Remix culture involves the action of transforming or adapting an existing content into something new and creative. I would like to consider fanfiction as a remix culture because these literary works come from the creativity of fans to create or expand an existing narrative and characters. 

A media that I’m deeply involved with remix culture would be Ensemble Stars, though this media has always been the one that I was using as an example so this time I’m going for another medium. This particular media has been life changing to me because for the first time I was deeply participating in analysing the media context. Katekyo Hitman Reborn (KHR) or also known as Home Tutor Reborn, have around 203 episodes and 2 OVAs, and originated from manga series by Akira Amano. 

Instead of the norm where people watch from the original media, I actually started with the fanfiction of KHR. I have forgotten what was the first KHR fanfiction that I read but ever since then, I have been obsessed with KHR content to the point of watching all the episodes of the anime within a week. That was the first time I binge watched an anime of more than 24 episodes. 

Afterward, I got involved in the KHR fandom by searching through fanworks, researching the plot and characters, listening to their songs, and watching the recording of KHR Concert (Rebocon). There’re actually a few stage play adaptations released but I didn’t have the platform to watch it so there’s that. The transmediality in this series certainly shows from its original media as manga before moving to anime and stage play. 

The concept of the series was based on fantasy and high school where the main protagonist, Tsuna went from a no-good to a mafia boss of a prestigious mafia group. There are so many things I could rant about the series but I won’t be able to list it all, especially the bashing on Tsuna’s father. Even now, I find myself reading through the fanfiction that I have found or searching through new fanfiction of KHR fandom. And I admit that I did write one or two fanfiction for this series, but I never get to finish it. 

Another example that entered my mind immediately was the Asian Parody remix of a music video by @s1eepyjozu on YouTube. The original song was Build a B*tch by Bella Poarch, singing about how some men expect women to be a perfect and obedient figure specifically made for them. In the parody version, the producer changed the lyrics and made use of images that are relevant to the lyrics in place of video clips. Its theme was about the high expectation of Asian parents toward their children and it was relatable to the majority of Asian children/teens. The remix was well received, and I still went back to hear the song when (if) I remember. 

Remix culture in the form of fanfiction has changed my life into a fanfic nerd. I still am one after a decade and it has been a fundamental part of my life that I don’t believe I would change anything. 

Fragments of Fanatic's Library

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