Fandom interview project! Pinging Fans of Colour/Other non-white racial, ethnic, cultural identity!

[zorana]

Hi! I know this dreamwidth/lj is pretty dead but I needed somewhere to put this that it wouldn't be lost in the ether of twitter and tumblr! I'll try to be brief in this post but I welcome any questions or clarifications about what I'm doing in case I'm not clear!

What is this about?

So! As I said I'm looking to talk to fans of colour (I use the term only due to heavy US-based fandom usage and fully recognise its limitations!)/fans of other non-white racial/ethnic or cultural identifier of choice, about the way we choose to engage (or not) with fandom on issues that impact that part of our identities. Academic work in fan studies is distressingly white (hah surprise!) and so I'm trying to rock that boat in this part of my PhD.

I have Indian, Australian and Singaporean fans who I'm interviewing but I've realised I don't know people in North America that might be open to talking to me! And I was hoping this would get the word out!

ETA: If you're not from North America please do drop me a line if you're interested! The more people I can talk to the more representative my project will be!

What am I trying to do?

I'm basically trying to record non-white experiences of fandom and hoping to show that there's a whole range of ways in which people deal with these highly flawed texts that we love, as well as how that's reflected in fan work and fandom communities. I want to show that we've always been here, whether as lurkers, creators, beta-readers or what have you. That there is no one way or "right way" to approach issues of race in fandom but it is and always has been something that impacts our experiences in a whole host of ways.

That seems like a lot! What is going to be involved?

I'd like to make this as low stress as possible! I'm happy to conduct the interviews in any way that is comfortable to people, either as a chat or Skype or through a google form etc. You would be absolutely free to back out at any time in the process.

Who are you anyway?

My fandom name is zorana and always has been! I was a lurker for a very long time until I got involved in Adam Lambert fandom and so this journal was born. I don't write fanfic anymore though there is some terrible old stuff floating around sssssh. I was born and brought up in India and am currently doing my PhD in Australia.

Also of course the project has been approved by the university ethics board and I will be following extremely strict confidentiality procedures to protect everyone's identities as well. I'd be happy to expand on any part of the project and its aims with anyone with further questions!

If you'd like to email me directly I'm zoranakill@gmail.com! Or you could just send me your email and we could set something up.

If you find yourself unable to talk to me and know someone who might be interested I'd be very grateful if you could pass it on! Thank you!

ETA: This has come up a bit so I thought I'd clarify! I would like to interview who engages with fandom in any way - lurking, creating, cheerleading etc! My only requirement (for ethics guideline reasons) is that you are above 18. Thank you!

Comments

[talitha78]

here via thefourthvine. I would be willing to be interviewed. I don't know that I have tons to say, but I did make a vid in direct response to RaceFail 2009: http://talitha78.dreamwidth.org/187540.html

[zorana]

Hi Talitha! Wow thank you for your interest! I'd be thrilled to have your input on my work! Could I grab an email that I could send you more info on/set up a convenient time/format? Thank you!

[talitha78]

My email address is tallybub at yahoo dot com.

[amadi]

I'm game for an interview.

[zorana]

Hi Amadi! Thank you so much for your interest! If I could get an email that I could send you more info on/set up a convenient time/format that'd be awesome. Thank you

[amadi]

I've sent you a PM with my email address. :)

[teland]

*waves* Black/African-American/American Mutt fangirl here. <3 I'd love to help any way I can!

(Derry sent me)

You can page me via e-mail @ leytelj AT gmail DOT com but I much prefer chat. Currently I can be reached on Skype, AIM, gtalk, Astra, Y!, and Windows Live Messenger. I tend to have the best luck with the first 4 programs.

[zorana]

Yay! Thank you! I've pinged you already but couldn't let the comment go unanswered heh

[lurrel]

I'm game, sent here by sentquietly. I'm a white Latina in the US, and my email is just my username at gmail (same with gtalk!).

[zorana]

Hi Lurrel! Thank you so much for getting in touch! I've just sent you an email!

[jhameia]

OH YAY!! MORE POC ACADEMICS IN FANDOM STUDIES!!

I mean, cool!! I write a blog on race and racism in steampunk (started it as part of my MA thesis): http://silver-goggles.blogspot.com/ I've since moved on to do an analysis of whiteness in steampunk.

[zorana]

Hello! Such a pleasure to finally be able to say hi! We've shared some fandoms I think but I'm a persistent lurker so! *waves madly* Would you be interested in an interview? No pressure! Thank you for the cheerleading! It is great to see more diverse work coming out :D

[jhameia]

Oh which fandoms? and sure! Although you might get academic bias from me XDDDD

[zorana]

I think Avatar was one, though I was late to the fandom there! And then more recently Korra if memory serves me right. (Apologies for the delay in my response but Diwali suddenly exploded everywhere (hah)!) And haha we're all biased in some way! I'd love to get your thoughts! If you could pm me your email I can send you some more deets! :D

[butterflydreaming]

I'd be happy to help. I'm mixed race, mostly in animated & anime fandoms. I'll send you a PM with my email address.

[zorana]

Thank you for dropping by! I've emailed and hope to chat more soon!

[askmehow]

Hey! I'm not US-based (which I gather is the primary purpose?), but I'm happy to help out.

[zorana]

Yes of course! I don't know whether I have your email though! PM me? Thank you!

[surpassingly]

I'd be happy to be interviewed by email if you'd like! I'm a Filipina in Australia and initially didn't think to reply as I thought you wanted more North American fans, but I saw your post reblogged on Tumblr :) My email is ephemere at gmail dot com!

[jorge_callas]

Hey, I'm Chinese and I'm from Singapore. My email is marrakechinyoureyes @ gmail. So if you're still looking for interviewees I'd like to be interviewed.

[zorana]

Hallo! Thank you for getting in touch! I did drop you an email a few days ago but just checking if you got it! Hope to hear from you soon :D

[jinkyo]

U.S. Mutt, normally tick off the African American box. jinkyohearn AT yahoo

[zorana]

Hi! Thank you so much for your interest! I did drop you an email a few days ago but just thought I'd check that it went through! Cheers!

[cxw1065]

Hello

I would be up for a chat

Londoner of Indian background

you can get hold of me at my username at yahoo dot co dot uk

[zorana]

Hi! Thank you very much for getting in touch! I've just sent you an email! :D

[joe-the-flea.livejournal.com]

Hi! If you're still looking for people, I'm an Indian-American fan - mostly lurking on LJ/Dreamwidth/AO3 and reblogging on Tumblr, but I used to write fic and I'm starting to do so again. My email's jedi.seagull@gmail.com :)

[zorana]

Hallo! Thank you for getting in touch! I've just shot you off an email!

[toujours_nigel]

Hullo zorana! I'm an Indian fan, and would be interested in talking to you, though not entirely sure I've much to say.

[zorana]

Hi! Thank you so much for your interest! I would love to talk to you and really I'm cool with as much or as little as you'd like to share :D Could I get an email (pm me if you'd like!)? I'd be happy to send you the details!