Nicki Manaj and Star Trek Rerun, reread, rewritten:Fan writing as textual poaching

Nicki Manaj

                   According to the book called popular culture by Cruz and Guins." The popularity of Star Trek has motivated a wide range of cultural productions, creative reworkings of program materials from children's backyard play to adult interaction games from needlework to elaborate costumes...The ability to transform personal reaction into social reaction, spectorial culture into participatory culture, is one of the central charcteristics of fandom. One becomes a ' Fan' not by being a regular viewer of a particular program but by translating that viewing into some kind of cultural activity by sharing feelings and thoughts about the program content,by joining a 'community' of other fans who share common interests."( 251, Cruz, and Guins) The blending of fans of a particular show, musical artist, movie, or another person or thing in the media is quite common today. One of the most popular female rappers in the hip hop indusrty, Nicki manaj, is an artist who is continuosly, talked and raved about by fans on many internet fan base groups on networking sites such as Myspace.com and Facebook.com. Nicki Manaj is a hip hop artist from New York that i consider to be truly bizarre because she is everything contrary to the typical female hip hop artist. The way she dresses, raps, and the themes in her music videos are all very different and creates questions such as " How did she come up with this music video? What was she thinking?" in most viewers. She also causes a personal and social reaction in hetr fans by her music. Some are influenced by her costumes and decide to dress like her, some are inspired by her rap lyrics and decide to enhance their rap lyrics to be a bit like her lyrics, and others are inspired to not be afraid of being different. One of my favorite songs from Nicki called  Itty Bitty Piggy.This song was when Nicki was obtaining more fame and was less bizarre than she is now but the song is better than all of her other songs. Here is a clip of her music video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSZ02vUJsgQ

                In relation to Star Trek, many fans create their alternative endings to the movie. There are many alternative endings for star trek posted on youtube.com.Some fans also blend together to appreciate the movie in networking sites as well. "Some fans are drawn gradually from intimate interactions with others who live near them toward participation in a broader network of fans who attend regional, national, and even international science fiction conventions...for some women, trapped in low-paying jobs or within the socially isolated sphere of the housewife, participation within an (inter)national network of fans grants a degree of dignity and respect otherwise lacking.For others, fandom offers a training ground for the development of professional skills and an outlet for creative impulses constrained by their everyday work lives" (252, Cruz and Guins) Star Trek fans are creating subcultures just by being fans of the movie they all enjoy. In addition to joining networking sites for fans of the movie, a lot of fans create Star Trek  toys, gadgets, and apparel. The fans of Star Trek not only create a subculture by being fans of the movie, but they also create a sub culture of people who buy  Star Trek products. The purchases of these products also lead to the production of poducts becoming fads.

            There are also many fans that have created a subculture that dresses up like Nicki Manaj. Products that are signified with Nicki Manaj such as lime green wigs, bangs, and mismatching polish on manicures have recently  been sported by many teen girls. I was on the Marta bus recently on my way home and noticed two girls who had their hair in bands, un matching finger nail polish, and bright colored tops. Some fans have even gone to the extent to creatiing a music mimicing Nicki Manaj and changing a song that she created in order to have the song in  a duet form with the singer and songwriter called Rhianna. Here is a clip that a fan made that obviously loves mimicing Nicki Manaj as well Rhianna.:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k5JOvOMlMQ

             Why are so many fans drawn to rewritting? Mimicing? and joining groups on facebook and myspace in which they can all talk about either the movie or singer they like? Are they drawn to creating subcultures? I think that subcultures are created unintentionally. The mingling of people who are fans of Star Trek and Nicki Manaj which formed into a subculture happened solely by individuals wanting to expand on something they like and enjoy.