I published a new column at The Escapist earlier this week. With the recent releases of Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Spider-Man: No Way Home, it seemed like a good opportunity to reflect on the argument that franchise brand extensions exist “for the fans.” What does that even mean?
As a fan myself, I find myself unsettled and disturbed by the idea that these sorts of properties should exist primarily for the satisfaction and consumption of the existing fanbase, not least because it means validating certain kinds of fans above others and pushes franchises towards an aesthetic conservativism that often strangles them. Perhaps the best thing to do “for the fans” is simply to make media as good as possible and let history sort the rest out.
You can read the piece here, or click the picture below.
Filed under: On Second Thought | Tagged: doctor who, escapist, fan service, fandom, films, for the fans, ghostbusters: afterlife, Movies, spider-man: no way home, star trek, star wars, star wars: episode ix - the rise of skywalker, the escapist, the rise of skywalker, tv | Leave a comment »
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