The Hetalia Fandom

[phiso-kun.livejournal.com]

I have no idea if this is appropriate or not, so if mods think it should be deleted I understand. (It didn't seem quite right for the FAQ, though...) If it's kind of iffy, I will gladly post more icons to pay for the crime. >>

So, I am writing my final paper for my anthropology class called Media, Culture, and Society; in it, we're supposed to pick a media technology and talk about how it affected society and culture (or continues to do so). I have chosen LJ, with a focus on how it's affected fan bases and fandoms, Hetalia included.

I would like to know everything you guys know about the evolution of the Hetalia fandom. How did you first hear about the fandom? Where did you go to first? What were the qualities of all the communities you've gone to (for example, ff.net versus LJ )? What WERE the biggest hubs of fans when you first joined, in your point of view? What are the CURRENT hubs of fan activity, in your opinion? What made you pick LJ as your resting place, or one of them? Do you think the LJ fandom has any affect on Hetalia, be it in Japan or the US?

Any and all thoughts, opinions, links, histories, and stories would be loved. <3 <3 If you'd rather comment on my personal LJ, then click on my submission of a Russia/Belarus cosplaying pair icon.

Thank you~!

Comments

[zumie-ashlen.livejournal.com]

I actually can't remember exactly where I first heard about Hetalia, but I came here to find out more and never left. This is the first fandom I've actually had any sort of involvement in, and it remains the largest, hand-down. I kind of had an intrinsic fear of fandoms previously because of so many bad experiences with fan dumb, but 99% of Hetalians I've met are super cool. ^-^ b

I think this pcomm lace is still one of the most active, but that's because the other communities tend to be more specialized toward certain niches--this is still the place to go for an overview of the whole fandom, aka where the majority of us hang out. I don't really hang out in the other parts, s it's hard for me to say.

I think the lj facet of the fandom is what allows the gatherings and info-finding to happen more easily, which in turn leads to more people finding out about the fandom. Also, the internet notices large gatherings, so...

As for stories... well, my sister, upon hearing about Hetalia, thought it was in bad taste and that there were no females in the series/that they were largely ignored. Managed to get her to read the War of Austrian Succession and she turned into a Hungary fanatic. Also, Jeanne d'Arc (her favorite historical figure) being in the comic helped too. So now she's fond of it too, which is awesome.

[phiso-kun.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for your answer! <3 You're awesome. :D