Fansplaining

In Episode 145, "The Fic and the Source Material," Flourish and Elizabeth review the results of the "Fanfiction & Source Material Mini-Survey," in which 6,744 respondents shared their preferences on whether they need to know the canon to read the fic. They discuss each of the dozen questions and give their own answers along the way, from Elizabeth's serial fandom monogamy to that time Flourish read Merlin fic before watching the show.

In Episode 144, "Writing Women," Elizabeth and Flourish celebrate Femslash February by talking to breathedout, a longtime f/f fic and meta writer. They discuss her route into fandom through queer female erotica, fandom's longstanding biases towards male bodies, what types of characters get to be "default" vs "political," and the role desire can play in reading and writing.

In Episode 143, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 9," Elizabeth and Flourish read a fresh batch of listener letters. Topics covered include age and fandom, fanfics of fanfics, pop culture's role in protest movements, and a trio of letters about trans, nonbinary, and asexual exclusion in fan spaces.

In Episode 142, "Copyright Brainworms," Elizabeth and Flourish try to get at the diseased intersection of creativity and the law in the U.S.: our broken copyright system. Spurred by conversation around The Great Gatsby coming out of copyright, topics covered include transformative collaboration on TikTok, the Ratatouille musical, fannish feelings amongst pro creators, and what strange impulse leads people to describe God as the "copyright owner" of the universe.

In Episode 141, Elizabeth and Flourish end a very unusual year in a very ordinary way: revisiting big fandom trends from the past 12 months. What happened in 2020? (What didn't happen in 2020?) Topics covered include J. K. Rowling's continued radicalization, the explosion of Anglophone interest in both K-pop and Chinese dramas, and the moments when the waves of fan expectation crashed against the rocky shores of reality. And they wrap up with an analysis of the ways that the pandemic is reshaping fandom: the entertainment industry, celebrity culture, and how fans engage with both the things they love and with each other.

In Episode 140, Flourish and Elizabeth interview Miranda Ruth Larsen, a media studies scholar who focuses on K-pop, anime, and horror. They dig into the 2020 spotlight on K-pop in Anglophone spaces, the concept of "affective hoarding," and her essay in the anthology Fandom, Now in Color, on her experiences as a multiracial American researcher in Japan. They also revisit the last episode's conversation on queerbaiting and viewer expectations, and read two listener letters on the Supernatural finale.

In Episode 139, "The 'Q' is for 'Queerbaiting,'" Elizabeth and Flourish dig into the thorny concept of "queerbaiting"—when creators tease at queer relationships in their shows and films but fail to follow through. Topics covered include disconnects between creator and audience expectations, fans' conflation of shipping and representation, and shifting attitudes and norms in television writing and marketing. Plus: they read several listener responses to the previous episode, giving context to Destination Toast's stats on AO3 fanfic production in 2020.

Nearing the end of a very strange year, Flourish and Elizabeth sit down with fandom stats whiz Destination Toast to dig into recent fanfiction trends on the Archive of Our Own. Topics covered include the massive uptick in fic production (that predated the pandemic!), the impact of China's AO3 ban and the rise of Chinese media in English-language fandom, which fandoms and tags are growing in popularity, and—inescapably—what's happened with Supernatural fandom since the events of November 5th.

In Episode 137, Flourish and Elizabeth talk tropes: in fanfiction, outside of fanfiction, the places those ideas intersect—and where they don't. Topics covered include untangling tropes from themes, formats, and set-ups in fic, how romance and YA authors have adopted the language of fic tropes and fic tags, and how tropes alter the way we search for new reading material.

In Episode 136, Flourish and Elizabeth talk about the messy intersections of politics and fandom, and the narratives we create around political figures and actions. Topics discussed include why journalists keep using fandom terms they don't understand, political RPF vs. fantasy ideas about candidates, and invoking pop culture during political protest. They also, as a podcast, unequivocally endorse Joe Biden.

In the second half of "Race and Fandom Revisited," fans of color continue to speak about their experiences—and Elizabeth and Flourish talk with another white fan (and fan scholar) about how whiteness operates in fandom spaces. Featuring interviews with Amanda-Rae Prescott and Dr. JSA Lowe, and clips from Stitch, Anisa Khalifa, Effy, Sam, and Phoebe Sinclair. Topics covered include deprogramming internalized racism, how the dynamics of Facebook shape fandom conversations there, and why characters of color always seem to end up as the secondary ship.

Four years after the original "Race and Fandom" double episode, Flourish and Elizabeth return to the topic with a mix of old contributors and new voices. In the first installment, they interview Sunny Liu and Paracelsus Caspari, and they hear clips from Dr. Rukmini Pande, The Navy Language, Holly Quinn, PJ Punla, Roz, and Clio. Topics covered include the way Western fans engage with Asian media, fans' prioritization of white characters over characters of color, and the experiences of Black fans who speak out about racism.

