Destroy All Monsters: Developments in Fandom and Participatory Culture

Curated by Daniel Sarmiento, Curator of 20th Century to Present, “Destroy All Monsters: Developments in Fandom and Participatory Culture” traces the development of fandom and participatory culture in the pre-internet era. Fandoms from all genres – from literature to film to television to music – have radically shifted over the past century from mere consumers of media to active participants in it. The complex history of creative expression among fan bases is represented here by a variety of materials, ranging from Sci-fi fan letters to punk fanzines to photographs of cosplayers. Taken in full, the materials displayed at the Syracuse University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center are meant to illustrate the legacy of fan participation and its influence on popular media. The exhibition will be on view at the Special Collections Research Center, Bird Library, 6th floor gallery during the fall 2024 semester.

Communication Access Realtime Translation will be provided. If you require an accommodation, use English as a second language, or have dietary needs, please email Max Wagh by September 2 at mlwagh@syr.edu.