Introduction – “Fandom”
Above: Star Wars fan dressed as Storm Trooper
To explain exactly what a fan or fan base is, I found it difficult to give one singular definition as to be a fan is to be many things, both in practice and association. As such, I found a description given by Henry Jenkins, Director of the MIT Comparative Media Studies Program, who “argues that technology and mass media has moved to a more participatory “convergence” culture” and then goes on to break it down to its main characteristics. In his book Convergence Culture, Jenkins writes that fandom, as displayed within convergence culture, is generally characterized by five things:
- Appropriation – A person appropriates in their own life a particular text, work, and practice relating to their fan object. Often these objects are reinterpreted in their own life.
- Participation – There is an openness for people to participate at all levels within the community. They are so inspired by it they write music, create events, etc.
- Emotional Investment – People become really invested in this object, topics, etc. It is something they are really into and something they want to talk about.
- Collective Intelligence (rather than the expert paradigm) – There is room for everyone to have something to say and contribute to the collective understanding of the group. Collective intelligence doesn’t need credentials, degrees, etc., experiences and insights are beneficial to the community and conversation.
- “Virtual” Community – These are communities that are not necessarily built around face to face meetings. Some of these people know each other and some are unknown, but more often than not these groups will have times to meet face to face.
Science-Fiction Fans
Above: Star Trek and Star Wars fans in costume
Above: Costumed Star Wars fans in parade
Above: Costumed Star Wars fans
Above: Costumed Star Trek fans
Science-Fiction/ Sci-Fi fans consist of individuals who have an active interest all elements of the science-fiction genre. This covers elements such as:
- Sci-Fi programmes – Such as: Stargate, Star Trek, V, Battlestar Gallactica, Doctor Who, Firefly, etc…
Firefly tv series
Doctor Who meets Star Trek
- Sci-Fi Movies – Such as: Star Wars series, Alien series, Terminator series, Blade Runner, The Matrix series, Forbidden Planet, 2001: A Space Odyssey, etc…
Blade Runner
Star Wars
The Matrix
- Sci-Fi games – Such as: Mass Effect series, Half Life series, Halo series, Bioshock, Gears of War series, etc…
Halo & Gears of War
Mass Effect
- Sci-Fi books/novels – The oldest form of contemporary science fiction, sci-fi books range from Jules Verne’s A Journey to the Centre of the Earth and H.G. Well’s The Time Machine, right up to the more recent of Douglas Adam’s Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy and William Gibson’s cyber punk novels.
Above: Popular Sci-Fi novels
- Comic books – As a source material for all things fantasy, fictional and futuristic, comic books provide story’s in the sci-fi genre while providing the visuals to bring them to life.
They range in extremes from those who buy and read comics as a passing interest, much like reading novels, where individuals may purchase comics from time to time. To those who are fully immersed in the universe of the comics they read. This full immersion can be characterized with the consistent buying of many comics each week (which to others would be financially straining), collecting of character models and action figures (kept in packaging to retain value), bought or self-made character costumes/ Cosplay (usually worn at fan conventions eg: Comic-Con), and fan-made movies modeled on popular pieces of film or tv.
Above: Doctor Who collectables
Above: Stargate collectables
Above: Star Trek collectables
Above: Terminator collectables
Above: Star Wars fan in costume
Fan Conventions - Comic Con
Online Fan-base Communication
As a massive, worldwide fan base, a good communication network is required to provide up-to-date information on the rest of the community as well as important events in the industry. Already there are many fan-specific magazines, such as Sci-Fi Now, SFX, and SyFy, as well as programmes on the tv and other features, all aimed the active Sci-Fi fan. These provide adequate informational supplements each month or week, but fail to be more regular than this. As well as this, society continues to become more fast-paced and ever growing and changing. Along with this, technology adapts and improves, so as to meet the demands of this advancing society, as such, fan-bases adapt and integrate this technology.
In order to keep up to date and informed on events relating to them and to maintain consistent communication within the entire global community, the Internet has rapidly become an essential tool to the continued existence of any fan base today. Online, fanbases can rapidly expand and provide information and assistence on-the-go. This is done through many forms:
- Forums and chat rooms provide areas where fans can disscuss topics of choice with others, ask questions of their peers, get answers from others, create debates and socialize with like-minded individuals, sometimes longtime relationships are made. Most notably, these areas provide a place where changes can be made to the industry and suggestions made. As fan-feedback becomes more and more important to those in the industry and the success of projects, these fan-forums and chatrooms become more inclusive in the creativity of the industry. An example of this would be a change in a comic-books storyline or the death of a loved character, these would be discussed online through forums and chatrooms where fans voices are heard and suggestions made.
- Websites aimed at fan-bases or fan-made websites for fans will generally provide equally important information on events and the wider community. Here, pieces of media can be viewed easily and feedback can be given, in turn affecting changes in the industry. Media websites however, will generally take on the form of news outlets and gossip goblins where industry events are leaked before release or on release.
http://www.change.org/petitions/cbs-produce-new-star-trek-series
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