Content and Culture

YouTube and other sites are rich with content created by people of varying degrees of knowledge and talent. Some of the most enjoyed genres are the parody videos made by those fans wishing to express their love for different things or how it is a way for them to enter the universe which their fandom takes place. I will focus on one YouTube fandom that I believe is grossly misunderstood which are Bronies and their contribution to the fandom.

For those that do not know Bronies are the adult male fan base, most of whom are in their twenties and thirties, of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. The female version is called the Pegasisters but they are not as well known and do not receive the same hostilities that Bronies do. I remember my reaction first to Bronies was not a favorable one so I understand where people come from when they are uneasy about this fandom. They are a subculture that I believe is not widely accepted because of the challenge that is issued that we must then accept that this model challenges our cultures view on manliness. As I learned more about the group it turned to a fascination, YouTube was an outlet that was easy to use and just full of Brony content. I soon found that Bronies usually did not just make videos but there is music, forums, and fan art. As a firm supporter of digital media art this was a world that was full of creativity and wonder, if not still having the creepy factor of a grown man watching a show that is designed for girls between the ages of six to ten.
Another reason the subculture that is the Brony may not be accepted is a reason that can be applied to many fan based subculture is that the mainstream culture or society cannot find a value in it. As my dad put it, "a culture like Boy Scouts our culture finds value in, it adds a value but a man dressed as Tom Baker walking down the street they can't find a value in. That is the down side to the Trekkies, Whoovians and the Bronies, they don't have a place."
From the first post about subcultures and how most are deeply misunderstood by outsiders, that describes the Brony experience. The first question I am asked when I introduce Bronies to people is "Are they pedophiles?" After explaining more about them then comes the question "Well then what is wrong with them?" The simple answer is there is nothing wrong with them they are not a part of the jock category that men are expected to be a part of in society. Most Bronies are believed be more open emotionally or honest about their feelings. Some are viewed as underdeveloped emotionally and see the show with a positive message of support for one another as a support in their own life. This leads to the creators of content that also do not fit these models. There is a special part of the fandom that are military Bronies, making an even more uncomfortable situation for those trying to explain the Brony. On video I watched there was a well toned military man with a mustache that could be associated with owning a motorcycle sat with authority in his seat while he talked about his reaction to the latest My Little Pony episode.
MandoPony and SimGretina are music creators that make both remixes and original songs from shows, video games, and other media forms. FluffyMixer the creator of the video above created the character Fluffle Puff and shows her adventures in the My Little Pony Universe. But there is so much more to it. One of the best rap songs I have heard in a while was a man talking about how much he liked that shown and how glad he was someone suggested it to him even though he was hesitant at first, the song is titled Pony Swag . The song even goes to address haters (I would have used this video but the language gets strong at points, though I highly suggest listening to it). There are club mixes, dubstep mixes, rock, metal, and even acoustic songs that are both remixes and originals. MandoPony has even been given nods from the My Little Pony creators and has collaborated with them for charity events. This shows that the Brony fandom are active creators and active in the world they created. There has also have a legitimacy about them now that the show's creators acknowledge them but like the Trekkie fandom there are varying degrees to which people are fans but we first have to take a moment to learn about one another before we pass judgement upon each other.