I didn't know "fandom" as defined in the original post existed on LiveJournal until 2006.
Since I hang out with a small fandom for an unloved show that aired in 1978, I was (still am) more involved with e-mail lists. From 1990 until recently, I relied on reading Usenet newsgroups.
Before that I went to SF conventions which were mainly literary oriented with side orders of media (TV and movies), costuming, modeling, filk, etc. organized by fans (or fen) for fans of science fiction and fantasy.
At that time (the 1970s) most fans did not have BluRay, DVDs, VCRs, etc. If one was a fan of a television show, once it was cancelled it was gone for all intents and purposes unless it was lucky enough to be picked up for syndication.
The media fanzines I bought at that time were, by and large, not "subversive". The fanfics were created by fans to "continue" the show they loved. These fanzines also included some critiques and reviews and lots and lots of opinions. However since people had to write on a piece of paper and mail off a letter of comment, people tended to stop and think before they mailed their letter. Imagine a flame war where responses take weeks, if not months, to be "published".
I just read a bunch of Doctor Who reviews (don't worry, no spoilers) and was struck by the lack of awareness or discussion of story structure (don't tell me the writing was X; tell my why you think the writing was X), character interaction, the actors' performances, the costume design, the set design, etc.
I happen to think admiring an actor is perfectly fine (if it doesn't involve stalking). I've watched more than a few crappy movies or TV shows for the simple reason my favourite actor was in the cast. I saw one of his earliest film roles the other day. Wasn't his best work, but the potential which he fulfilled later was evident even then. Today no one would discuss the performance, they'd just complain the actor's ethnicity didn't match the character's (although it does in a technical respect).
I think what is wearing out LiveJournal fandom is the endless rounds of the whatever-FAIL. While some people may want to co-opt various TV and movie creations for their subversive ends, other people just want to watch them and share their enjoyment without getting clobbered over a political issue.
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Another viewpoint from a decrepit fan (via metafandom)
on 2010-01-03 01:33 pm (UTC)Since I hang out with a small fandom for an unloved show that aired in 1978, I was (still am) more involved with e-mail lists. From 1990 until recently, I relied on reading Usenet newsgroups.
Before that I went to SF conventions which were mainly literary oriented with side orders of media (TV and movies), costuming, modeling, filk, etc. organized by fans (or fen) for fans of science fiction and fantasy.
At that time (the 1970s) most fans did not have BluRay, DVDs, VCRs, etc. If one was a fan of a television show, once it was cancelled it was gone for all intents and purposes unless it was lucky enough to be picked up for syndication.
The media fanzines I bought at that time were, by and large, not "subversive". The fanfics were created by fans to "continue" the show they loved. These fanzines also included some critiques and reviews and lots and lots of opinions. However since people had to write on a piece of paper and mail off a letter of comment, people tended to stop and think before they mailed their letter. Imagine a flame war where responses take weeks, if not months, to be "published".
I just read a bunch of Doctor Who reviews (don't worry, no spoilers) and was struck by the lack of awareness or discussion of story structure (don't tell me the writing was X; tell my why you think the writing was X), character interaction, the actors' performances, the costume design, the set design, etc.
I happen to think admiring an actor is perfectly fine (if it doesn't involve stalking). I've watched more than a few crappy movies or TV shows for the simple reason my favourite actor was in the cast. I saw one of his earliest film roles the other day. Wasn't his best work, but the potential which he fulfilled later was evident even then. Today no one would discuss the performance, they'd just complain the actor's ethnicity didn't match the character's (although it does in a technical respect).
I think what is wearing out LiveJournal fandom is the endless rounds of the whatever-FAIL. While some people may want to co-opt various TV and movie creations for their subversive ends, other people just want to watch them and share their enjoyment without getting clobbered over a political issue.