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University of Adelaide media studies scholar Dr Jessica Ford says many believe that, upon release, cultural media belongs to the fans because it’s through consumption that meaning and value are generated.

“But thanks to social media, fan-generated content is now infinitely spreadable and reproduceable. It can move beyond the tiny corner of the internet where it was initially posted. As such, the broader historical and cultural context of manipulating bodies, especially women’s, for consumption and pleasure comes into play.”

Sean Redmond, RMIT’s associate dean of media, writing and publishing, agrees, noting that though fan art is usually a way of creatively expressing admiration for something and engaging with fellow fans, the context around what is being adapted must be carefully considered.

“With Erivo, I detect a racial element in their upset. There’s a long tradition in Hollywood of erasing black actors … It’s part of a wider discourse where race and ethnicity are problematically addressed.”