions with online social connection.
Fandoms open a hand to those who otherwise may be stuck, feeling lonely and disconnected.
Canberra is home to many thriving fandoms including, but not limited to, Star Trek and Harry Potter. Outlets include clubs, stores and events where fans can meet the creators of their beloved fandom.
One of the most prominent fandoms in the world is one you must travel to, on Platform 9 and ¾.
Lovingly known as ‘Potterheads’, Harry Potter fans show their interest to the wizarding world through online and in-person communities. Websites such as MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron offer online spaces for discussions, fan projects and theory sharing.
Quizzic Alley is Canberra’s home for Potterheads. The small business transports fans to the wizarding world. Fans have the opportunity to be sorted into their Hogwarts house, drink house-brewed butterbeer and meet some magical creatures that line the walls.
Home to potions classes and wand making workshops, Quizzic Alley’s Store Manager Isabel Rohrlach says that she regularly sees strangers bond over the magic of the wizarding world.
“The atmosphere and magic within Harry Potter and within Quizzic Alley creates a space where everyone feels welcome and can chat and bond.”
As a franchise spanning over almost thirty years, Isabel said her favourite moments are when she sees multi-generational families entering the wizarding world.
“About a year and a half ago, a dad called saying I don’t know if it’s possible, but I’m reading the books with my sons … is there anyway I can hire the space or sit in the store and just read it to them? … we set up the party room … and they all had Butterbeer and they read the battle of Hogwarts in the front of the fireplace on a Friday evening.”
However, Quizzic Alley isn’t the only place fandoms can thrive in Canberra.
GAMMA Expo and Comic Con are all ages events that provide an outlet for popular culture, entertainment and a variety of fandoms. These events travel both Australia and the world, visiting Canberra annually.
Gaming, Anime, Manga, Movies and Art (GAMMA) Expo, recently held at Thoroughbred Park in Canberra, provides a space for interested individuals to share their love for media, explore other fandoms and local groups.
One of the active groups at GAMMA expo was the ACT and Southern NSW Star Trek Fan Association.
President of the ACT and Southern NSW Star Trek Fan Association (also known as USS Animus), Ross Manuel, says that he enjoys the series for its inclusivity messages.
“It’s the argument that no matter who you are, no matter what you do, you can be welcomed as part of society and your contributions are valued.”
Their ACT/NSW division is a smaller cohort of a much larger organisation known as Star Fleet International Fan Association. The international association is one of the largest and longest running fandom communities globally, with numbers in the high thousands.
Ross started the ACT/NSW chapter during the original series’ 50th anniversary. Initially connecting over Assassins Creed, the group soon realised they had another shared interest they could bond over.
“We started off as a group of Star Trek fans, who already knew each other. Star Trek was more or less the thing that we all shared, the glue that holds our social activities together.”
Ross says fandom events often appeal to people who might have trouble with social connection.
“As a whole, events [such as GAMMA Expo], show individuals who may be socially withdrawn or might have other issues interacting or relating with the larger community, they can find themselves in a safe space”
David Slaney is another active member of the ACT/South NSW Star Trek Association. He regularly attends conventions as a representative for the Star Trek Association as well as a fan of David Weber’s Honor Harrington novels.
David largely commends conventions and exhibitions, having met the Star Trek fan association at a previous GAMMA Expo. He also credits his experience with fandoms to helping him with social connection within his regular life.
“The connections I’ve made through fandom have then made more connections out in the wider world to the point where I have recently joined the ACT State Emergency Service as a volunteer.”
David also touches on his preference for face-to-face fandom events, explaining that they allow him to create more meaningful friendships.
“That’s one of the reasons I like conventions so much, it’s not just spending time with everyone in the USS Animus. I get to meet and mingle with everyone who attends the convention.”
Not only do conventions such as GAMMA Expo and Comic Con, allow fans to meet with each other and bond over their love for media, they also allow fans to meet the people who create the magic.
Neil Fanning is an Australian actor, best known for his role as the voice of Scooby Doo in Scooby Doo and Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. He is a regular face at fan conventions as he knows how important his work is for many people.
“[At these conventions] A lot of people come up to me and say it was my safe space… I’d put the movie on and I’d be taken away… into solving another mystery.”
Neil says he believes the Scooby Doo franchise was something people connected with because of the diverse characters.
“All the five characters had certain characteristics within their personality that people could identify with…. I think people feel aligned, something in common… it’s their community within each character.”
The immersion of fandom culture has proven effective at breaking through social connection. With studies proving that the experience of fandom does more than unites people with a common interest, but forces individuals to engage in a community.
Fandoms aren’t just about the worlds you can escape to, but the worlds being brought together, creating cosmic connections.
Original photos by Rosie Desmond and Roisin Garton
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