What Is User-Generated Content Reflected Fan Culture

The invention of the internet was without a doubt one of the most impactful events to take place in our life time. But the Internet we know now is nothing like the internet that originally came out. The internet changed with the introduction of Web 2.0, which paved the way to what we now called user-generated content. Now a days, everything we do and love about the internet IS user-generated content. Everything from posting pictures, watching videos and connecting with friends relies on the participation of its users. Firstly, User-generated content has created a virtual powerful communities such as in the world of fan culture. Fans share thoughts, ideas and criticism creating what is now known as a “collective intelligence”. Secondly, user-generated

This essay will argue that user-generated content makes possible new democratic, participatory and egalitarian practices of social and cultural exchange. Firstly, the most dramatic impact user generated content has had would be its effect on fan culture. User generated content has changed fan culture forever as it allowed them to not only create blogs and social spaces but to share their views and ideas on a specific show, movie or game. User generated content has also created a virtual community, where fans are able to put their own spins on the works they admire. Fan Fiction became a massive cultural movement with thousands of fan-made stories surfing the web, mostly based off of science fiction classics such as Star Wars or Star Trek. “Their enthusiasm for these genres and properties provide not only please and entertainment, but also real forms of community, belonging and identity-as well as social and cultural recognition, value and worth.” [5] Fans have created a virtual space where their creative outputs can be appreciated and

For decades, audiences were viewed in a lackluster fashion, passively consuming all sorts of media that was directed at them. Through the popularity and influence of participatory culture audiences were able to share their creative ideas and put forth their democratic thoughts. In Sonia Livingstone’s New Media, New Audiences? she states that there are four new trends for new media. Focusing on the fourth trend she states, “the potentially most radical change of all, is the shift from one-way, mass communication towards more interactive communication between medium and user.” [4] Participatory culture has given a voice and provided an avenue for the people’s opinion to be heard. This change has converted many apolitical people into more interactive and expressive individuals. By providing many outlets to which people can vent such as Youtube, Facebook and Instagram, many ideas and movements have been started and heard. Social trends such as the #FreeTheNipple Twitter campaign took America by storm even attracting the attention of many celebrities such as Miley Cyrus, who openly discussed the topic at many interviews and talk shows. Also, websites like the Huffington Post are places were amateur but will hearted writers can share their political and democratic opinions. The Huffington Post prints articles that are submitted by people who have an idea, a criticism or even