Cultus Dispatches: "The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far)
The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies have in many ways defined the Tolkien fanfiction fandom, not only shaping how fans engage with the books but driving fan engagement so that the Tolkien fanfiction fandom remains one of the largest fandoms in history. When the Rings of Power show debuted, many wondered if it would have a similar impact, sustaining interest in Tolkien, encouraging fans to pick up the books, and keeping the fandom thriving.
This month's article in Cultus Dispatches, the SWG's monthly fan studies column, uses data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey to get a first glimpse at the impact The Rings of Power has had on the fandom so far. The data show that that impact has been minimal, with few fans joining the fandom or engaging in fanfiction because of the show, even to "write against" it. However, data about the films show that new authors didn't enter the fandom until after the films left theaters, so the biggest impacts of the show may be yet to come.
At the same time, the nearly one in ten authors in the survey who started writing because of the show can't be overlooked. How are writers and readers engaging with the show through fanfiction? How are they similar and different from existing fanfiction authors? Why has the show had minimal impact so far compared to the films, and can we expect this trend to continue?
This month's column tackles these questions and more! You can read "The Rings of Power Is a Ripple (So Far)" here.
Posted on (updated ) by SWG Moderators
