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I've been chatting with an old friend from Forever Knight fandom today, and it got me to thinking (run and hide now before it's too late!).
Fandom for me is kind of like a pyramid. The bottom layer is composed of shows/movies I love, and follow religiously, but never read or write fic for, or join/start an email list for, or would travel to a con for, probably wouldn't buy the DVDs. Currently on the air, that would be shows like Lost, 24, 4400. Then the next layer. I'll join an email list, maybe even start one, but generally no fic, probably no cons (if there were any), though I'd consider it. I might buy DVDs. That gets me shows like Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, Atlantis, HEX. The next layer up is more involvement, probably some combo of many of the things I've mentioned already. Stargate, Pirates of the Caribbean, Grey's Anatomy, House, Dr. Who, Slings & Arrows, Gilmore Girls, Firefly (which is not quite dead, so I'm including it). Then there's the pinnacle! Fandoms I spend lots of time talking about, I write fic for on a regular basis, I socialize with fellow fans, I'm a fanatic [g] Now, turns out those few special ones are both dead shows: Forever Knight and Highlander. I have no new, living, still on the air, 'real' fandoms. And I wonder if there's a fandom like that out there still for me to find? Or did I peak fandom wise? Maybe some of those second layer shows will move up at some point, or maybe something new will come along, but it's been a lot of years in between pinnacles!
I'm not sure, but I think some of those lower tier shows are just too big to ever be able to duplicate that feeling of belonging to a fandom. Mainstream shows lack the intimacy of smaller niche shows when you're trying to get to know your fellow fans. Maybe that the difference, maybe that's why there hasn't been anything new to really grab all my fannish interest. I think it's the people and the relationships that are the glue in a fandom. If I look at those layers, I realize that the one thing keeping most of those shows from reaching the pinnacle is no real interaction with fellow fans in any meaningful way.
I should probably just be grateful for the fandoms I have had, and not expect lightening to strike again. But that doesn't stop me from pondering the subject!
(Now I have that song "All The Girls I've Loved Before" in my head! Arrr!!)
Fandom for me is kind of like a pyramid. The bottom layer is composed of shows/movies I love, and follow religiously, but never read or write fic for, or join/start an email list for, or would travel to a con for, probably wouldn't buy the DVDs. Currently on the air, that would be shows like Lost, 24, 4400. Then the next layer. I'll join an email list, maybe even start one, but generally no fic, probably no cons (if there were any), though I'd consider it. I might buy DVDs. That gets me shows like Battlestar Galactica, Supernatural, Atlantis, HEX. The next layer up is more involvement, probably some combo of many of the things I've mentioned already. Stargate, Pirates of the Caribbean, Grey's Anatomy, House, Dr. Who, Slings & Arrows, Gilmore Girls, Firefly (which is not quite dead, so I'm including it). Then there's the pinnacle! Fandoms I spend lots of time talking about, I write fic for on a regular basis, I socialize with fellow fans, I'm a fanatic [g] Now, turns out those few special ones are both dead shows: Forever Knight and Highlander. I have no new, living, still on the air, 'real' fandoms. And I wonder if there's a fandom like that out there still for me to find? Or did I peak fandom wise? Maybe some of those second layer shows will move up at some point, or maybe something new will come along, but it's been a lot of years in between pinnacles!
I'm not sure, but I think some of those lower tier shows are just too big to ever be able to duplicate that feeling of belonging to a fandom. Mainstream shows lack the intimacy of smaller niche shows when you're trying to get to know your fellow fans. Maybe that the difference, maybe that's why there hasn't been anything new to really grab all my fannish interest. I think it's the people and the relationships that are the glue in a fandom. If I look at those layers, I realize that the one thing keeping most of those shows from reaching the pinnacle is no real interaction with fellow fans in any meaningful way.
I should probably just be grateful for the fandoms I have had, and not expect lightening to strike again. But that doesn't stop me from pondering the subject!
(Now I have that song "All The Girls I've Loved Before" in my head! Arrr!!)
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Date: 2006-09-28 12:23 am (UTC)From:For me FK was my real first fandom. I got to meet some of the best people in the world online through the lists FORKNI-L and FKFIC-L and actually getting a chance to meet my online friends and also getting the chance to meet some of the actors and other people from crew at conventions. I had the pleasure of going to the FK Mini-Con that was held inside of Toronto Trek in 1996, Syndicon97 which I might add was strictly dedicated to FK and HL. Forever Knight was unique in alot of ways I think especially because of the fans we cared about the actors and they seemed to care about us.
FK inspired me to start writing fanfic and also pushed me into the direction I'm in now which is Theatre Arts and eventually I want to go on to film school.
I've been involved with other fandoms like Hercules/Xena joined their lists made many friends and attendend conventions, met some of the NZ actors from the shows and even run a fan club for one of the Young Hercules actors.
But to me FK still remains my all time favorite fandom
FK fans today are still going strong there is still letter writing campaigns, petitions to bring the show back, to get a movie or movies,more merchandise like books and CD's. We lobbied to get Sony to release the DVDs which they did finally and Kickstart The Knight took out an ad in the SCIFI Magaine to show our appreciation and to thank Sony and FK PTB for realesing Seasons 1 & 2 and to let them know we were eagerly awaiting the awaiting season 3 which will be out Oct 3rd. Here is the link to see the ad http://nancykam.com/crusader/2006-scifi-ad.html
We still have Fan Fiction that continues to be written, Websites that are still devoted to the show and it's characters, email lists that are still growing strong.
FK fandom hasn't died or dwindled and we certainly haven't gone away quietly in the night as other fandoms have.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-28 12:56 am (UTC)From: