This Week In Fandom History

This Week In Fandom History is a fandom podcast co-hosted by aimmyarrowshigh and Emily Jaye. The focus is an exploration of fandom history as real, material history. Week by week, the hosts discuss one significant fandom event that happened in history during that calendar week.
Topics covered include the first instance of tropes or key fandom activities such as the first slash fic or the first Omegaverse work, the release of Stranger Things and Sherlock (TV series), disruptive fandom events like Strikethrough and Boldthrough amongst others.
On 11 January 2023, the official description read:
On January 15, 2025, This Week In Fandom History hit 50,000 streams on Spotify.https://thisweekinfandomhistory.com/post/772736936040333312/as-of-6am-est-this-morning-we-hit-50000-streams 
=== Episode List ===
==== 2023 Episodes ====
Episodes of This Week In Fandom History
Episode Number	Release Date 	Title 	Fandom(s) and Fannish Topics 	Direct Link
1 	January 1, 2023 	January 4, 2005: LiveJournal Sold to SixApart 	Multifandom, LiveJournal 	X
2 	January 8, 2023 	January 11, 1994: The First X-Files Fanfiction Is Posted 	The X-Files, Forever Knight 	X
3 	January 15, 2023 	January 1967: The First Star Trek Zine Is Distributed 	Star Trek, Vulcanalia 	X
4 	January 22, 2023 	January 24, 2016: One Direction Fans Discuss "Conchobar" 	One Direction, Larry Stylinson, Conchobar 	X
5 	January 29, 2023 	January-February 2010: Help_Haiti Auction... And Its Aftermath 	Help_Haiti, J2, The Haiti Fic 	X
6 	February 5, 2023 	February 1983: Groundhog Day Stories Published, Helping Create Slash As We Know It 	Groundhog_Day, Starsky_&_Hutch, Starsky/Hutch 	X
7 	February 12, 2023	February 2013: Femslash February Founded 	Femslash_February 	X
8 	February 19, 2023	February 19, 2007: Tumblr Founded 	Tumblr 	X
9 	February 26, 2023	March 2013: The Flower Crown Meme (TW Body Horror, Gore) 	Flower Crowns, Hannibal, One Direction, Harry Styles, Hannigram 	X
10 	March 5, 2023 	March 8, 2016: #LGBTFansDeserveBetter and the Spring Slaughter 	#LGBTFansDeserveBetter, Clexa, the Spring Slaughter, The 100 	X
11 	March 12, 2023 	March 2009: Fandom March Madness on LiveJournal 	Fandom March Madness, Fandom Misogyny, Fandom Racism 	X
12 	March 19, 2023 	March 2014: Into the TriadVerse 	TriadVerse, Singin' in the Rain, OT3s 	X
13 	March 26, 2023 	April 1, 2013: #MISHAPOCALYPSE (And SuperWhoLock) 	#MISHAPOCALYPSE, SuperWhoLock, Goncharov 	X
14 	April 2, 2023 	April 7, 2000: Anne Rice's Anti-Fanfiction Screed 	Anne Rice, The Anne Rice Letter, Fanfiction, DMCA 	X
15 	April 9, 2023 	April 15, 1997: "MMMBop" Changes the World Forever 	Hanson, Boy Bands, Popslash 	X
16 	April 16, 2023 	April 1979: "Bunkies" Introduces Everyone's Favorite Trope 	Bunkies, Star Wars, HanLuke, There Was Only One Bed, Tropes 	X
17 	April 23, 2023 	April 26, 2019: Avengers: Endgame Reminds Us That Fandom Can Lose 	Avengers: Endgame, TPTB, Stucky, Steggy 	X
18 	May 2, 2023 	May 4, 2010: Diana Gabaldon Fundamentally Misunderstands Fanfiction 	Diana Gabaldon, Fanfiction, Outlander, Doxxing 	X
