Fandom has a world of its own - it's like a living, breathing and constantly evolving organic creature, much like our society today.. fans are citizens of another world (the popular entertainment world) who are united by a common purpose or interest (i.e. their entertainer/artist bias, e.g in Kpop, my ultimate bias is EXO <3).
The fans can really exude influence on their favorite artists (if the fandom is large enough and their actions prominent enough) - however, as there is always 2 sides to any coin, there also exists good and bad influences. The actions of fans can affect their artists in a positive and encouraging way, or in a negative and repelling way. Likewise the artists' actions and their being also influence the actions of the fans - artists (esp. the really famous ones) live under a constant microscope where their every move is monitored and thus they lack privacy.
But in this love/hate relationship, they both need each other - because the fans are not fans be definition without their artists, and artists without their fans cannot become as famous as they are/want to be. Of course in the relationship, there are good things and bad things and there are many types of different artist/fan relationships. There are also many different types and extremes of fans - some of the things some of them do will really freak even normal people out (#bloodysasaengfans - one of these days when i have enough time, I will write an exhaustive article about these little shitskate low lives*.)
There are different effects of the relationship as well - there could be emotional influences (e.g. I would get sad if one of the EXO members are in hospital), psychological influences (e.g. I would consciously prefer to date guys that have similarities or resemblances to my EXO bias and reject others >.<), personal influences (e.g. because my EXO bias tends to be a clean freak in their dorm, he encourages me to be more clean at home too!), and so on. The artists also reach out to their fans when they can, e.g. when they hear that one of the cancer patients at xx hospital are a huge fan of theirs, they could pay them a visit and give them some encouragement. Sometimes when times get hard for fans, it's their artist's music that keeps them going with a fighting spirit. A little dose of the right kind of love can go a long way.
Today I am particularly touched by the good fans out there and their generosity:
http://www.allkpop.com/article/2013/09/g-dragon-fans-donate-5463-lbs-of-rice-for-the-finale-of-his-solo-tour (there are also more examples of such heart-warming generosity in kpop (sorry I'm not sure if this happens elsewhere), you can find these stories on allkpop).
This is what all fans should be like! Fans diverting their love, enthusiasm and resources for their beloved artist towards a channel that needs them - the less fortunate, and working together to create a better world!
We all know that somewhere out there in this crazy world, there's always some super-rich, overzealous-stalker fan who has waaaayyy too much money to spend. They would
buy their artist if it was legal. Instead of sending their fav.artists expensive and lavish gifts, spending money on buying plane tickets and hiring taxis to follow them around on their schedules (#bloodysasaengfans), why not donate some rice (or water or food or something useful) to the poor! This is such a heart-warming way to show love and support for their fav.artist, and i'm sure the artist knows and appreciates it also - knowing that their fans are behaving well and doing public good is one of the greatest rewards that an artist can have - this is how they can truly feel that they are changing the world and helping to make it a better place. It is times like this when my faith in humanity (and fandom) is restored :)
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Prelude to my possible next post.. or just a rant:
*Artists don't wish for their fans to be known for public disorder or misdemeanor in attempts to get noticed or get the artists' attention - it is embarrassing and burdensome for them to have and put up with these types of fans! Not only that, but these #bloodysasaengfans actually traumatize and intimidate the artists - i don't see what pleasure this would elicit for true fans... it would be so heart-breaking to see my fav.artist suffer, how can i even bear to be the cause of their suffering?? Even other normal fans are suffering from a tainted reputation because of these little shitskates - there should be laws to protect artists from #bloodysasaengfans. no seriously. Some of the things they do to/for their artists "out of love" (yeah right, it really is outside of love - it's like fricking 10 million light years far from it) is so disgusting and inhumane, you don't even do that stuff to your worst enemy (nor would you wish it upon them!), how can they do such things to an artist that they supposedly love? The only explanation for sasaengism is mental illness shrouded in delusional expressions of a twisted obession. It really pisses me off that such people are naturally allowed to exist.
Squishy. my life is shattered. in shambles right now becoz of this guy! ㅠ_ㅠ