Date of Award
2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Vesperi, Maria
Area of Concentration
Anthropology
Abstract
Fanfiction, or the practice of writing fiction about characters from a specific movie, TV show, or book is a practice that has existed for decades. Commonly attributed to the fanzines created by Star Trek fans in the 1960s, fanfiction has become an international phenomenon. Fanfiction is largely shared online and as a result, my research was conducted in an online setting. After speaking to eleven Star Trek fans who read or write fanfiction and reading the stories they selected for me to illustrate their interests, I have concluded that fanfiction is larger than its written works. Fanfiction is a community and a vessel for social commentary. My findings show how online communities are just as complicated as in-person communities, as well as how further studies of fanfiction communities may provide insight into how individuals regulate informal communities.
Recommended Citation
Reep, Victoria, "TO BOLDLY GO FROM ZINE TO AO3: A Study of Fanfiction Culture in the Star Trek Fandom" (2022). Theses & ETDs. 6292.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6292