Construction of discursive fandom and structural fandom through anime comics and game fan conventions in Malaysia

Abstract

This article discusses the concept of fandom structures centring on Japanese popular culture fan conventions by highlighting potential factors underlying young Malaysians’ involvement in such conventions. Data were collected from participatory observations at four conventions and interviews with nine Malaysians involved in conventions for at least 5 years. These participants felt marginalized in their school lives because of their fondness for anime, yet they expressed a sense of togetherness while at conventions. For those continuously involved, the conventions were not limited to only a temporal ritual space, as may be explained with the term ‘communitas’. While experiencing a feeling of ‘communitas’ with other convention attendees as of members of their discursive fandom, they acquired a hierarchical system within other activity-based fandom. In this way, young Malaysians have not merely been subsumed into an existing system as the respective structural fandom communities enable the inclusion of democratic aspects by being open to the public through local conventions.

What's in a word?

“…[1.2] Cosplay (costume play) activity emerged in the early 2000s, notably at fan conventions relating to Japanese cultural commodities. As I have discussed elsewhere (Yamato 2016), most major Malaysian ACG (anime, comics, and game) fan conventions include cosplay activity. Besides their involvement in official stage competitions and fashion shows, cosplayers (people who engage in cosplay) have important roles at the convention sites as key participants in the convention and, collectively, as an unofficial attraction for other convention goers.…”

Attendees' experiences of anime conventions in the United States: a netnography study

“…The researcher suggested that these conventions offer an ultimate atmosphere for fans to socialize with individuals who share the same interests. Additionally, Yamato (2018) conducted a cultural study to examine the fandom structure of anime conventions in Malaysia, the findings of which indicated that the attendees displayed a sense of togetherness during the convention and felt they belonged to a discursive fandom with others. Additionally, the existing literature on festivals and events points out that a primary aspect of attendees' experiences is to fulfill their hedonic consumption, which refers to the customers' demands for an enjoyable and positive experience (Arnould and Price, 1993;Yang et al, 2011).…”

Narrating absence: Fan con events and the commodification of leisure

“…Etymologically fan, a contraction of fanatic, has its roots in theology; a fanatic being an individual that is possessed, commonly to the point of insanity, by some spiritual and/or divine entity (Renton, 2018). Inquiries that have drawn close parallels between religious behaviour and fandom frequently conceptualise fans as pilgrims (such as Couldry, 2000, Hanna, 2014, and Yamato, 2018, and conventions as sites of pilgrimage (Porter, 2004;Hill, 2017;Herrmann, 2018). Though not universally supported (Cavicchi, 1998;Duffett, 2013), such interpretations would place some forms of fan event, much earlier.…”

“…Whilst there is a substantial element of materiality around fandom, the purchase of memorabilia; paying to be in an autograph queue; purchasing comics, posters, graphic novels; buying a ticket to have a photo-op with your favourite star etc., the role of interpersonal communications between fans, within a fan community, is central to the emergence of the discourses within which its participants articulate their leisure practice (Bernstein, 2012;Herrmann, 2018;Yamato, 2018). To that extent, following Spracklen (2013), it can be argued that fan-based activities follow other forms of leisure in that the essence of their relationality is communicative.…”