Fandoms – What Are They and Why?

There’s been a lot of craziness around the internet lately, and Tumblr is the one to blame. You may call them obsessed, but fans have started to regroup, and enjoy their common interests with a joint zest. While casually scrolling around and minding your own business, you might stumble upon a person shipping someone or something, and doing it with their caps unlocked. Or, you might get invited to check some alternate universe or a fanfic, without understanding a word of it. So, what is it all about? Is there a new religion spreading on, or is it, in fact, an infection?

Fandom 101

Fandoms are a lot older then you might think, and even a lot older then their participants are aware of. Merriam-Webster accepted the word (fan·dom, noun, ˈfan-dəm) in the early 30’s, and now gives the next explanation: 1:  all the fans (as of a sport) 2:  the state or attitude of being a fan. According to the prominent dictionary, the term first appeared in the distant 1903. Back then, fandoms were mostly related to the enthused followers of sport teams, but it didn’t take them long to bloom into something wider. The entertaining fact is that one of the largest fandoms of today had its predecessor nearly a century and a half ago, which was simultaneously the first of its kind. Apparently, Sir Conan Doyle succeeded in getting his supporters gushing over the famous detective for all this time. So, the maiden of modern fandoms, established in the 1887, was a group of Sherlock Holmes’ followers that made some serious buzz the morning after The Final Problem had found the character dead. But what really forced Encyclopædia Britannica to acknowledge the existence of organized fanatics was the formation of the earliest science fiction fandoms that started to get together around the famous Hugo Gernsback, the third co-parent of the genre (the other two being H. G. Wells and Jules Verne). A vast group of unpublished and amateur authors, as well as literature commentators was given a chance of speaking up through Gernsback’s numerous magazines, but it was the opportunity of correspondence with fellow devotees that sealed the history of fandoms forever. In a way, Gernsback was the premature blog host for Sci-Fi fans. Later on, during the 70’s, when science fiction fandom started to look a bit stern, and ultimately, dull, the followers of then popular TV shows started to challenge the more creative approach. Although they were present before, the concept of fan art and fan fiction was officially born.

Nowadays, the fandom is an informal, but organized subculture of worshippers. The objects of their adornment are different, but most commonly, they are focused around a television series, movie franchise or a certain celebrity. And they are taking the internet community by storm.

What Do They Do?

Once you enter the vast universe of a fandom, you are for sure going to find some fascinating creations of the fans’ collective mind. They are all going by the name of fan labor or fanac, which is shortened form of fan activity. So what are those activities exactly?

On the Web. As the unregistered subculture, the modern fandom mostly exists on-line. Gathering spots are forums and blogs, were fans engage in endless congregation of sharing pictures, videos and thoughts. It’s fair to say that they are immensely committed to spending their time freaking out about certain phenomenon related to the object of their impassionment. To be perfectly accurate, they are extensively going haywire over everything in connection to the object, especially if it’s somewhat new. Since the fandom is not a closed group, you can feel free to follow their endeavors. Hashtagging fandoms won’t be necessary; you can simply search for the name of a TV show, sport club or celebrity. Most of the faithful fans maintain their own blogs dedicated to their interest. But blog-building is only step one.

Fanfiction or simply fan fic is the most common form of the fans’ expression, shared with other partakers of the fandom. Fan fic is an alternate universe of sorts, since it exists in parallel to the original work. It is primarily related to television shows, movies, comic books, celebrities and literature. What fans actually do is take a character out of the authentic project, and write their own stories about them. Such stories are adaptations of the actual canon (published work done by the author). The most interesting form of fan fic is the romantic, or to be true, erotic take on the original characters. And you won’t believe what kinds of naughtiness go around about the previously mentioned Cumberbatch’s Sherlock or, for example, The Lord of the Rings’ Legolas. Seriously, you won’t be able to read some of those without blushing. Another type of the creative take on the canon are fan vids. The principal is the same with fan fic, in addition to being transferred to video. Vidders, as they call themselves, can use the existing material from shows or movies and remix them, or they can film the entire video themselves. They are mostly connected to alternate endings, for which the need arises when fans are dissatisfied with the actual ones. Fan art is the term that covers the previous two types of fan labor, but can also refer to the fine arts. Talented fans are creating some very breathtaking paintings and drawings of the characters. Also, many of them participate in making do-it-yourself art, and reviving the props form the show in a practical form of clothing, home goods or other accessories.

In vivo. Once they meet on-line, fans have the opportunity to negotiate the actual, real life event. It has happened before that those that meet each other this way turn out to be life-long friends, or even partners in marriage. Indeed, it is a nice way to meet someone that shares your interests, and probably your lifestyle and needs. Mostly, members of the same fandom get to know each other through blogs and discussion boards, and then set up the informal meeting to continue spinning out their favorite fandom-related topics, and go crazy face to face. Oftentimes, a group of fans creates an event, to which all of the interested enthusiasts are invited. If well organized, they grow into the formal, annual gatherings, we have come to hear about.

Amongst such gatherings, fan conventions are the most traditional ones. Commercial conventions, such is Comic-con, are usually held in big venues, like hotels and sport facilities, and are actually quite expensive. They include entertainment shows for fans, special screenings and fan shops. The most exciting part of bigger conventions are panels, discussion events in which fans can have some supervised Q&A (questions and answers) time with the authors and actors from their favorite series or movies. Afterwards, autograph dealing and picture taking take place. With an array of crazed personas that can be seen there, conventions are a lot of fun, even for those who are not enrolled in the fandom mania. As part of the convention, or held individually, cosplays and role-playing can be a little frightening, if you are not a part of the fictional universe. Outsiders consider them to be the exact same obsession-driven occurrence, but there is a difference. Cosplay is the performing event in which fans wear costumes in order to portray their favorite fictional character, and gather around to present them. Often, cosplays can be organized as a costume competition. Role-playing includes dressing up in costumes as well, but its main purpose is to recreate a particular scene from the show, movie or book. Consequently, role-players are not representing their beloved fiction figures only with the costume, but with mannerism too. Whether you perceive it as liberating or lunatic, try not to judge until you try it.

