Episode 6: My Little Pony Review / Fandom

Episode 6: My Little Pony Review / Fandom

Topic: My Little Pony Review / Fandom

Previously, we did a tutorial on My Little Pony and the more recent incarnation of the series, Friendship Is Magic. Now, My Little Pony isn't actually nerdy; it's down right mainstream if you think about it.  But I wanted to use this topic, something Most people are generally aware of to discuss and get to Fandom, in particular the culture of the Brony, along with discussing some aspects of Fandom media, including Fanfics, FanArt, FanVideo, and Fan-media as a whole.

Review Material
Netflix

• Season 1:
  • Episodes 1 & 2
  • Episode 6
  • Episode 13
  • Episode 25

Show Notes

Bronies?
Started on 4chan, derivative of 2chan in Japan. 

• 4chan is a semi-popular, underground hub for discussion on various topics of media, from memes, to shows, and often random and bizarre fandoms and interest. Often blamed for mobilizing though pranks, coordinating attacks on other websites; trolling comes from this website often.

Initially criticized by Amid Amidi(Animation news website) for being a toy-centric cartoon with major talent behind it in frost.  The essay created a backlash as more people started looking in to it, and soon pony related media/memes were so dominate on the website that they had to ban any threads.

Originally Liked Ironically, later loved because of the characters, stories, and honesty in the show.

Bronies are unique amongst fandom as most fandoms are exclusive those in the know, while Bronies appear to be mostly inclusive, wanting more people inside, despite the weird or unusual.

Possible reasons for bronies?

• Brony Studies
• "so much cynicism and negativity out there in so many [other] shows" while the show "has such a positive message"

Equestria Daily, major MLP:FIM fandom website.


Fanfics, Fan-Art, Fan-Animations, Fan Music

First major fanfics were about Star Terk
Similar Japanese dōjinshi, Japanese made comics using other characters/settings that are copyright.
Terms:

• Mary Sue: author insert or wish fulfillment,
• Shipping: setting two character up together that may or may not naturally get together romantically
• Slash Fiction: Primarily romantic/sexual relationships between men. Femslash, for women.
• Smut: Primarily Explicit/pornographic writings, see Hentai
• Crossover/fusion: when blending two different settings/casts/franchises.

Not explicitly illegal, more or less agreed that so long as you aren’t making money off of it, you’re okay.
Some authors/creators okay with it, not all though.
Most famous fanfic: 50 Shades of Gray, fanfic of Twilight series.

PMV (Pony Music Video)
Similar to an AMV (Anime Music Video)

BronyCon
Set in New York/New Jersey.  Fan created convention to promote fandom. Likely to end after 2019.

Merchandise:
Figurines
Dvds
Blind Bags
Stuffed Animals
Clothing
Lots of Fan Created stuff

Discussed items:
Fanfiction.net
Equestria Daily 
PMV - Pony Polka