The Conflict Between Fandom and Identity

‘The Witcher’ TV show might not seem like the most natural inspiration for enthusiastically queer romance writing, but for some fanfic authors, it’s a world rich with creative inspiration. Fanfic writers, especially those missing authentic representation in mainstream media, have long used their own writing to make stories that speak to them. And fandom communities, once niche conventions and now massive online archives and popular forums, offer welcoming spaces to explore and build friendships.

This is the first of our special series about the many worlds of fandom. To see the (explicit!) fanart of Gulliver’s Travels mentioned in the episode, head to the Met Museum’s archives.