How do fan communications impact the Batman family fandom on Tumblr?
Tumblr is a diverse assortment of blogs that house ideas, thoughts, beliefs, opinions, Tik-Toks, trailers, and stills from TV shows, movies, games, and memes. This mix of microblogs allows its users social networking opportunities to connect over similar interests. Fans express their dedication to their fandoms through various forms of communication, sharing their thoughts on fan-made creations, official content, and visions for the ideal fandom. Varying opinions can result in positive, negative, or neutral ecosystems within these fandoms, such as in the Batman Family. The Batman Family has a strong longstanding fan base that debates and celebrates the culture constructed around said fandom. The various communications between Batman Family fans on Tumblr influence how Batman fans interact with each other and the producers of content.
This research paper will center its attention on the communications surrounding the subsection of Batman fans who enjoy comic books, as I have extensively engaged within this space for a considerable time, thereby acquiring a deep understanding of its intricacies. To explore how this fandom has come together as a cohesive group and the results of their teamwork, this analysis will examine Textual Poachers by Henry Jenkins, Content, conduct, and Apologies in Tumblr fandom tags by Indira Neill Hoch, and Fandom as Free Labor by Abigail De Kosnik. These texts will assist us in recognizing the different factors involved in creating self-organized communities and the impact of the work put into forming these communities. This paper will ask how the objectification of, or acceptance of various opinions influences community opinions of fan-made or official DC work. Furthermore, research will be conducted to determine how these opinions affect the fandoms’ view of certain storylines, characters, or the people who create this material.
First, it is paramount to establish what a self-organizing community is to understand how Tumblr and fandom were constructed. Self-organization, as defined in the field of psychology, refers to the inherent capability of the human mind to create or modify patterns that play a role in the development of complex behavioral systems. Changes in these behavioral systems are not consciously perceived and play a role in helping us adapt to our environment. Self-organization within fan culture and behavior enables individuals to conform to the norms established by their preferred fandom. Through the fulfillment of these expectations collections of individuals self-regulate and pursue independent initiatives to challenge mainstream ideas of normality. Collective agreement within fan communities determines their shared goals and needs, while also assembling common ideas on how to celebrate or defend said fandom.
One way that self-organizing communities within fan culture demonstrate togetherness exists in the form of labor. Labor could be assessed through a multitude of avenues, but for this discussion, Textual Poachers by Henry Jenkins, and Fandom as Free Labor by Abigail De Kosnik will be used as a defining source. Jenkins observes that fan labor involves the creation of mass-produced content tailored to individual preferences and interests, encompassing elements such as time, commitment, effort, and creativity dedicated to fan-produced objects. According to this definition, fan works generate social collaboration and self-sufficient cultural practices by altering existing material. Consequently, fans ascend the confines of spectatorship and assume an active role that allows them to cultivate and disseminate meaning, resulting in a landscape in which these assigned meanings determine how a media text is viewed within and outside of fan culture. In instances where fans are unable to congregate in a communal setting, such as fan conventions like Comic-Con or MomoCon, they turn to virtual platforms like Tumblr to engage in social interactions.
Even within virtual domains social interactions are the basis for self-organizing communities as they require individuals to collectively agree on the necessities and standards of the fandom. However, the discrete nature of online communities eliminates the need for face-to-face interaction, permitting them to conceal their identities. Numerous Tumblr users hide their identities by using screen names with no association with their birth name. Additionally, most users utilize icons or their favorite characters, such as Batman, to disguise their appearance. It is not uncommon for producers of the original media text or for big corporations to devalue the labor of said fans because they are a collective of strangers rather than an individual or organization with a figurehead.
Fans frequently employ fan creations as a means of resistance against mainstream societal norms, such as heteronormativity, White supremacy, racism, misogyny, sexism, or the misrepresentation of ethnic cultures and specific subcultures. Fans imprint their style onto their work to signal individuality. Fan works often transform existing work to reclaim power within a social structure that devalues them. These stylizations persist in almost every fandom, and these changes to existing material are met with various opinions ranging from supportive to aggressive.
Stylized representations of the characters and their world within the Batman Family fandom are evident in the various tags associated with it. By combining a specific descriptor with the term Batman, or other members of the Batman Family, in a search on Tumblr, an individual is likely to come across a subsection of the fandom that actively engages in that community. For instance, tags such as #streampunk, #chibi, #robin, #bisexual, and #romani are used in conjunction with the Batman Family tag. On Tumblr, tags are an essential part of communication for fans.
Based on research conducted by Scott A. Golder and Bernardo A. Huberman on the Usage Patterns of Collaborative Tagging Systems, tags refer to “keywords or phrases that are attached to a specific resource with a system by users of that system rather than by designated authority.” (Golder and Bernardo). Tags serve as a form of communication that frequently references inside jokes within a particular fan community, with the comprehension of these jokes being linked to the extent of a fan’s involvement or familiarity with the community. Despite Tumblr not being perceived as a conventional social media platform akin to LiveJournal or Facebook, in the article Content, conduct, and Apologies in Tumblr fandom tags, Hoch recognizes that users on Tumblr establish connections through tagging, reblogging, and regularly interacting with other users’ blogs.
This system of communication can be perplexing for many people who are not familiar with Tumblr, myself included during my initial usage of the platform. Nevertheless, I can confirm that Hoch is accurate in emphasizing the importance of tags, reblogging, and exploring other users’ pages. The availability of content would be limited without the existence of designated tags for the segment of the Batman Family fandom. It has been observed that users often create subgroups within the community based on tags in addition to engaging in fandom. Users will often assert their opinions, thoughts, and desires within the tags. Some examples of tags included under posts include #ireadcomics, #let.barbara.kill.the.joker, #jasonwasright, and #batdad.
