Redartz: Welcome, gang, to this week's discussion! A discussion originating with a comment from our pal HB in the previous post; hence the "Follow the Leader" header above to honor him for service above and beyond the call of duty!
In his comment, HB referenced theatre fans, and other types of fandom in general. And that seemed like a good place to start. As in, "what actually constitutes fandom?". What differences, and what similarities, exist between various types? In fact, what other areas of society and culture generate sufficient popularity to evolve a fandom? What other areas of fandom do you consider yourself a participant in?
I have some thoughts, but will hold them for now to let you all have your say. And HB, as our 'Leader', if you have any thoughts on the basis or direction this topic should take, by all means take the baton!
12 comments:
Sports.
I myself am NOT a sports fan. AT ALL. As a kid I was skinny and clumsy and weak, so I HATED having to participate in P.E. Never enjoyed watching Basketball or Football or Baseball on TV or listening to games on the radio. Never collected the cards. None of that. World Series, Super Bowl, Olympics, March Madness — yawn. I‘d rather watch grass growing.
But when I hear sports fans excitedly talking about their favorite teams, and their favorite players, and reciting stats and precise play-by-play memories of individual long-ago games, they sound just as obsessively nerdy as any Comics Geek. So, even though I don’t share their enthusiasm, I kinda get it.
- b.t.
Sports fandom is a HUGE one, b.t.-- totally agree. And that obsessively-nerdy comparison (I'm thinking more along the lines of how many of US may have presented ourselves, say, oh, 40 to 50 years ago---) can be incredibly old-school comic-geeky across several sports-- ya got yer stats/continuity geeks with baseball, yer "big fights & battles" geeks w/ football, and yer "super-heroes/powers" with boxing-- just to pull three out of the air.MES
What's piqued my own interest (amusement, even?) is that "Fandoms" are all OVER the flippin' place, with all of the hallmarks we've come to know and love (or at least tolerate) in our own comic-centric community. And not just in the usual, popular, media-driven universes, with yer STAR TREKS, STAR WARS, HARRY POTTERS, BUFFYS, DR WHOS, MY LITTLE PONIES, ANIME SERIES, D&D, BEATLES, JAMES BOND, COMPUTER GAMES, and all of the related niche fandoms in-between. Nope. What are some of the common traits of any specific Fandom? I would say- 1) PASSION beyond simple common interest-- which can sometimes border on obsession- heh; 2) SPECIALIZED SUBJECT MATTER/MATERIAL; 3) A COMMON LINGO OR TERMINOLOGY; 4) PRE-OCCUPATION WITH DETAIL AND MINUTIA; 5) FACTIONALISM! 6) JOKES THAT NO ONE OUTSIDE OF THE FANDOM WILL UNDERSTAND
This is plumb off the top of my head, so I'm sure my premise has easy flaws to spot--
But what's brought it home to me is this Shakespeare company I've been working with for over a year now. Because, teammates, it does NOT get geekier/nerdier than a rehearsal full of youthful Shakespearean deep-academic types. Running through my above list, examples: 1) Seeing different productions of the same play 10 times or more; 2) ONE famous playwright, and his several dozen plays and literary works; 3) Scansion, anyone? Iambic pentameter? Plus different special words for different types of versal variation? 4) 15 minute group discussions on the placement of a comma. IKYN. For something that was third-hand before it had ever been written down. . .; 5) This is huge, and I was well aware of the authorship questions, BUT-- you got yer STRATFORDIANS (Shakespeare wrote every word. Period.) and yer ANTI-STRATFORDIANS (Pretty much everyone BUT Shakespeare wrote his plays. . . )-- it's like hearing grassy-knoll/umbrella-man debates; 6) Honestly, I don't get the self-referential jokes most of the time, 'cause I'm not steeped in the lore of the English monarchy of that period enough to recognize them. Dammit, Jim, I'm an actor, not a historical dramaturg. . . .
So--that's my first example drawn from life-experience.
I have a delightfully (and almost unbelievably) more obscure one or two that I'll try to share later. . .
