Gatekeeping as an immunity strategy in transformative fandoms as exemplified by Star Trek fandom
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/LL.2.2021.002Keywords
fandom, gatekeeping, biopolitics, Star TrekAbstract
This paper is an attempt at a biopolitical interpretation of fan gatekeeping as a form of immunization – a defense mechanism that is supposed to protect the group and its identity against real or imaginary threats brought about by new fans. The discussion is based on an underresearched case of gatekeeping in the transformative fandom–the highly feminized fanfiction community in particular. The immunization tactics are exemplified by the reaction of the LiveJournal Star Trek community to the 2009 reboot of the franchise and the influx of new fans brought by the movie. The author provides a short description of the emergence of the Star Trek fandom, which was caused by gatekeeping in the first place, and analyzes the discursive practices of the more experienced fans and their at times impossible expectations, which were weaponized against the novices. The author concludes that the shift in the gatekeeping paradigm (from allowing/disallowing publication to the control of population) is a result of the popularization of Web 2.0.
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