Your mission should you choose to accept it

[firecat]

This is coming up for me as a result of a combination of things, including: having started to read Star Trek the Reboot fanfic, conversations I heard at Wiscon, and posts I saw today, including this one.

Describe science fiction fandom.
Describe media fandom.
What fandoms do you consider yourself to belong to or feel some affinity with?
What terms do you use to describe them?

Comments

[gramina]

Science Fiction Fandom:

That body of persons who:

• - attend science fiction conventions, and/or
• - participate in internet fora oriented toward science fiction or fantasy, and/or
• - write fiction, non-fiction, or poetry inspired by some facet of science fiction or fantasy or the broader science fiction communities, and/or
• - write or perform music inspired by some facet of science fiction or fantasy or the broader science fiction communities, and/or
• - create art inspired by some facet of science fiction or fantasy or the broader science fiction communities, and/or
• - participate in sf-f oriented APAs, and/or
• - self-identify as science fiction and fantasy fans.

Media Fandom:

That subset of Science Fiction fandom as defined above that includes those who are particularly interested in expressions of science fiction or fantasy in visual form - e.g. television and movies.

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I consider myself fannish; I both read and watch science fiction and fantasy, I often enjoy conversations with other fans, and I often enjoy science fiction and fantasy conventions. I'm not sufficiently interested or knowledgable to participate actively in most of the work-specific media-oriented fandoms I'm aware of (SGA, House, BSG, SPN, etc.), but can often enjoy the products of those fandoms (especially as seen at zillah_fic ;) ).

I actively enjoy filk; I actively enjoy rambling, enthusiastic, all-over-the-map conversations; I actively enjoy discovering something I didn't know. I can enjoy looking at costumes, but lack the interest-level to be involved in creating them. I tend to prefer my parties quieter and less alcohol-based rather than noisier and more alcohol-based. I have learned to make sure my conversational partner has a get-away path before I start talking about theo/a/oilogy/ies.

I guess in terms of terms, I tend to avoid them? Except for self-identifying as fannish and as a filker. I used to use "mundane" (much as I used to use "vanilla") but too many people I like felt like that was rude to them, so I don't. (well, don't usually. I can't swear I never do, because of the whole not-having-a-memory-chip-in-my-head thing.) I suppose now I'd say "non-fannish."