Media literacy matters, and that doesn’t just apply to traditional news media. Pop culture is a window to and reflection of our culture at large, and a study of it can help you tap into and navigate the current zeitgeist. If you’re looking to get a better understanding of how film criticism and fan cultures intersect in this media landscape, here is a quick crash-course to get you started.
This is an extensive academic study of the phenomenon of The Last Jedi and the toxic fandom that tried to strike it from the Star Wars canon, specifically through aggressive tweets and social media campaigns. Source: First Monday, a peer-reviewed online journal.
2. The Problem With Toxic Fandom And How We Can Fix It
A podcast episode from the SlashFilm podcast featuring Lindsey Romain from Nerdist, who writes a lot about toxic fandom surrounding Star Wars. There are several entries on this list pertaining to that particular fandom, because the problems within it have been particularly notable. Source: YouTube, SlashFilm
3. Twitter thread from former Star Wars writer Chuck Wendig
Prominent writer and critic Chuck Wendig threads his experience of being fired from working on ancillary Star Wars stories following his push-back against angry, trolling fans – and the way those fans harass and bully the people that work on these franchises. Source: Twitter, Chuck Wendig
4. Importance of Film Criticism
A quick look into the importance of film criticism to film itself, and society and culture at large. Film is an art, and art critique has always been inextricable from art itself. An important entry on this list for anyone who wants to understand and appreciate film better. Source: YouTube, Cinema Beyond Entertainment
A worthy Twitter follow for anyone wanting to broaden their criticism horizons beyond the standard white, male boundaries. Women are notoriously underrepresented and diminished in film criticism, and the only way to fix that is to listen to and support the female critics that are making their voices heard. Source: Twitter
6. The Most Beautiful Shots in Movie History
This one’s just for fun, but I think a very important and worthwhile watch for everyone – especially those wanting to appreciate the art of film and cinematography. A reminder of why film (and art) is such a significant part of our culture, and why we love to study it. Source: YouTube, The Solomon Society
