but why do fans headcanon?
why fans headcanon
Self-projection: A fan wants to share a piece of their own identity with someone, so they force it onto a character.
Lack of canon representation: A fan may be disappointed with a media's diversity and change characters to reflect what they feel a character lacks in regards to representation.
Adds to the show: Fans feel that headcanons are just extensions to a show and make the characters more relatable/ livelier than they originally are.
Analyze the show: Through headcanons, fans are able to analyze and critique the media they consume with other fans. They can explore more on topics that the creators may have skimmed and share their own interpretations of it.
The impact of headcanons
A study done that revealed that relating to fictional characters can influence people to act like the character. (also known as experience-taking)
Another study done showing that exploring different identities through fanfictions and headcanons can help fans explore their own identity.
Now that we've explored the basics of headcanons and fandoms, try to make your own!