The New York Times film critic A.O. Scott has decided to go back to reviewing books, and reflected on problems with fandom.
These comments were discussed in a podcast I follow Across the Movie Aisle with three friends from different ideological perspectives (Republican Sonny Bunch, Libertarian Peter Suderman, Democrat Alyssa Rosenberg) since they often touch on cultural controversies in film. They were generally agreement that there's a problem with fandom trying to shut down discussion of films.But I’m not a fan of modern fandom. This isn’t only because I’ve been swarmed on Twitter by angry devotees of Marvel and DC and (more recently) “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” It’s more that the behavior of these social media hordes represents an anti-democratic, anti-intellectual mind-set that is harmful to the cause of art and antithetical to the spirit of movies. Fan culture is rooted in conformity, obedience, group identity and mob behavior, and its rise mirrors and models the spread of intolerant, authoritarian, aggressive tendencies in our politics and our communal life.
But I will always love being at the movies: the tense anticipation in a darkening theater, the rapt attention and gasping surprise as a the story unfolds, and the tingly silence that follows the final shot, right before the cheers — and the arguments — start. I wouldn’t miss any of the movies I’ve seen, even the bad ones.
Do you guys think this is true? Are some fans too angry and anti-intellectual? Are they turning into social media hordes?