19 	May 7, 2023 	May 2000: A Xena Fandom War Births "Born For War" 	Xena: Warrior Princess, Xena/Ares, Xena/Gabrielle, Born For War 	X
20 	May 14, 2023 	May 2007: FanLib Tries to Commercialize Fanfiction and Everyone Has Big Feelings 	FanLib, Commercialization in Fanworks, Ghost Whisperer 	X
21 	May 22, 2023 	May 20, 2000: The One With Sitcom Fandoms 	Sitcom 	X
22 	May 29, 2023 	May 29, 2007: Strikethrough 	Livejournal, Strikethrough 	X
23 	Jun 6, 2023 	June 2001: Cassandra Claire Sends Shockwaves Through Harry Potter Fandom 	Cassandra Claire, The Draco Trilogy, Harry Potter, Fanfiction.net 	X
24 	Jun 14, 2023 	June 17, 2009: The Great Trigger Warning Debate of 2009 	Livejournal, Panic! At the Disco, Bandom, Trigger Warnings, Tagging 	X
25 	Jun 20, 2023 	June 19, 2022: OTW Election Drama Digs Up the 227 Incident 	227 Incident, Blocking of AO3 in China, OTW Elections 	X
26 	Jun 26, 2023 	June 25, 2011: "Let's Get Gay Married!" Commentfic Meme Launched 	Commentfic 	X
27 	Jul 4, 2023 	July 1, 2005: Percy Jackson Takes Fandom By (Lightning) Storm 	Percy Jackson and the Olympians 	X
28 	Jul 11, 2023 	A VERY SPECIAL EPISODE! July 11-13, 2014: DashCon, with Special Guest Lauren Shippen! 	DashCon, Tumblr 	X
29 	Jul 17, 2023 	July 15, 2016: Stranger Things Premieres 	Stranger Things, Mileven, Byler, Steddie, Hellcheer, Ronance, Shipping Wars 	X
30 	Jul 25, 2023 	July 25, 2010: Sherlock Premieres on the BBC 	Sherlock, SuperWhoLock, Sherlock/John 	X
31 	Jul 31, 2023 	August 2005: The First-Ever Big Bang Explodes the Fanfiction Universe 	Big Bang, Drarry 	X
32 	Aug 8, 2023 	August 1997: The 501st Legion Is Founded 	Star Wars, 501st Legion 	X
33 	Aug 16, 2023 	BONUS! This Place In Fandom History: LIVE @ FanExpo Chicago '23 	due South, Ray Wars 	X
34 	Aug 19, 2023 	August 15, 2013: "Crazy About 1D" Airs on Channel 4 & Pathologizes Fandom 	One Direction, Crazy About 1D 	X
35 	Aug 22, 2023 	August 1975: The August Party Becomes the First Fan Con 	Star Trek, the August Party 	X
36 	Sept 1, 2023 	August 31, 2009: Disney Buys Marvel Studios and We Enter the Endgame 	Marvel, Disney 	X
37 	Sept 5, 2023 	September 5, 2007: The Organization for Transformative Works is Filed as a Nonprofit (TW Racism, TW CSAM, TW Antisemitism) 	Organization for Transformative Works, Archive of Our Own 	X
38 	Sept 17, 2023 	August-November 1988: "A Death in the Family" Divides Batman Fandom 	Batman, Jason Todd, Major Character Death, A Death in the Family 	X
39 	Sept 25, 2023 	September 18, 2008: Castiel First Appears on Supernatural and Destiel is Born 	Supernatural, Castiel, Destiel, 2007 WGA Strike 	X
40 	Oct 2, 2023 	September 26, 1975: Rocky Horror Picture Show Premieres 	Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cosplay 	X
41 	Oct 23, 2023 	October 1976: The First Slash Fic Is Released And We All Benefit 	Star Trek, Kirk/Spock, Slash, Shelter (Star Trek: TOS story) 	X
42 	Oct 30, 2023 	October 12, 2002: RPF is Purged from Fanfiction.net, Alexandria Burns 	Fanfiction.net, FanFiction.Net's NC-17 Purges: 2002 and 2012, RPF, Dream Street, Backstreet Boys	X
