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Reassessing Dubbing: Historical approaches and current trends
Edited by Irene Ranzato and Serenella Zanotti
[Benjamins Translation Library 148] 2019
► pp. 145–167

Chapter 7
Fandubbing across time and space

From dubbing ‘by fans for fans’ to cyberdubbing

This chapter investigates a phenomenon that has received scant academic attention so far: fandubbing. To understand the extent and impact of this participatory practice in the current landscape, the chapter examines fandubbing origins and reflects on the needs met by fandubs at different times and contexts. The plethora of uses and motivations behind this phenomenon question the suitability of the term fandubbing. Against this backdrop, and drawing on Díaz-Cintas’s (2018) conception of “cybersubtitles”, the chapter advocates using the term cyberdubbing to reflect the wide range of non-traditional online dubbing practices so prevalent nowadays, including parodic and serious dubbings undertaken by fans, Internet users and digital influencers, be them professionals or amateurs.

Keywords: fandubbing, parodic dubbing, fundubbing, cyberdubbing, activist dubbing, altruist dubbing, participatory culture
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Historical approaches and current trends in fandubbing
    • 2.1The origins of fandubbing (1980s–1990s): Anime dubbed by fans for fans
    • 2.2The consolidation of fandubbing (2000s–2010s): From fan creations to user-generated content and convergence culture
    • 2.3Beyond fandubbing: Cyberdubbing and the search for more suitable nomenclature
  • 3.Motivations behind cyberdubbing: Fandom, nostalgia and discontent
    • 3.1Lack of official translations and discontent with existing translation policies
    • 3.2Discontent with existing translation approaches: Foreignising and domesticating nostalgia
    • 3.3Activism, recreation, recognition and success
  • 4.Final remarks
  • Notes
  • References
  • Filmography
Published online: 6 August 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/btl.148.07ban
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Filmography

The Empire Strikes Back
. Irvin Kershner. USA 1980.Google Scholar
Pulp Fiction
. Quentin Tarantino. USA 1994.Google Scholar
Vampire Hunter D
. Toyoo Ashida. Japan 1985.Google Scholar
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