Banner
This article is about the graphics used on websites. For the Marvel character, see Bruce Banner. For the Newsies webmag, see The Banner.
| Synonyms: | |
| See also: | Livejournal, wallpaper, web graphics |
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A banner is a graphic that is placed at the top of a website or a blog to advertise or draw attention to the page. The term "banner" has therefore both positive and negative connotations within fandom. On the one hand, it is a popular form of fan art, offering a way for fans to demonstrate creativity, artistry and self-expression. However, "banner ads" are used by so-called free webhosting services to generate revenue. Not only, by their prominent position, do such banner ads mar the appearance of the top of the webpage, but the fan owning the site may lack control over their content.
Fan-created banners first appeared on early websites and webrings as graphically interesting logos. Usually, such banners incorporate the name of the site, combined with related images such as photomanipulated screen captures and/or publicity stills. More elaborate banners might incorporate links to different parts of the website, thus doubling as a site map. With the advent of journaling sites, such as Livejournal, banners became very popular as headers for fannish blogs and communities.
By extension, the term "banner" is also used for graphics that run horizontally across the webpage in any position. It is common for fan sites to include links to other sites in the same or related fandoms, often on separate "links pages"; and, while these initially simply took the form of lists, fans quickly took to creating advertisement-like banners for other site owners to display. Many fan sites include both a page of link banners for the site in different sizes, colours, and styles for people to pick from, and a separate link page displaying banners from other sites.
Banners are often created in association with fannish awards and contests, and handed out to winners to display on their websites. While many fan sites position such awards towards the bottom of the index page, others have "awards pages" to display banners, usually in a vertical array down the page. Awards banners for specific stories may also be displayed on the page for the story itself.
Banners are also displayed on fan sites to advertise appeals and campaigns, claim attendance at conventions, and demonstrate support for non-fannish enterprises such as charities and human rights organizations.
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Usage
- "This year I arranged the characters in the community banner according to the houses in Harry Potter." Source: Halfamoon
- "To do my part I have created a few banners to promote the love of Sam and Al. It's very basic and what I would like everyone to do who is involved in this fandom is take one of the banners I have made and place it somewhere visible. Don't forget to link the banner back to this page so that anyone who see's it will know where to come and save one of their own. Source: Keeping the love alive...
More Reading
Gallery of Banners
Crack Impala, a Supernatural LJ community
One of the banners for the maryrenaultfics LJ community
banner advertising KiScon a slash convention
sample winner's award banner for The Middle-Earth Fanfiction Awards
An example of a character-hate banner from the Digimon site, Lost Temple of Ishida (circa 2001)
Another example of a ship support banner/"button" from Smallville (2009).