Who Are They?

If you are already familiar with the concept, it is because you yourself are a fan of some of the above mentioned phenomena, or you know someone that can’t stop talking about it. The most popular amongst modern fandoms are absolutely ruling the internet, and simply cannot be unnoticed. And they have some funny names, too. BBC has been ruining a lot of lives lately, as fans like to say, while godfathering two of the largest fandoms of the past decade. We should all take a bow to the Sherlockians, the inamoratos of the newest Sherlock, for they are unstoppable. This fandom is so vast that it has its own subdivision, devoted to the leading actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, that goes by the name of Cumberbabes, in addition to the not so flattering title mister Cumberbatch tries to discourage. Another one, and equally possessed, is the immense fandom of Whovians, devotees of the British long-runner series Doctor Who. Since the two series are directed by the same man (the evil ruler of the fans’ lives, Steven Moffat), their fandoms mostly overlap, which creates the even loonier Wholockians fandom. By the nature of the business, Sci-Fi fans are at large, and their main fandoms are Trekkies or Trekkers (Star Trek), Warsies (Star Wars), Whedonites (in honor to the work of the respective Joss Whedon, creator of one of the greatest Sci-Fi universes that includes titles like The Avangers, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and the dearly missed Firefly), and Tributes (The Hunger Games). Mister Tolkien got his fanbase in Tolkienites or Tolkiendils, while Peter Jackson’s adaptations of the books enjoy the praise of the Ringers. The vampire genre is predominated by Twi-hards or Twilighters (The Twilight Saga), Truebies (True Blood) and still unnamed fandom of The Vampire Diaries. It goes without saying that fans of Game of Thrones are too cool for a nickname, or there are so many of them that they can hardly agree upon one. When it comes to music, Beliebers (Justin Bieber), Little Monsters (Lady Gaga) and Directioners (One Direction) are in the lead, followed by Swifties (Taylor Swift), Barbz (Nicki Minaj) and Smilers (Miley Cyrus). Britain’s favorite author, Neil Gaiman is immortalized due to the Gaimanites, and the American headmaster of the young-adult fiction found his base in Nerdfighters.

Pros and Cons

As said before, participating in a fandom can deliver some undoubtedly positive outcomes. Making acquaintances is never a bad thing, and if it happens that they bloom into friendships or relationships, what can be better than that? Being drawn together by the same passion, fans can form some authentic human bonds among themselves. By definition, having a common interest with someone usually implies bearing the same mindset, sensibility and outlook on life. In essence, it is a great thing to share with a person you’re spending your time with. Even if such bonding doesn’t take place, a fandom can help you communicate your ideas and reveal your talents. By having a chance to talk with different people, you can practice the art of fruitful dialogue, exercise your mind and wits, uncover your creation skills, and ultimately, enjoy some quality time in the process. However, fandoms have the power of turning our lives upside down. Obsession is a dangerous toy to play with, and can produce some serious consequences. Best case scenario, you can lose a lot of your valuable time. The infinity of fan labors, whether you consume them or participate in their creation, can be inestimable. Unfortunately, most modern fandoms are being misunderstood on a daily basis. The adherents, mostly teenagers, are devoting their time and energy to the unfertile activities of endless picture-sharing, obsessing over a celebrity and rewatching. And if it’s only a way to kill time, it’s still not so dangerous. But almost always, such behavior leads to the issue of fans being completely overtaken by the object of their fixation. The fandom becomes their lifestyle, and their prime livelihood. Since fandoms are especially in touch with fiction, it’s not rare that they cause a state of disconnection from reality, dragging their members into the never ending loop of delusion. Fans are then approaching the matter with religious devotion, refusing to change their beliefs. So be careful, and don’t let yourself get addicted. When mistreated, fandoms lose all of their fairy-tale magic.

How to Join?

To underline one more time, a fandom is not a formal groupation. It exists virtually, and is open for anyone who declares himself as the diehard fan. Naturally, it’s not enough to love and cherish the object of fandomness. In order to join, you would have to be impeccably invested in the matter. The knowledge of trivia, expanded to the scale of fan facts, is an obligatory field in the abstract application form. Basically, it means this – if you are not well educated on the substance, but anyway try to define yourself as a fandom member, you will get strongly discouraged by the current affiliates. For instance, if you articulate yourself as a Whovian, you will have to pass the inquiry of your devotion. If your dedicated confreres notice that you are a stranger to the Classic Series of Doctor Who, and familiar only with the new ones, be sure that you will be kicked out. Virtually, of course.

As silly as it all sounds, fandoms are bursting full. The thrill of sharing the excitement with someone that will actually understand you and not take you as crazy is, admittedly, great. Therefore, if you find yourself admiring a TV show, literary genre, comic book or a certain hobby, don’t get disheartened by their addicts. If you really love something, and find it inspirational, you have every right of joining. Lately, fandoms have started to take themselves too seriously, and they seem to have forgotten their real purpose. It is, of course, less collective frenzy, and more about the moment of sharing. Think of it as a debate – while voicing your opinions on blogs, gatherings and conventions, you are given a chance to learn something new, generating innovative ideas, and enrolling in creative work.