By Autry Haydon Wilson
Crybaby’s “Girls On” series works with young local photographers and has them shoot their friends. This issue, Crybaby went to London and LA.
Ciara
What is obsession?
A fixation on something/someone that you cannot stop thinking about.
What are you obsessed with? What is worth obsessing over?
I’m obsessed with myself because I am what I think about the most. I think everyone obsesses over themselves and is worth obsessing over. I would say I have a healthy obsession with food, the future, and film as well. I obsess over what I love or what I’m scared of.
Are you or have you ever been a part of a fandom? Have you found community in fan cultures?
When I was little I was obsessed with ghost hunting TV shows. I loved horror, supernatural, and bad reality TV and [those shows] were the perfect combination of all of them. There was a month in school where my friends thought I was turning emo, but I was just wearing all black because ghost hunters wore only black. Ghost hunting was my replacement for a middle school boy band phase. Back in middle school, DMing was not yet created, so I would use Reddit to talk to people about episodes and such. I was able to find my community of people who loved what I loved and I finally was relieved because I realized it was okay for me to dress like this. Somewhere someone else did the same thing. A fandom means you are not lonely.
Is there danger in obsession?
Yes, there always has been and always will. It just depends on simply how you decide to live your life with your obsession.
Brenda
What is obsession?
Movies and TV shows are huge obsessions of mine. I think film is one of the most important universal art forms that connects us all together.
What are you obsessed with? What is worth obsessing over?
I’m very obsessed with searching for new shows to watch that I feel like I can focus my time and energy on. It’s important for me to feel like I can disconnect and really engage in what I’m watching without getting distracted. If something brings joy to you and makes the quality of your life better, then it’s worth obsessing over. Film is such an important part of my life, I gladly obsess over it and surround myself with people who feel the same way.
Are you or have you ever been a part of a fandom? Have you found community in fan cultures?
I have never been a part of any official fandom, but I definitely enjoy finding people who get excited over the same shows/movies that I’m currently obsessing over! Finding a community with people who share the same passion and love for art that you do is a very personal and important thing.
Is there danger in obsession?
In some contexts there is definitely danger in obsession; too much of anything isn’t good. But it’s still important to allow yourself to find the pleasures in life that make you feel fulfilled, and whatever does that for you should take up as much of your time as you’d like!
Menen
What is obsession?
Deep love and passion for something beyond logic. It’s something that occupies a lot of space in your mind throughout your day and can sometimes make you feel guilty.
What are you obsessed with? What is worth obsessing over?
Consuming beautiful things and wanting to create beautiful things. It’s so satisfying to make something tangible from your imagination and even though I’m just starting out, it’s pretty addictive. Anything that sparks you is worth obsessing over. If it lights a fire in you and you feel passionate about it, it’s worth chasing.
Are you or have you ever been a part of a fandom? Have you found a community in fan cultures?
I’ve always been too intimidated to proclaim my fandom over a specific thing because I know there’s always bigger fans that know more and are most passionate. I am a secret fan of a lot of smaller things and it’s nice to build a little fan community among friends.
The only fandom that I have been consistent with is the West Side Story fandom with my mom. We both love that musical so much and have seen it live a number of times and watch it in theaters every time it shows. We even got autographs of the real Riff and Bernardo!
Is there danger in obsession?
I think there definitely is because it can easily be unhealthy and take over other areas of your life. I don’t know how to avoid that because that level of obsession hasn’t happened to me yet.