In Episode 134, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 8," Elizabeth and Flourish once again open up the mailbag and answer listener questions. Topics covered include sports RPF, the ethics of sporking, adaptations of fan-favorite properties, how to make new friends in fandom, and even more of everyone's favorite topic: slash discourse.

In Episode 133, Elizabeth and Flourish talk directly about a topic that creeps into a lot of Fansplaining discussions: slash fic and the people who write it. They walk through the history of "slash fandom" and the ways that early narratives about it endure to this day, and they dig into the fraught gender politics around slash, wrapping up with a discussion of whether the term means anything at all in 2020. They also read a slew of listener letters about the topic of the last episode, purity culture.

In Episode 132, Elizabeth and Flourish receive a letter asking them to revisit the topic of purity culture, which they last discussed in 2018. They talk about the way the term "anti" has changed in the past 15 years, connections between fiction and real life, and the specific way the fannish migration to Twitter has amplified these dynamics. They also hear from EarlGreyTea68 in a belated anniversary episode segment, and they answer a listener letter about migratory fandom.

Flourish and Elizabeth celebrate their fifth anniversary with an annual tradition: inviting back guests from the past year to talk about changes in fandom, from the global to the personal. Topics discussed include race and racism in fandom, harassment and accountability, increases in "migratory fandom" behavior, and the act of rereading providing comfort over the past few months.

In Episode 130, Elizabeth and Flourish interview Pam Noles, the self-described "executive geek" in charge of one of the restricted entrances to Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con. They discuss Pam's history with cons, how being on-staff changes the con-going experience, and the past, present, and future of SDCC. Plus: Pam tells some behind-the-scenes stories about saying "no" to A-listers, studio executives, and the kind of people who say things like, "Don't you know who I am?!?"

In episode 129, Elizabeth and Flourish talk about J. K. Rowling's unremitting transphobia—and how beyond no longer engaging with her work, they don't want to have anything to do with the Harry Potter fandom anymore, either. Topics covered include the rise of TERFism in British feminist media, Tonks's beloved status amongst trans and nonbinary folks, and viewing the books' regressive gender politics through the lens of JKR's recent commentary. And they puzzle over one big question: How do you put the Harry Potter fandom behind you without disowning your past fannish self?

In Episode 128, "The K-pop Narratives," Keidra Chaney returns to the podcast to discuss mainstream framings of K-pop fans and their online actions in support of Black Lives Matter. Topics covered include the flawed foundations of these narratives, the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of boosting hateful hashtags, and the continued anti-Blackness within K-pop fan spaces—and its connections to anti-Blackness within the industry itself.

A short statement about why there's no new episode today.

In Episode 127, "A Fan of Fandom," Elizabeth and Flourish get (too?) meta answering a listener letter about the term "fan of fandom," which Flourish had previously dismissed as "cute." They discuss the ways different communities use the terms "fan" and "fandom," the role of affect in their fannish lives, and whether approaching all media with a fannish lens might lead to more inclusive fan spaces—and more diverse media.

In Episode 126, "Social Media Fic," Elizabeth and Flourish welcome Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, culture journalist and Elizabeth's collaborator on "The Rec Center," back to the podcast to talk about how fanfic has expanded across Twitter. Topics covered include the fuzzy lines between fiction and roleplay, changing norms around pseudonymity, and generational shifts around fanworks and ephemerality.

In Episode 125, Flourish and Elizabeth discuss the state of fan conventions in 2020, whether they've been canceled, moved online, or, in a few cases, are supposedly going forward (DragonCon, what are you doing???). What's lost in the transition from IRL to remote—and what can fans potentially gain? They also answer a listener question about, uh, other listeners' questions!

In Episode 124, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 7," Elizabeth and Flourish dig into a new pile of listener questions and comments. Topics covered include fan reactions when male versus female actors talk about shipping, whether spec scripts count as fanfiction, what to say to friends who disrespect fic, and how the podcast gets made.

In Episode 123, "Reread, Rewatch, Replay," Elizabeth and Flourish think about that most ubiquitous of comfort activities—returning to old favorite books, shows, films, games, and fics. Topics covered include the specific pleasures of re-experiencing narratives, how repeat consumption is an inherent part of fan culture, the different things people seek out when rereading fic, and how moments of collective trauma influence art and culture.

In very self-isolated Episode 122, "Wash Your Hands and Read Some Fic," Elizabeth and Flourish share the results of a mini-survey about people's fiction habits in times of crisis—the personal, the global, and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Are people more interested in fluff or angst? Do they seek escapism or catharsis? Is this a good time—or the worst time—to watch Contagion? They also read a message from the co-chair of the AO3 Technical Support and Feedback Committee on some of the reasons the Archive doesn't have a mobile app.

