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Antisocial Fandoms
Apr. 1st, 2006 12:21 amI have to wonder whether the craziness of any given fandom doesn't have some direct connection to the number of first-time fans in it.
It's entirely natural for any new fan, in her first fandom, to think that fandom was just invented this year, and, moreover, that half of it was invented by her. I've never met a fan who doesn't think like this right at the start, and that includes myself.
Case in point, Gundam Wing, which was an entry fandom for a great many US fans given its domestic release in both dubbed and subtitled versions.
Case in point, Fullmetal Alchemist, which seems to have had a very similar development curve, only on LiveJournal this time, instead of mailing lists, thus catching another fan generation.
Case in point, Harry Potter, which seems to combine the psychosis of young first-fans with middle aged first-fans, to explosive effect.
The normal self-centeredness of a new fan in the throes of discovery becomes writ distressingly large, in these cases, turning the fandom into something very like a social cancer. Appropriately enough, the cures are just as detrimental to quality of life as the disease.
I doubt there's anything actually to be done about it, besides learning to be quick to recognize the event and retreat to saner ground.
.
It's entirely natural for any new fan, in her first fandom, to think that fandom was just invented this year, and, moreover, that half of it was invented by her. I've never met a fan who doesn't think like this right at the start, and that includes myself.
Case in point, Gundam Wing, which was an entry fandom for a great many US fans given its domestic release in both dubbed and subtitled versions.
Case in point, Fullmetal Alchemist, which seems to have had a very similar development curve, only on LiveJournal this time, instead of mailing lists, thus catching another fan generation.
Case in point, Harry Potter, which seems to combine the psychosis of young first-fans with middle aged first-fans, to explosive effect.
The normal self-centeredness of a new fan in the throes of discovery becomes writ distressingly large, in these cases, turning the fandom into something very like a social cancer. Appropriately enough, the cures are just as detrimental to quality of life as the disease.
I doubt there's anything actually to be done about it, besides learning to be quick to recognize the event and retreat to saner ground.
.
