#affinityspaces

I suppose I’m a part of an affinity space on my personal Tumblr. Through fans of bands (or as some of them call it, “bandoms”), we share information about the band, art we’ve made inspired by the band, and musical remixes from the band’s music. I’m a part of a lot of “bandoms” including All Time Low, Pierce The Veil, AFI, etc. I joined simply by following the people that posted content about the bands I like a lot until most of my dashboard was full of content related to the bandoms.

Since it’s a participatory culture, it means that not everyone has to contribute their own work, but they can if they choose to. I don’t share much created content. However, I participate in viewing and commenting on other’s work relating to the bands. I’ll occasionally read the fanfiction. I mostly share lyric pictures made by people I follow. Though I do post good photos and videos I take at concerts for people to view if they go through the band’s tag on the website. I only share footage and photos from shows if I think they’re worthy of the affinity space. There are so many talented editors within the bandoms that work so hard on lyric videos or editing a shot they took at a show to the point where they almost look professional. When I do share photos and videos, I receive feedback in the form of reblogs or likes. Though there is so much content, it isn’t hard for your content to fade in the background if you don’t have a lot of followers spreading it around.

If something is going on with the bands, I go to Tumblr to figure out what’s going on. Even if it’s something that just happened within the hour, someone is guaranteed to have already posted something about it. I learn about album details. I’m given links to interviews and articles about the band. All my information can be found through the posts of other fans.

This affinity space is important to me because it serves as a break from my academic responsibilities. I think by now, everyone who reads this blog knows that I love music and going to concerts. In those times when I can’t go to concerts, I can go to Tumblr and see content shared by fellow fans from times they’ve gone to a show.  The space helps keep me involved and invested in the bands that I love to listen to. Sometimes people will post discussions on what certain songs mean on an album and a group of people will begin discussing their opinions on the song. I still develop critical thinking skills related to the bands.

I often find myself looking at the bandoms from an outside point of view. I think about how crazy it is that a group of people making music can influence all of these people to join together and make things inspired by them. A fan’s love for their favorite band is so intense and they will devote their time and energy to them. If I had to add up how many hours I’ve spent scrolling through Tumblr looking at band related content, I’d lose track. Participating in it is so cool because no one judges you based on how you look or where you’re from. The affinity spaces are so special because they break down the barriers built up by society that try to divide us. It doesn’t matter to me if the girl that posts awesome lyric videos is only thirteen and from Denmark. Details like that don’t matter. The way I see it, if you’re a big fan of Secrets, for example, you and I are buddies. People instantly click when they find out people are obsessed with the same thing as they are.