In Episode 121, Flourish and Elizabeth revisit the themes of an earlier episode about fanfiction and money in the wake of the recent brouhaha about apps like Fanfic Pocket Archive Library. They talk to fanfic author and copyright law professor Earlgreytea68 about "the AO3 App Wars," digging into topics like the basics of U.S. copyright law, the AO3's non-monetization policies, and the legal, moral, and ethical dimensions of who is (and who should be) permitted to make money from fanfic.

In Episode 120, Flourish and Elizabeth welcome back one of their earliest guests, Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, to talk about her book about race, fantasy, fandom (and more!), The Dark Fantastic. Topics covered include what Ebony's work as a reading professor entails, the themes of the book, Barnes & Noble's "diverse book cover" controversy, and what to do with the problematic canon of children's literature. They also discuss a listener's response to the last episode, about whether Oscar Isaac really can be said to "ship" Finnpoe.

In Episode 119, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 6," Flourish and Elizabeth tackle a new stack of listener questions and comments. Topics covered include actors' shipping preferences, #OwnVoices in profic and in fanfic, what counts as "canon," why we get stuck in fandoms we no longer like, and Flourish's true feelings about fictional demons.

In Episode 118, "The Craft of Writing (Fanfiction)," Flourish and Elizabeth interview Betts, a fic writer and professional writing instructor, about how different writing practices can inform each other on a craft level. They discuss how fanfic utterly altered Betts's career path, what role it plays in her classroom, the effects of changing norms around fic critique and feedback, and why many people in fandom spaces are reticent to engage with literary fiction (and why they should give it a try).

In Episode 117, "Fans and the Man," Elizabeth and Flourish talk about whether fandom really has "gone corporate" in the last decade—and if so, what parts of fandom, and in what ways? Topics covered include whether fans have "sold out," been exploited, or both; whether it's a good thing for fandom to be intertwined with corporations; and whether "curatorial" and "transformative" are even still useful terms to define fan cultures as we enter the '20s.

In Episode 116, Elizabeth and Flourish revive their end-of-year tradition and revisit big fandom trends in 2019. What changed, what got better, and what got worse? (According to Flourish, everything got worse.) Topics covered include the premature death knell for Tumblr, myths about the "monoculture," truths and falsehoods about "fantitlement," the messy rise of 8,000 streaming services, and, of course, "J. K. Rowling and the Infinite Pool of Bad Opinions." And finally, since this decade is FINALLY over, they talk about what's changed for fans over the past ten years. Spoiler alert: everything.

In Episode 115, "Power Plays," Flourish and Elizabeth discuss three listener letters that deal with the use (or misuse) different kinds of power in and adjacent to fandom. How do we navigate a social media world where creators can find—and fuel a backlash towards—negative critique? How do the amorphous structures of the fanfic world give some readers and writers more power than others? And what can you do if the person making your life miserable in a closed fandom community is also in charge of that space?

In Episode 114, "Live From GeekGirlCon," Elizabeth and Flourish take the show on the road and record their first-ever live episode—from the 9th annual GeekGirlCon in Seattle, Washington. They're joined by Kristine Hassell, the con's director of community engagement, to talk about diversity and inclusion at geek-oriented events, especially around disability, race, and gender. How can volunteer-run organizations with tight budgets make sure that everyone feels welcome and is able to participate?

In Episode 113, Flourish and Elizabeth look at brand social media accounts' relationships with fandom, from direct appeals to adopting the persona of a fan. When a musical, a breakfast restaurant, or a streaming service tweets about a Star Wars ship, what exactly do the people managing these accounts hope to achieve? They also answer a listener question about private vs. public fannish spaces online—and unload their feelings about Tumblr's new group chat feature.

In Episode 112, Flourish and Elizabeth talk to Rainbow Rowell, author of Fangirl, Carry On, Wayward Son, and many other novels, as well as the current run of Marvel's Runaways comics. They dig into the fandom experiences that inspire Rainbow's fiction, the differences (and similarities!) between fanfic and original writing, and Flourish feels the pain of being the only non-lurker in the conversation.

In Episode 111, "Canon, What Canon?" Flourish and Elizabeth discuss listener questions about the relationship between fans and the source material—including what happens when fans are more interested in fanon than canon. Topics discussed include headcanon orthodoxy, fanworks about fanworks, characterization, "death of the text," and whether Agent Dana Scully would prefer Herbal Essences or Pantene shampoo (and none of it strawberry-scented, damnit!).

In Episode 110, "Ask Fansplaining Anything: Part 5," Elizabeth and Flourish answer a new collection of listener letters and voicemails. Topics covered include ageism, "valorizing" bad behavior in fic, multishipping, and further thoughts about the phrase "OOC," in real life and in fiction.