HB
Well, these days it seems like fandom is about yelling at anyone who disagrees with you, but fortunately I think that's a small (but vocal) part of it.
As for sports, I was a big baseball and hockey fan as a kid, and I watched a lot of football later, but lately I've kinda lost interest for whatever reason.
I am a ukulele fan. Once a month 50 people of all ages, sizes, and skills show up in Westmont Illinois to jam for an hour, at 9:30 on Saturday morning, playing songs like Hank William's Jambalaya to When the Saints go Marching In, to Mungo Jerry's Summertime!
And some of these folks make their own Ukes, have ones like Banjos, have ones from the 1950s made of plastic...
Ukes were huge... I mean really huge... in the USA until Tiny Tim killed it single-handedly. No one on the planet wanted to be associated with him. FInally, about 15 years ago, a massive (!) come back started.
Ukes are very easy to learn, fun, make you feel happy. Highly recommended!
Ukeleles are indeed pretty awesome, Charlie. Whenever the topic comes up, I always recommend watching (and listening of course) to this rendition of Billie Jean. It's also worth looking up James Hill's other videos - the guy's really talented.
As to the topic of fandoms, and esp. sports fandom, at the risk of setting us off on a tangent, I'll say this: it's always annoyed me a tad that to this day, lots of fandoms, like for Star Trek, or SF in general, or comics, or even the theater geeks that HB mentioned, are still viewed with some measure of derision by the 'mainstream' (even though superheroes are now mainstream thanks to the Marvel cinematic u.). However, sports fandom is rarely viewed and/or presented that way in popular culture - it's seen as a pretty normal thing for adult males to obsess over, even though there's often so much geekiness involved, like committing insane amounts of statistics to memory or wearing not only jerseys but also applying paint to faces (like cos-playing). O.k. rant over. Had to get that off of my chest...
Another fandom that comes to mind, one that I know little about but am simply amazed at how huge it is, is focused on My Little Pony, with the associated Brony subculture (for those who may not know, it gathers adult men who are fans of all things My Little Pony).
I tell ya Edo, would that the "mandatory" elementary school music class instrument had been a ukulele rather than those blasted, unfathomable lousy plastic recorders, I imagine we would have a nation richer in musically competent folks these days. . . Yeah, good choice. (And Tiny Tim did indeed turn the instrument into a comic prop, sadly---).
I guess the big distinction between Sports Fandoms and all the familiar "Geek" Fandoms would have to be the element of competition, maybe? And the accompanying tribal regionalism that goes along with it? You just don't ever expect to see a convention center floor embroiled in a heated Marvel Zuvembie vs DC BlindBats shoving match, y'know? Although I guess favored regionalisms do exist in other fan niches-- In the U.S. there are BIG perceived regional differences in musical styles-- esp. Blues, Soul, R&B, and Jazz. Well, and then in the fanatical world of Barbecue sauces, too. (I feel like I HAVE heard of skirmishes at big competitive cook-outs. . . )
The most obscure, yet impassioned, niche-fandom I've brushed up against is in the world of fossil collecting. Specifically, trilobite collectors. My wife's always had an appreciation for small notable geological trinkets-- and with an extremely smart son, we went through a years-long dinosaur-centric phase in our household. And at one point she strongly hinted she'd love a nice, displayable trilobite piece. I dutifully got on-line, and did a TON of shopping around and research and browsing--- and was lucky to get back without losing an arm. That little, bitty niche world is (or was) FULL of acrimony, and factionalism, and charlatans, and had its own superstars, and debates over pieces that were Un-enhanced vs Restored, etc, etc, etc. Name-calling, feuds, endless debates over minutia that had no consequence in any aspect of the world whatsoever ("Eyestalks CANNOT be fossilized!!" "NO-of course they can-- you are a poseur and scientific heretic!!!"--- this is a dramatic re-counting, mind you---) Can anything seem more inane-- especially when contrasted with the social upheaval we're working through at the moment? Always good to guard against this level of over-investment, says I.
I did, however, find her a lovely piece, with the help of a well-connected brother-in-law. . . .