43 	Nov 7, 2023 	October 16, 2019: Yahoo! Groups Purge Announced 	Yahoo! Groups, Fannish Purges 	X
44 	Nov 7, 2023 	October 26, 2017: The Hamilton Cannibal Mermaid HIVliving Wank 	Hamilton (musical), Hivliving 	X
45 	Nov 10, 2023 	October 29, 2002: The Firefly Immediate Assistance Campaign Takes Flight 	Firefly, Whedonverse 	X
46 	Nov 10, 2023 	November 8, 2010: The Omegaverse Is Born 	J2, Omegaverse 	X
47 	Nov 13, 2023 	November 2003: The First Yuletide Exchange Opens 	Yuletide 	X
48 	Nov 20, 2023 	November 17, 2004: The Winter Soldier Makes His First Appearance 	MCU, Bucky Barnes 	X
49 	Nov 27, 2023 	December 1973: The World Meets Mary Sue 	Mary Sue, Self-insertion 	X
50 	Dec 2, 2023 	December 7, 2002: "Tongues Battling for Dominance" First Used... Maybe? 	Fanfiction, Fanfic Terminology 	X
51 	Dec 10, 2023 	December 1893: Sherlock Holmes Fandom Goes Into Mourning 	Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes 	X
52 	Dec 19, 2023 	December 2015: Miraculous Ladybug Premieres in the USA to Fannish Joy 	Miraculous Ladybug 	X
53 	Dec 31, 2023 	ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: The Batshit Saga of Andy Thanfiction, Part I (TW Gaslighting, Abuse, Suicide Attempt, Fraud, Mental Illness) 	Andythanfiction 	X
54 	Dec 31, 2023 	ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: The Batshit Saga of Andy Thanfiction, Part II (TW Gaslighting, Abuse, Murder, Gun Violence, Suicide, Mental Illness)	Andythanfiction 	X
==== 2024 Episodes ====
Episodes of This Week In Fandom History
Episode Number	Release Date 	Title 	Fandom(s) and Fannish Topics 	Direct Link
55 	January 12, 2014 	January 7, 2014: The JohnLock Conspiracy Begins 	Sherlock, The Johnlock Conspiracy 	X
56 	January 14, 2024 	January 2014: The Crack Van Closes Up Shop 	Crack Van 	X
57 	January 22, 2024 	January 20, 2015: Parse Drops (TW F-Slur, Homophobic Violence) 	Check Please! 	X
58 	January 28, 2024 	January 29, 1996: Threshold Day! 	Star Trek 	X
59 	February 7, 2024 	February 10, 2021: Charisma Carpenter Calls Out Joss Whedon 	Charisma Carpenter, Joss Whedon, Cordelia Chase, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel the Series	X
60 	February 11, 2024 	February 21, 2021: Sexy Times With WangXian Is Suspended From AO3 (Add Tags Here) 	Sexy times with Wangxian, Tagging, AO3 Tagging System 	X
61 	February 18, 2024 	February 2009: Twilight Fandom Stays Wide Awake 	Wide Awake 	X
62 	March 3, 2024 	February-March 2009: Racefail '09 Continues, with Guest bossymarmalade 	Racefail '09 	X
63 	March 11, 2024 	March 7, 2002: The Snapefic Liberation Front Forms (PLUS: The Snapewife Saga) 	Snapefic Liberation Front, Snapewives 	X
64 	March 17, 2024 	March 1988: The Killing Joke Is Released 	The Killing Joke, Joker, Batman, Barbara Gordon 	X
65 	March 24, 2024 	March 22-25, 2012: Holy Musical B@man! 	Holy Musical B@man!, Team StarKid 	X
66 	March 31, 2024 	March 26, 2005: Doctor Who Returns to the BBC 	Doctor Who, New Who, Ninth Doctor, Russell T. Davies 	X
