Social awkwardness - you said fandom is a good way to circumvent it because it allows you to skip the small talk. And I posited the hypothesis that it is because fandom is a language. Though there's more to it. It's a whole social phenomenon that gathers people with common interests, similar tastes and a certain way to look at the world.
You said we shouldn't make assumptions but I'm thinking you're referring to a more specific context than I am. Like, for instance, one mustn't assume all Spike fans like the character for the symbolism of nature vs. free will. (Just an example and a very specific one which could be vastly elaborated on.) While I'm approaching the subject from a broader perspective - the one you refer to on the second part of your comment. People who are actively involved in fandom, whichever fandom it is, use it as media to relate to the world around them, either through creative process or through rational analysis or emotional empathy.
Popular culture taking the place of the old myths (there's an almost religious feel to it - because God is dead and so we must look elsewhere for the fables that set the moral/ethical standards). That's one side to it.
The other being that it takes a determined kind of personality (or geekness *G*) to actually engage in fannish behaviour. And one's fannish choices increasingly reflect one's interests and concerns - the more specific you get, the greater the odds the subjects you're interested in will be similar to those of the other people who have identical fannish preferences. You don't necessarily have to share the same perspective - but the 'background questions' (about politics, gender, psychology, philosophy, sex, love, life - *everything*, like you said *G*), so to speak, will probably be very much alike.
So we're not really talking about vampires - we're talking about *the* everything. Even if when/if we're not actually conscious we're doing so.
Gah, I had forgotten how wanky I tend to get when I'm talking with you. I missed this. Huhn, I'll tell you a little secret - and I don't want you to think I'm trying to manipulate you into something nor am I trying to feel guilty. But every time I read a story I like I get this pang that I can no longer rec it to you. It was easy to keep in touch like that. Now it's harder. I'm not very good at keeping in touch with people without the 'fandom language'. But enough of that!
And because I have no shame OMG!! did you know I wrote Harry/Draco? :) New fandoms all around, hon! I'm glad you got your tickets - I don't even want to imagine what you paid for those. O_O
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Date: 2005-03-07 05:55 pm (UTC)You said we shouldn't make assumptions but I'm thinking you're referring to a more specific context than I am. Like, for instance, one mustn't assume all Spike fans like the character for the symbolism of nature vs. free will. (Just an example and a very specific one which could be vastly elaborated on.) While I'm approaching the subject from a broader perspective - the one you refer to on the second part of your comment. People who are actively involved in fandom, whichever fandom it is, use it as media to relate to the world around them, either through creative process or through rational analysis or emotional empathy.
Popular culture taking the place of the old myths (there's an almost religious feel to it - because God is dead and so we must look elsewhere for the fables that set the moral/ethical standards). That's one side to it.
The other being that it takes a determined kind of personality (or geekness *G*) to actually engage in fannish behaviour. And one's fannish choices increasingly reflect one's interests and concerns - the more specific you get, the greater the odds the subjects you're interested in will be similar to those of the other people who have identical fannish preferences. You don't necessarily have to share the same perspective - but the 'background questions' (about politics, gender, psychology, philosophy, sex, love, life - *everything*, like you said *G*), so to speak, will probably be very much alike.
So we're not really talking about vampires - we're talking about *the* everything. Even if when/if we're not actually conscious we're doing so.
Gah, I had forgotten how wanky I tend to get when I'm talking with you. I missed this. Huhn, I'll tell you a little secret - and I don't want you to think I'm trying to manipulate you into something nor am I trying to feel guilty. But every time I read a story I like I get this pang that I can no longer rec it to you. It was easy to keep in touch like that. Now it's harder. I'm not very good at keeping in touch with people without the 'fandom language'. But enough of that!
And because I have no shame OMG!! did you know I wrote Harry/Draco? :) New fandoms all around, hon! I'm glad you got your tickets - I don't even want to imagine what you paid for those. O_O