During my time within the community, I have come to realize that tags are a primary mode of fan communication on Tumblr. Moreover, a sense of community is fostered through the understanding of this fan jargon as it signifies a shared connection among individuals who may be strangers to each other. Users often need to track or investigate tags to discover blogs that resonate with their fandom perspective or to gain insights into the fandom itself. Often new users will seek guidance from established users by leaving questions in their inbox. To grasp the essence of this community, new users must also identify which blogs to follow, a task that be accomplished by either searching for specific blogs or exploring tags. Commonly, users can uncover additional blogs or blogs with similar interests by observing the content that a blogger regularly reblogs from another user’s blog. For example, when researching a new character, I prefer to search by combining their name with the tag “meta.” Through this method, I have stumbled upon comic book meta blogs like hood-ex, which in turn follow similar blogs such as nightwingmyboi, both of which focus on Nightwing/Dick Grayson content.
Tags are commonly used in conjunction with fanfiction, fan art, meta, and video edits as a form of protest or to challenge norms within the community. While not widely embraced, numerous fans reimagine the characters by altering their races, religions, skin colors, or ethnic backgrounds. Some notable examples include the portrayal of Romani Dick Grayson, Jewish Bruce Wayne, Brown-skinned Damian Wayne, Asian Tim Drake, and Latino Jason Todd. In the context of De Kosnik's work, these modifications to the characters’ background or physical appearances can considered “breaking with behaviors and beliefs that characterize the mainstream.” (De Kosnik 108). These representations indirectly or sometimes directly seek to challenge the standardization of Whiteness within fan-made and official DC content. Differing viewpoints are directed toward each of these reinterpretations of the characters.
These reinterpretations of the characters have sparked various perspectives from different people. One idea that has become popular among fans is the concept of Asian Tim Drake. In this relatively new headcanon, fans imagine Tim Drake as an Asian person. It’s important to note that a headcanon is an idea or event that has not been officially confirmed in the source material but is embraced by fans to enhance their interpretation. This recent headcanon has generated a range of reactions from different individuals. Numerous fans have rallied around the idea of Tim Drake being half-White and half-Asian.
For example, a user named dreamingaboutsakura-trees on Tumblr expressed their fascination with the concept of a half-Japanese or half-Korean Tim Drake. In their post, they had this to say about why they find this headcanon appealing, “I also like the idea of white passing, half Korean Tim. Imagine everyone thinking he can’t handle spice because they’ve seen Bruce trying to eat takis and he almost died” (dreamingaboutsakura-trees). In this case, they find the idea of a white-passing, half-Korean Tim appealing, envisioning humorous scenarios such as others assuming he cannot handle spicy food due to cultural stereotypes. This headcanon resonates with the user as it highlights cultural distinctions between Asian and White individuals in a lighthearted manner.
Another user, named aflamboyanceofflamingos provided three reasons for their approval of this headcanon, while also addressing the opposition it faces and their vision for the Batman Family. One of the reasons cited by the user is the appeal of the headcanon die to their Asian identity, emphasizing the importance of representation in canon. Additionally, the user expressed concerns about the stereotypes associated with Tim being Asian, partially relating to his parent’s parenting style. They refute these stereotypes by highlighting that are not supported by canon evidence but rather stem from personal interpretations. Finally, the user proposed that Bruse Wayne should remain the sole White member of the Batman Family, suggesting that cultural differences among members could lead to humorous interactions. This user appreciates the headcanon for its cultural resonance and the comedic potential in challenging White culture.
Numerous self-organizing communities coalesce to construct fandoms that thrive on fan creations such as fan art, fanfiction, Imagines, video edits, memes, and analysis essays. All these fan activities are modes of communication that serve as an essential foundation for various fandoms including the Batman Family community. These communications such as tags, reblogging, and shared ideas form the community, offering different interpretations of characters. These interpretations affect how these fans interact with the community and whether these interactions breed contentious or supportive communications.
Work Cited
Aflamboyanceofflamingos. “Reasons Why I Head Canon Tim Drake to Be Asian: - I’m Asian - the Reasons That People Have against Tim Being Asian, That He Fits... – @aflamboyanceofflamingos on Tumblr.” Tumblr, 15 Feb. 2024, www.tumblr.com/aflamboyanceofflamingos/742393361601839104/reasons-why-i-head-canon-tim-drake-to-be-asian?source=share.
Dreamingaboutsakuratrees. “I Know Tim Is Usually Portrayed as a ‘Thinks Mayonnaise Is Proper Seasoning’ White Guy, but I Love the Idea of Mixed Tim,... – @dreamingaboutsakuratrees on Tumblr.” Tumblr, 26 Apr. 2024, www.tumblr.com/dreamingaboutsakuratrees/748787429339725824/i-know-tim-is-usually-portrayed-as-a-thinks?source=share.
Golder, Scott A., and Bernardo A. Huberman. “Usage Patterns of Collaborative Tagging Systems.” Journal of Information Science , Apr. 2006, doi.org/10.1177/0165551506062337.
Hoch, Indira Neill. “View of Content, Conduct, and Apologies in Tumblr Fandom Tags: Transformative Works and Cultures.” Content, Conduct, and Apologies in Tumblr Fandom Tags, 15 June 2018, journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/view/1198/1720.
Jenkins, Henry. “Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture.” Routledge & CRC Press, Routledge, 6 Nov. 2012, www.routledge.com/Textual-Poachers-Television-Fans-and-Participatory-Culture/Jenkins/p/book/9780415533294.
Kosnik, Abigail De. “Fandom as Free Labor.” Digital Labor, 17 Nov. 2019, www.academia.edu/40961886/Fandom_as_Free_Labor.
“Trending Topics on Tumblr.” Tumblr, Feb. 2007, www.tumblr.com/.