67 	April 7, 2024 	April 2, 1956: As the World Turns Premieres on CBS 	As The World Turns, Luke/Noah 	X
68 	April 14, 2024 	April 3, 1999: What Would They Think? 	Luke Skywalker Is Gay?, Backstreet Boys slash 	X
69 	April 21, 2024 	April 15, 1912: The RMS Titanic Sinks (And 85 Years Later There's a Huge Fandom About It) 	Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio 	X
70 	May 5, 2024 	May 3, 1991: Dallas Closes Out Its Final Season 	Dallas 	X
71 	May 13, 2024 	May 3, 2021: Dracula Daily Delivers the First Message From Our Friend Jonathan 	Dracula Daily 	X
72 	May 19, 2024 	May 19, 2009: Glee Premieres on FOX 	Glee 	X
73 	May 19, 2024 	BONUS! May the 4th Star Wars Holiday Special 	Star Wars ships 	X
74 	May 26, 2024 	May 23, 2001: Die, Seven, Die! + What Was Usenet? 	Die, Seven, Die! challenge, Star Trek: Voyager's finale, USENET 	X
75 	June 3, 2024 	June 1, 2015: The Marion Zimmer Bradley & Walter Breen Episode (TW: CSA, Rape, Incest, Total Institutional Failure)	Marion Zimmer Bradley, Marion Zimmer Bradley Fanfiction Controversy, Walter Breen 	X
76 	June 9, 2024 	June 5-6, 1832: - Present: Barricade Day Makes Les Amies de Les Mis Fandom Cry 	Les Miserables, Enjolras, Enjolras/Grantaire 	X
77 	June 16, 2024 	June 10, 2016: Voltron: Legendary Defender Premieres & June 10th, 2017: #shoegate 	Voltron: Legendary Defender, Shaladin, #shoegate 	X
78 	June 23, 2024 	June 19-20, 1982: The Con of Wrath 	Star Trek, The Con of Wrath 	X
79 	June 30, 2024 	June 2016: Bubble Pop! Zine Party Rocks D.C. 	Kpop, Bubble Pop! 	X
80 	July 15, 2024 	July 4: Merry Stevemas! 	Steve Rogers, Captain America 	X
81 	July 21, 2024 	July 10-11, 2023: The OTW Suffers a DDoS Attack 	AO3, OTW 	X
82 	July 28, 2024 	July 16, 2010: Inception Incepts Fandom with Arthur/Eames 	Inception, Arthur/Eames 	X
83 	August 4, 2024 	July 22-23, 2017: The Supergirl Musical Homophobia Scandal 	Supergirl, Supercorp 	X
84 	August 11, 2024 	July 20 - August 2, 2016: Cipher Hunt! 	Gravity Falls, Cipher Hunt, Alex Hirsch 	X
85 	August 21, 2024 	August 1994: Green Lantern's Girlfriend is Fridged 	Green Lantern, Marvel, DC, fridging, The Hawkeye Initiative 	X
86 	August 31, 2024 	Summer 2000-2003: Harry Potter Fandom and the Three-Year Summer 	Harry Potter 	X
87 	September 8, 2024 	September 1, 2017: The Handbook for (My) Immortals; Or, Two Literary Frauds! 	My Immortal, Fannish Identities, Fraud 	X
88 	September18, 2024 	September 14-15, 1974: The First Fest for Beatles Fans 	The Beatles, conventions, internet safety 	X
89 	September 26, 2024	September 16, 2012: The Bullshit Tweet 	One Direction Fandom Wars 	X
90 	October 2, 2024 	September 25-October 5, 2023: Vioter Fraud Upsets the AO3 Top Ships Bracket Tumblr Poll 	AO3, Ship Wars, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Our Flag Means Death, Tumblr Polls 	X
91 	October 6, 2024 	October 2-16, 2010: WAR Thirteen, In Memory of Susan Garrett 	Forever Knight Wars, Susan Garrett 	X
