From Fandom Flows Freedom: Does Fandom Empower Nutty Behavior?
A few months ago, I returned from a science fiction convention where people were dressed as characters from television shows, movie, and various anime comics. As a published writer, I pondered the importance of fans and their powerful impact on the writer, director, and/or creator of fictional works.
I set out to find out the underlying, and often overlooked, power of fandom.
According to Encarta, fandom is a noun and means, “a large group of fans: fans collectively, especially of a public entertainer such as a movie or TV star.” Science fiction and fantasy fans are the pure embodiment of the definition.
Yet Wikipedia broadens the definition and enhances it by stating that fans are, “keen aficionados of any phenomenon such as authors, hobbies, ideologies, genres or fashions, which can collectively manifest as fandom. The term "fandom" is particularly associated with fans of the science fiction and fantasy genres.”
Though the dictionary’s definition of fandom can be traced back to 1903, fandom itself emerged as a force in the 1930s when science fiction readers began writing to each other. The first science fiction convention was held in Philadelphia in 1936.
And so the world of fandom, and creators in the science fiction and fantasy genres were forever changed and cosmically linked directly to their fans (Kendzior 1).
Like much of today’s world and technology, the word fandom has evolved as well.
At the mention of the word, fandom, many people may think instantly of Star Trek. Trekkies, or members of the Star Trek fandom that epitomizes the term. Those who participate in a particular fandom, the so-called Trekkies. Gene Roddenberry’s futuristic vision of a united people searching the universe, didn’t win fans immediately, but later grew to a have an enormous cult following.
That cult following grew up into a barrage of fans that not only continue to actively support the Star Trek franchise, but inspired millions of other fans to celebrate, hold conventions, and display their own love of a particular creative work.
So much so that the primary members of the original Star Trek cast are known to do some otherwise embarrassing things after Star Trek and still continued to have success. For example, a holiday Christmas album with the joyous chorals sung by Leonard Nemoy and William Shatner. How can anyone forget the hilarious, but somewhat sad Priceline commercials? There are tons more examples, like Nichelle Nichol’s novels, and other acts of complete lunacy that seem to inspire those individuals to poor judgments.
So does the freedom that comes from having a gaggle of fans empower stars (authors) to continue to indulge in awful acts of otherwise unwise career choices? Does one believe that because fans supported and loved their former roles, that one thinks he can do anything?
The answer is as varied as the stars and writers whose portrayals and fictional works have inspired so many to continuously celebrate and indulge in the sub-cultures culled from those works.
In fact, fans have the power to condemn or exalt obscure works into blockbuster films, best-selling novels (and series), and terrific television. This power is unheard of in other such mediums, such as newspapers, or radio. I mean, no one dresses up like their favorite news reporter and go to conventions where everyone is a fan of a certain news show or radio host.
So, in closing, fandom allows a certain creative freedom to take risks with one’s career. Moreover a celebrity it also affronted and nurtured. For this reason alone, fandom will continue to run the roost and segregate the diamonds from the zirconium.
Works Cited
Kendzior, S. (2000). Who owns fandom? Salon. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from Salon.com.
I set out to find out the underlying, and often overlooked, power of fandom.
According to Encarta, fandom is a noun and means, “a large group of fans: fans collectively, especially of a public entertainer such as a movie or TV star.” Science fiction and fantasy fans are the pure embodiment of the definition.
Yet Wikipedia broadens the definition and enhances it by stating that fans are, “keen aficionados of any phenomenon such as authors, hobbies, ideologies, genres or fashions, which can collectively manifest as fandom. The term "fandom" is particularly associated with fans of the science fiction and fantasy genres.”
Though the dictionary’s definition of fandom can be traced back to 1903, fandom itself emerged as a force in the 1930s when science fiction readers began writing to each other. The first science fiction convention was held in Philadelphia in 1936.
And so the world of fandom, and creators in the science fiction and fantasy genres were forever changed and cosmically linked directly to their fans (Kendzior 1).
Like much of today’s world and technology, the word fandom has evolved as well.
At the mention of the word, fandom, many people may think instantly of Star Trek. Trekkies, or members of the Star Trek fandom that epitomizes the term. Those who participate in a particular fandom, the so-called Trekkies. Gene Roddenberry’s futuristic vision of a united people searching the universe, didn’t win fans immediately, but later grew to a have an enormous cult following.
That cult following grew up into a barrage of fans that not only continue to actively support the Star Trek franchise, but inspired millions of other fans to celebrate, hold conventions, and display their own love of a particular creative work.
So much so that the primary members of the original Star Trek cast are known to do some otherwise embarrassing things after Star Trek and still continued to have success. For example, a holiday Christmas album with the joyous chorals sung by Leonard Nemoy and William Shatner. How can anyone forget the hilarious, but somewhat sad Priceline commercials? There are tons more examples, like Nichelle Nichol’s novels, and other acts of complete lunacy that seem to inspire those individuals to poor judgments.
So does the freedom that comes from having a gaggle of fans empower stars (authors) to continue to indulge in awful acts of otherwise unwise career choices? Does one believe that because fans supported and loved their former roles, that one thinks he can do anything?
The answer is as varied as the stars and writers whose portrayals and fictional works have inspired so many to continuously celebrate and indulge in the sub-cultures culled from those works.
In fact, fans have the power to condemn or exalt obscure works into blockbuster films, best-selling novels (and series), and terrific television. This power is unheard of in other such mediums, such as newspapers, or radio. I mean, no one dresses up like their favorite news reporter and go to conventions where everyone is a fan of a certain news show or radio host.
So, in closing, fandom allows a certain creative freedom to take risks with one’s career. Moreover a celebrity it also affronted and nurtured. For this reason alone, fandom will continue to run the roost and segregate the diamonds from the zirconium.
Works Cited
Kendzior, S. (2000). Who owns fandom? Salon. Retrieved October 28, 2005 from Salon.com.
