# Fan art > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fan_art > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fan_art.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_art > Source revision: 1325507220 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For other uses, see [Fan (disambiguation)](/source/Fan_(disambiguation)). Artwork featuring aspects of a work of fiction created by a fan This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Fan art" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Various fan art (clockwise from upper left): [Bilbo Baggins](/source/Bilbo_Baggins) and [Gandalf](/source/Gandalf) from *[The Lord of the Rings](/source/The_Lord_of_the_Rings)* · [Marisa Kirisame](/source/Marisa_Kirisame) from *[Touhou Project](/source/Touhou_Project)* · [Dean Winchester](/source/Dean_Winchester) and [Castiel](/source/Castiel_(Supernatural)) from *[Supernatural](/source/Supernatural_(American_TV_series))* · [Harry Potter](/source/Harry_Potter_(character)) from *[Harry Potter](/source/Harry_Potter)* **Fan art** or **fanart** is artwork created by [fans](/source/Fan_(person)) of a work of [fiction](/source/Fiction) or [celebrity](/source/Celebrity) depicting events, [character](/source/Character_(arts)), or other aspect of the work. As [fan labor](/source/Fan_labor), fan art refers to artworks that are not created, commissioned, nor endorsed by the creators of the work from which the fan art derives. A different, older meaning of the term is used in [science fiction fandom](/source/Science_fiction_fandom), where fan art traditionally describes *original* (rather than derivative) artwork related to [science fiction](/source/Science_fiction) or [fantasy](/source/Fantasy), created by fan artists, and appearing in low- or non-paying publications such as [semiprozines](/source/Semiprozine) or [fanzines](/source/Science_fiction_fanzine), and in the art shows of [science fiction conventions](/source/Science_fiction_conventions). The [Hugo Award](/source/Hugo_Award) for [Best Fan Artist](/source/Hugo_Award_for_Best_Fan_Artist) has been given each year since 1967 to artists who create such works. Like the term [fan fiction](/source/Fan_fiction) (although to a lesser extent), this traditional meaning is now sometimes confused with the more recent usage described above. ## Forms Fan art can take many forms. In addition to [traditional paintings](/source/Painting), drawings, and [digital art](/source/Digital_art), fan artists may also create conceptual works, [sculptures](/source/Sculpture), [video art](/source/Video_art), livestreams, [web banners](/source/Web_banner), [avatars](/source/Avatar_(computing)), [graphic designs](/source/Graphic_design), [web-based animations](/source/Web_animation), photo collages, and [posters](/source/Poster), Fan art includes artistic representations of pre-existing characters both in new contexts and in contexts that are keeping with the original work. The broad availability of [digital image processing](/source/Digital_image_processing) and the Internet, as well as [text-to-image generators](/source/Text-to-image_generator), has greatly increased the scope and potential reach of fan art. American TV producer [Bryan Konietzko](/source/Bryan_Konietzko) wrote in 2013: - "I remember back in the *[Avatar](/source/Avatar%3A_The_Last_Airbender)* days [2005–2008]... the typical fanart we would get would be a charming, childish crayon drawing stuffed in an envelope. Nowadays on *[Korra](/source/The_Legend_of_Korra)* [2012–2014], I take a skewed screenshot with my phone, post it, and shortly thereafter someone un-skews it, crops it, separates the character levels, clones the background, '[Ken Burns](/source/Ken_Burns_effect)' it with a multilevel slide, animates the characters blinking and talking, tints it, and makes a [GIF](/source/Animated_GIF) out of it, that I then see on the same phone with which I took the original picture. Times they are a-changin'..."[1] [Rule 34](/source/Rule_34), the idea that everything is represented in [internet pornography](/source/Internet_pornography), commonly takes the form of [erotic](/source/Eroticism) fan art.[2] Fan art can also serve as [cultural commentary](/source/Cultural_commentary) or criticism, presenting established characters in new situations or contexts which would never appear in [canon](/source/Canon_(fiction)). This allows fans and artists to explore deeper or alternate meanings, as well as [fan theories](/source/Fanon_(fiction)), about their favorite media.[3] ## Copyright See also: [Legal issues with fan fiction](/source/Legal_issues_with_fan_fiction) The examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this section, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new section, as appropriate. (December 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) ### United States The legal status of derivative fan made art in America may be tricky due to the vagaries of the United States [Copyright Act](/source/Copyright_Act_of_1976). Generally, the right to reproduce and display pieces of artwork is controlled by the original author or artist under [17 U.S.C.](/source/17_U.S.C.) § 106. Fan art using settings and characters from a previously created work could be considered a [derivative work](/source/Derivative_work), which would place control of the copyright with the