TED Talks Daily The creativity and community behind fanfiction | Cecilia Aragon
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Mar 26, 2022 
Cecilia Aragon, a professor and author, explores the vibrant world of fanfiction, revealing how it helps young people enhance their writing skills and find community. She discusses its transformative power, showing how it combats exclusion and empowers creativity, especially among teenage girls. The conversation highlights the collaborative spirit of fanfiction communities, where shared narratives foster connections and mentorship. Aragon emphasizes the cultural significance of this art form as a vital outlet for self-expression and personal development.
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Early Fanfiction Experience
- As a young Latina girl, Cecilia Aragon felt excluded by the lack of female characters in The Lord of the Rings.
- She rewrote the story, giving female characters agency and finding empowerment through fanfiction.
Research Inspiration
- Cecilia Aragon and Katie Davis, challenging the narrative that "kids today can't write," began researching fanfiction's impact on young writers.
- Their research focused on whether fanfiction could enhance writing skills.
Fanfiction's Rise
- Modern fanfiction, originating from Star Trek fanzines, has exploded online.
- Platforms like fanfiction.net host billions of words from young authors, primarily teenage girls.
