Snowflake Challenge 2025 #5: learning never stops

[alchemicink]

Challenge #5
Talk about what has improved in your life thanks to fandom.



As much as I enjoy fandom, this was a hard one to come up with something immediately. Well, at least something with specifics. But after some thinking, I did have one particular thing that came to mind.

I have learned so much thanks to fandom!

What I love about fandom is that you're getting to enjoy things with a group of people. And that often means you're all sharing headcanons about characters, theorizing about worldbuilding, analyzing themes that pop up in stories, making silly jokes together, and more.

Because of that, I get to learn about so many different perspectives on whatever I'm watching, reading, etc. Everyone sees things through their own lens, influenced by their own lives. Something I might not think anything about may hit different for someone else. And when they share their perspective, I get to consider things in a different way than before.

One example: I've read a lot of My Hero Academia fanfic over the years, and I remember a popular headcanon about how Bakugou's explosive quirk may cause him to suffer hearing damage. I came across many fanfics that would include this detail in their stories, and it always got me thinking a lot more about resources for hard-of-hearing people, learning sign language, etc.

Another example: here is a fascinating tweet thread talking about the idea of restorative justice in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. (Lots of spoilers if you haven't seen the series.)

A lot of people might be familiar with that old meme about the Gundam franchise where it's easy to just say "hey cool robot" while you're watching and not engage in the larger themes in the story they're telling. And I think without access to fandom and seeing other people's different thoughts on the series, I would probably watch these shows on a more surface level only too, without thinking too deeply about them.

One last example: Occasionally, I like to listen to the Women at Warp podcast, which is a Star Trek franchise-focused podcast that explores "intersectional diversity in infinite combinations," as the hosts say. They look at how the Star Trek universe portrays a wide range of topics as well as analyze different characters and episodes. It's interesting and thoughtful commentary that always makes me want to go back and rewatch old episodes and consider something new in them.

(I also learned from this podcast that I've been pronouncing "hegemony" wrong for years 😂)

So, yes, fandom has improved my life in many ways (like helping me connect with lots of cool people and providing an escape when things are tough), but, to me, the aspect of learning from others has been the most rewarding so far.

Comments

[flamingsword]

Fandom is good at helping you acquire perspective, huh? I am way better at recognizing different possibilities for viewpoints than I used to be because of being here.

[alchemicink]

Yes, exactly! Fandom can really help expand a person's worldview in so many ways

[linky]

That's something I also really enjoy about fandom, is how it can expand your perspectives and help you learn new things! I know I've learned a lot through it too.

[alchemicink]

It's so great! There's just so much to learn out there, and fandom is a wonderful gateway to it

[vriddy]

YES but also thank you for linking to that Gundam Witch thread, super interesting :D And I kinda want to do a rewatch now, haha.

[alchemicink]

I thought it was really fascinating! (It also reminded me that I never finished the rewatch I was doing 😅 maybe I should get back to that!) I'd love to hear your thoughts on the series if you get around to rewatching too

[tjs_whatnot]

Combining, meshing and expanding head canons with others is such a fun and life altering experience! ❤️

[alchemicink]

I totally agree! It's been a lot of fun to explore over the years

[ngtskynebula]

"What I love about fandom is that you're getting to enjoy things with a group of people. And that often means you're all sharing headcanons about characters, theorizing about worldbuilding, analyzing themes that pop up in stories, making silly jokes together, and more. Because of that, I get to learn about so many different perspectives on whatever I'm watching, reading, etc. Everyone sees things through their own lens, influenced by their own lives. Something I might not think anything about may hit different for someone else. And when they share their perspective, I get to consider things in a different way than before." Indeed!

I hadn't thought of it before, but now that you've mentioned it, it makes so much sense. Not all my fandom buddies enjoy discussing lore with me cause I get in my writer mode pretty quickly, trying to understand the nuts and bolts whilst some just want to talk casually, but those who do! Those who so! I exchange lots of knowledge with them, indeed. Another reason to be grateful for them, ah. Oh, I love my loves.

Plus, how cool it is to find out there's a podcast out there with this theme! I wish my fandoms had one, too, or even a text based blog, but, alas!, all of them are dead. (I do plan on doing something similar on my own journal, one day, but it's gonna take... a while.)

[alchemicink]

Aww yeah it's so great to have friends who will dig into lore and worldbuilding with you! It's not for everyone, but I also appreciate the ones who share like that.

The Star Trek podcast is really cool. And I suppose it helps that there are hundreds of Star Trek episodes to discuss. But I also wish more fandoms had that kind of content too. Good luck to you in creating what you want to see in fandom one day 🥰