owner of that original work. Display and distribution of fan art that would be considered a derivative work would be unlawful. However, [American copyright law](/source/Copyright_law_of_the_United_States) allows for the production, display and distribution of derivative works if they fall under a [fair use](/source/Fair_use) exemption, 17 U.S.C. § 107. A court would look at all relevant facts and circumstances to determine whether a particular use qualifies as fair use; a multipronged rubric for this decision involves evaluating the amount and substantiality of the original appropriated, the [transformative](/source/Transformative_use) nature of the derivative work, whether the derivative work was done for educational or [non-commercial use](/source/Non-commercial_activity), and the economic effect that the derivative work imposes on the copyright holder's ability to make and exploit their own derivative works. None of these factors is alone dispositive. American courts also typically grant broad protection to [parody](/source/Parody), and some fan art may fall into this category. This has not explicitly been adjudicated with respect to fan art, however. Moreover, while parody is typically afforded protection under § 107, a court must engage in a fact-intensive, case-specific inquiry for each work. ## See also - [DeviantArt](/source/DeviantArt) - an art-focused social media site commonly used to share fan art - [Fandom](/source/Fandom) - [Newgrounds](/source/Newgrounds) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Konietzko, Bryan (30 March 2013). ["I remember back in the Avatar days…"](https://bryankonietzko.tumblr.com/post/46687253373/i-remember-back-in-the-avatar-days-the-typical). *Tumblr*. Retrieved 30 March 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Rule 34"](https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/rule-34). *Know Your Meme*. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Manifold, Marjorie Cohee (2009). ["What Art Educators Can Learn from the Fan-based Artmaking of Adolescents and Young Adults"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/40650336). *Studies in Art Education*. **50** (3): 257–271. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1080/00393541.2009.11518772](https://doi.org/10.1080%2F00393541.2009.11518772). [JSTOR](/source/JSTOR_(identifier)) [40650336](https://www.jstor.org/stable/40650336). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [218767560](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:218767560). Retrieved 2 July 2021. ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Fan art](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fan_art). - Riendeau, Danielle (18 February 2009). ["Fan Art Empowers Queer Women"](http://www.afterellen.com/tv/45214-fan-art-empowers-queer-women). After Ellen. Retrieved 16 January 2017. - [FanArt.TV – Fan art website with may different types of fan art for TV shows and music artists](http://fanart.tv) - [Game-Art-Hq.Com – Fan art website specialized on video game related fan art](http://www.game-art-hq.com/) - [Fan Art](https://www.pbs.org/video/off-book-fan-art-creativity/) Documentary from the web series [Off Book](/source/Off_Book_(web_series)) - [DeviantArt](https://www.deviantart.com) – [DeviantArt](/source/DeviantArt) calls itself "the world's largest online social community for artists and art enthusiasts" and hosts many fan artists and their art. v t e Fandoms Classification By genre Boys' love fandom Fantasy fandom Furry fandom Kemonā Science fiction fandom By medium Anime and manga fandom in Poland Cinephilia Gamer Sports fandom Production specific AFOL A Song of Ice and Fire Beatlemania Brony analysis art charity conventions criticism fan fiction music online communities slang Deadhead Doctor Who Dragon Ball EarthBound Harry Potter James Bond Disney Disney adults Disneyland social club Donaldism Janeite Juggalo Larries Moonwalker MSTies Sherlock Holmes Star Wars Stargate Shrek Sonic the Hedgehog Swiftie Tolkien Trekkie Twilight Demographics Anorak Anti-fan Bookworm Celebrity worship syndrome Cult following Fan Geek Groupie Nerd Otaku Sasaeng Tifosi Ultras Organizations and events Amateur press association Car club Boy racer Cruising Import scene Hot rodding Kustom Kulture Lowrider Club Supercar Season Ferrari tifosi Cosplay Fan club Fandom names Historical reenactment Live action role-playing game Motorcycle club Harley Owners Group Organization for Transformative Works Railfan Stan Twitter Conventions Anime and manga list Comic book list defunct Doujinshi Furry Gaming list Horror Multigenre Professional wrestling Science fiction list by date of establishment Publications and activities Anime music video Autograph collecting Doujin Doujin music Doujinshi Fan art Fan edit Fan fiction Fan film Fan labor Fan mail Fan rice Fan translation Fanac Fan game Doujin soft Mod Fansite Fan wiki list Fanspeak Fanzine Filk music Oshikatsu Real person fiction Vidding Zine Topics Cringe culture Fan loyalty Fan service Odagiri effect Original character Fursona Ponysona Shipping Ethics controversy Waifu/Husbando --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fan art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_art) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_art?action=history)). 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