The act of engaging deeply with fan-produced content—such as fanfiction, fanart, video edits, commentary, and memes—of a specific fandom without having consumed the original source material. A fandom stalker selectively immerses themselves in the emotional and aesthetic aspects of a fandom, often becoming familiar with character dynamics, plot arcs, and themes through the lens of other fans. This form of participation is marked by a pick-and-choose approach: embracing what resonates while intentionally avoiding aspects of the canon that don’t appeal.
“I’ve never watched The Last of Us, but I know everything about Ellie and Joel from reading fanfic and watching TikTok edits. I guess I’m fandom stalking.”
by critter018 May 13, 2025