2025/07/03 by Martine Mussies · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Asian Culture and Media Studies #Gender, Feminism, and Media #Media, Gender, and Advertising
paper · pdf · doi:10.5210/fm.v30i7.14230
openalex publication_date 2025/07/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
This paper examines the re-imagination of mermaids in online fan art communities between 2010 and 2020, with a focus on the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and dis/ability. Drawing on cultural studies, disability studies, and fan studies, this research analyses how digital artists use the mythical figure of the mermaid to contest normative beauty standards and to articulate more inclusive visions of identity. Through a critical visual analysis of selected artworks, this study demonstrates how fan-produced representations of mermaids serve as powerful tools for resistance, community building, and the celebration of diversity in online spaces. The findings highlight the transformative potential of fan art in fostering more inclusive and representative digital cultures.