Frank

When we find something that we relate to in this dominant culture, it is only human instinct to take it in and make it your own. Likewise, an active fan would tell you that by interacting with the fandom surrounding their favorite shows or movies, etc. they are re-appropriating the culture that should be there's in the first place. So, the idea of fandom at its base is a socialist one that's is controlled, produced, and distributed among the average person. However, in a capitalist society, such as our own, where culture is copy written and purchased by large corporations, is it even possible to "poach" and stick it to the man?

Big businesses have indeed caught on to the idea of extending the reach of books, movies, etc. out into the hands of the public by selling merchandise related to the program, book, etc. By purchasing merchandise from a large corporation, we are in fact putting the money back into the pockets of the big business that produced the culture we are fans of, so in a monetary sense, the big businesses gain power, not us.

However, independent vendors across the Internet and street corners often sell merchandise directly related to pop culture. Fans also can create their own artifacts pertaining to their favorite bits of pop culture, and many do.

One video that perfectly illustrates the idea of textual poacher is the Internet video, "Star Wars Kid." The short video was sent into the Internet via file-sharing services in 1999. Within a short amount of time, the video had garnered acclaim from mainstream media outlets, and was viewed millions of times.

The video depicted an overweight high school boy holding a large silver beam and twirling it around in the fashion of a Star Wars light saber. By imitating the Star Wars films, this kid managed to distribute a bit of fan culture out to fans. To make things even more complicated, in the wake of Star Wars Kid, many websites appeared offering alternate versions of the video (including videos that were cut different, that had different music, and that added in the actual Star Wars light saber beam by computer).

The phenomenon of Star Wars Kid and the responses to the video illustrates how much the Star Wars universe has been ingrained into people's minds, and in the video, the viewers were quickly able to catch references to the handling of the "light saber" and the noises that the kid was making with his mouth.

The video also works on another level with regard to the idea of the textual poacher. One of the undoubted reasons the video was a success was because of the way the star of the Star Wars Kid was presented. The kid was your typical Star Wars fan, overweight, effeminate, nerdy, and ungraceful, slipping and falling several times throughout the video.

By recognizing the archetype of the typical Star Wars fan, which this high schooler represented to a tea) people were able to relate to the video. So in a sense, the Star Wars Kid is a parody of the textual poacher, and the dangers of fandom; the idea being, that if you don't pay close attention, you too could end up being a Star Wars Kid.

In conclusion:

Beware of your fandom, lest it consume thee...now lets put it to use and take back control of our culture!