HB
I'm not sure I have anything much to add about fandoms but, when it comes to ukuleles; in Britain, the ukulele basically begins and ends with George Formby who was the country's highest-paid entertainer in the 1930s and 40s and built his entire act around the ukulele.
Unfortunately, because he was a comedian, ever since then, it's been seen as a comedy instrument and not taken seriously, even though he was an extremely skilled player. George Harrison was a very big fan of his playing.
Nowadays, probably Britain's most high-profile users of the ukulele are the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. For anyone who doesn't know them, here they are doing David Bowie's Heroes : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zCdwBqfmYA
Fine comments, all!
b.t.- we were similar in youth; I was about as nonathletic as you can get. Like you I detested P.E., but I did like baseball. Must have evolved from the baseball cards and wiffle balls I frequented. Anyway, you're right; sports fans get just as obsessive as any other group. Probably more so.
HB- way to 'carry the ball'! Your list of fandom 'elements' is worthy of a column by itself. And your example of fandom-specific vocabulary proved it's own point: scansion?
Also, it's very cool that your family has some geological interest! Trilobite collectors? Who could have guessed; but they are fascinating. Is your wife's specimen rolled or flat (Flexicalymene is often found rolled up like a pillbug)? And I have never encountered such debates as you describe; obviously I frequent the wrong scientific websites...
Mike W- yes, some fan forums do involve a lot of controversy. Which is an interesting irony; for participating in such forums as this one is (for me, anyway) a welcome respite from the challenges of the 'real' world.
Charlie- Ukes! How many of us had a plastic toy ukelele when we were little?
Edo- good point about the greater 'respectability' that sports fandom enjoys. Ah, but 'respectability' may be overrated.
Also, regarding 'My Little Pony' fandom: just goes to show you there's a hobby for everyone. Lots of different strokes for lots of different folks...
Steve DC- Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain? As if we Anglophiles didn't already have enough reasons to love your country. First the Beatles, then the Stones, and now this!
Growing up in an auto obsessed household I throw cars into the fandom ring. Ford vs. Chevy vs. Dodge. Domestic vs. Import. Engine Men vs. Body Men. Customizers vs. Stock. So many subgroups and arcane knowledge. Can you recognize a car by only it’s tail lights? Can you tell the year it was made? What type of engine and transmission does your car have. I had a cousin who loved Ford Mustang Mach-1s. Had to find a 351 Cleveland engine not a 351 Windsor. Used to travel from Cleveland, OH to North Carolina to search for old cars not ravaged by salt. Found a really sweet AMC Javelin which he drove and called a “car” because he couldn’t admit he was driving an AMC product. I’m assuming Europe has the same kind of fandom. Maybe our friends across the pond can tell us about Mercedes vs. BMW vs. Audi.
Travis Morgan
This may not tick all the boxes on Humanbelly’s Common Traits Checklist but I know some people who are OBSESSED with fonts and typefaces. Before I got a computer I never gave fonts a second thought, now I’m a tiny bit more enlightened on the subject but HOLY CRAP, there are these two graphics designers at work who live and breathe it. Listening to them argue about which fonts you can mix and match, or if it’s ever okay to use a lower case letter in an All-Caps logo, or the proper way to kern a headline or whatnot is mind-bending. Practically the only things they can agree on is that Comics Sans can only be used in the most extreme emergencies (and then only “ironically”) and that Papyrus should never EVER be used for any reason whatsoever. They collect old products, just for the logotypes and trade dress — literally, they’ll buy things like old boxes of Tide from the 70s off of eBay. One of the guys is like a total savant. I’ll ask him “hey, you know those Frazetta Edgar Rice Burroughs paperbacks from the 70s, what was the—“ and before I even finish the question he’s like “Trajan Condensed Extra Bold” (or whatever it is). Font Fandom probably isn’t an actual thing as such, but it IS fascinating, whatever you call it.
- b.t.
b.t.--- I. . . I think you have hit on EXACTLY the type of obscure fandom I was referring to! Heck, the factionalism is the only thing I didn't pull out from your post, I think-- and you just KNOW that these guys must have some arch-nemesis who uses Comic Sans as his/her default font ALL the time-!
HB
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