92 	October 15, 2024 	October 1912: Edgar Rice Burroughs Publishes Tarzan of the Apes, Invents the Franchise 	Tarzan of the Apes, Edgar Rice Burroughs 	X
93 	October 21, 2024 	October 18-19, 2019: The First Ineffable Con, Plus We Talk About Neil Gaiman (TW Sexual Assault - Not Detailed) 	Good Omens, The Ineffable Con, Neil Gaiman 	X
94 	October 31, 2024 	October 21, 1994: Scully Is Abducted! 	The X-Files, Gillian Anderson 	X
95 	November 10, 2024 	October 2011: Project Girl Wonder Honrs DC's Stephanie Brown 	Stephanie Brown, Project Girl Wonder, Fridging 	X
96 	November 24, 2024 	November 9, 2010: Blaine Anderson Warbles "Teenage Dream" 	Glee, Klaine 	X
97 	November 27, 2024 	November 2021: NoCoVember 	Total Drama, NoCo, NocoVember 	X
98 	December 1, 2024 	November 11, 2005: The Scarlet Witch Sparks 19 Years of Fannish Debate 	No More Mutants, Wanda Maximoff, X-Men, comics 	X
99 	December 4, 2024 	November 23, 1998: It's Up To You As Nancy Drew 	Nancy Drew computer games, Nancy Drew books 	X
100 	December 8, 2024 	1924: The Centennial Special! 	George Gershwin, jazz, Harold Lloyd, Little Orphan Annie, Babe Ruth, baseball 	X
101 	December 15, 2024 	December 11, 2010: Fancake Opens with "Amnesia" ft. Interview with Jerakeen! 	Fancake, Rec Comms 	X
102 	December 18, 2024 	December 1998 - December 2011: The Hanson Advent Calendar 	Hanfic, The Hanson Advent Calendar, Embers 	X
103 	December 22, 2024 	December 1997: Kielle Founds the CBFFAs 	Kielle, CBFFAs, CFAN 	
104 	December 29, 2024 	December 30-31, 2019: John Boyega Is Attacked by Reylos (Again) 	John Boyega, Reylo, Star Wars and Racism 	
2025 Episodes
Episodes of This Week In Fandom History
Episode Number	Release Date 	Title 	Fandom(s) and Fannish Topics 	Direct Link
105 	January 5, 2025 	January 1994: H.E.A.T. Sets Out to Avenge Green Lantern 	H.E.A.T., Green Lantern, DC Comics 	X
106 	January 12, 2025	January 14, 2014: SPN Versus the Beliebers, Or: The Dumbest Twitter Beef	Jared Padalecki, Supernatural, Justin Bieber, Celebrity Feuds, Twitter	X
107 	 	 	 	
=== Responses ===
Out of hibernation for a sweet second because I just have to rec the most amazing podcast, @thisweekinfandomhistory, it is SO perfect and hilarious and insightful, V and Emily do an epic job summarising events that happened across the entire history of fandom, literally going back to the 19th century but spending a lot of time in the nostalgic place that was LJ. It’s a joy to listen to all their episodes, even when I don’t know the fandom or when they cover more depressing stuff like fandom wank/bs creators doing bs things. They have perfect takes on everything. Go go go listen <3333-- @butter--peanut on Tumblr, December 2024https://www.tumblr.com/butter--peanut/770328436559446016Even when I have no idea about the fandom you guys discuss, the conversation is informative and even when the subject is kinda awful, it’s a fun listen.-- @tllgrrl on Tumblr, January 2025https://thisweekinfandomhistory.com/post/772736936040333312/as-of-6am-est-this-morning-we-hit-50000-streams
=== Sources ===
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