“The corporatized nature of the stories we consume has led fans — already having a hard time understanding the idea of an artist’s vision — to assume almost total ownership of the stuff they love. And I use that word ownership in a very specific sense — these people see themselves as consumers as much as they see themselves as fans.”
This is a fantastic analysis of the state of modern fandom that explores why fans so often attack the creators of the things they supposedly love.
It’s not the only great piece I read about fandom this week. An in-depth analysis of how Beyonce’s “Beyhive” operates is also well worth your time — you’ll be amazed at its behind-the-scenes look at how a massive fanbase like that actually operates online.