Commentary: Fans Should Be Able To Claim Ownership

Fandom is a strange phenomenon. When people watch a show, play a game, or read a story that connects with them, they feel a certain type of ownership over it. It becomes part of their identity and — if the fandom becomes strong enough — a nostalgic memory that brings them joy. However, as stories and characters continue to develop for new generations, some fans feel like they are losing these things they enjoy. What was once familiar and beloved becomes alien and different. In these situations, the ownership is often viewed as toxic, but it’s okay to take ownership of a fandom and then to feel like it isn’t yours anymore. It only becomes toxic by how fans react to it.

It’s easy to see this in practice when it comes to Star Wars. There are so many different eras and styles in the Star Wars millieu that it’s easy for fans to claim ownership over a particular phase. Obviously, old school Star Wars fans enjoy the original trilogy and claim it as their own. There was definitely backlash from those corners when the Prequels came out because it didn’t “feel” like their Star Wars. But the generation that grew up during the Prequel Era claimed ownership over those films. And so, the same thing happened when the Sequel Trilogy arrived. But the story doesn’t stop there. Star Wars also has a healthy dose of animated series as well as a group of live action of shows from Disney+.

And that’s without getting into video games, tabletop adventures, comic books, fan films, or the Expanded Universe.

All of these different bundles — the live-action shows, the animated shows, the various trilogies and beyond — can be viewed as pockets of Star Wars culture. A fan can claim ownership over any of them while also stating that any of the other phases don’t feel like “theirs.” And that’s okay! Everyone is allowed to have their own perception of a franchise. Simply claiming something as yours while disavowing other installments doesn’t make someone a bad fan. It just means they have to pick and choose parts of the franchise that resonates with them. The trick is to do that while also not being vile towards a someone else who might have a different view of what’s “theirs.”

Star Wars shows and movies are now streaming on Disney+.