Amidst a string of mediocre-to-bad articles about fandom in mainstream publications, Flourish demands answers from Elizabeth: How does one of these things get made? They discuss different kinds of publications, pitching, editing, differences between academic and journalistic writing, and fandom's tall poppy syndrome. They also respond to a listener who asks whether there's a statistical way to determine a fandom's percentage of "filthy kinksters."

In Episode 108, Flourish and Elizabeth interview Claire Kiechel, a playwright and a writer on The OA, a Netflix TV show that was recently cancelled—and the subject of a passionate fan campaign to bring it back. They discuss fandom conspiracy theories, the impact of violent stories on our emotional lives, why Hollywood is shunning original story ideas, and, most importantly, how BBA is THE BEST.

Continuing an annual tradition, Flourish and Elizabeth celebrate their fourth anniversary with guests from the past year, who talk about changes in fandom from the global to the personal. Topics include shifting privacy norms, fanzines and other smaller-scale fan activity, stanning corporations, and that old chestnut, fan/creator interaction on social media. A note: this conversation was recorded before Tumblr was sold and AO3 won a Hugo, but still! These points hold up!

In Episode 106, "The Neverending Franchise," Flourish and Elizabeth debrief after Fansplaining's panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, "Don't Dream It's Over: What Fans Do When Long-Running Stories End." They discuss the panelists' takes on the topic—what happens when specific iterations of a franchise come to an end—and dig into the (sometimes radically different) perspectives of various stakeholders in entertainment franchises, including fans, writers, producers, marketers, and more.

In Episode 105, Flourish and Elizabeth talk to Emily Nussbaum, television critic for The New Yorker, recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism, and the author of I Like to Watch: Arguing My Way Through the TV Revolution. The conversation focuses on the technological changes that have shaped television over the past two decades—and how those changes have altered the way we watch, discuss, and talk about it in turn. They then discuss a related listener letter on mismatched expectations between TV creators and audiences.

In Episode 104, Flourish and Elizabeth revisit the fannish version of the fourth wall—the barrier between fans and creators. In the first half, they look at fan/creator interaction around the new TV adaptation of Good Omens, from "death of the author" to validating fanfiction to the false dichotomy of "fan vs pro." In the second half, they tackle the dustup around HBO's Euphoria: Did the show go too far when they depicted Larry Stylinson fic—or when they created a Tumblr for a fictional Larry writer?

In Episode 103, Flourish and Elizabeth interview Leah Hennessey and Emily Allan, creators of "Slash: The Play," which they recently performed at Joe's Pub in New York City. Topics discussed include lurking, the appeal of "bad" writing, presenting ideas about fanfiction to people outside fandom, and the complicated interplay of irony and sincerity in fandom and in art. They also tackle the vitally important question, at length: What houses would the characters of BBC Sherlock be sorted into at Hogwarts?

In Episode 102, Elizabeth and Flourish talk about characterization: how fans interpret it, get attached to it, and fight about it. How do fans collectively come to an understanding of a fictional character? Does this change with textual vs visual source material? What does "OOC"—"out of character"—mean to people in different fannish spaces? They also respond to a listener letter about the history of fandom, and discuss what can be documented—and what cannot.

In Episode 101, "Stan Culture," Flourish and Elizabeth talk with Keidra Chaney, co-founder and publisher of The Learned Fangirl, about the terms "stan," "stanning," and "stan culture." They discuss the evolution of "stan" from a derogatory term to point of pride (for some), the structures of stan culture, similarities between pop music and sports fans, and the transactional nature of some stan behaviors.

In Episode 100, "The More You Know," Elizabeth and Flourish celebrate the ways they've learned and grown in the past four years of Fansplaining, reflecting on key areas where they've changed their frameworks—and their minds. Topics covered include lurkers, the realities of TV production, racism in fandom, and our old friend, capitalism. Here's to a hundred more!

In Episode 99, "The Shipping Answers," Elizabeth and Flourish are joined by special guest and DATA PROFESSIONAL verity to analyze the 17,391 (!!!) responses to the Fansplaining Shipping Survey. How do these bazillions of people define "shipping"? Following along with verity's interactive data visualization, they discuss topics including "active" vs. "casual" shipping, how fandom impacts shipping practices, and exactly how much people care about their ships being "endgame."

In Episode 98, "The After Effect," Elizabeth and Flourish talk about characterization and RPF, pegged to the release of the film After, adapted from Anna Todd's massively popular Harry Styles fanfic. What happens when different groups of fans clash over their interpretations of a celebrity—especially when some are interested in trying to divine the "truth" about their fave, while others are primarily interested in personal fantasies? They also answer listener questions about anti culture, fanfiction, and cycles of attention online.