Fandom hysterias...
That's not actually the word I'm looking for, but I can't think of a better expression right now, so it will have to do.
Anyway, I'm sure you all know what I mean. Many of you have been part of it, probably several times - like myself. It's fun, in an exhausting, and sometimes exasperating kind of way. Suddenly, fandom takes precedence over Real Life, with a vengeance. You're staying up all night surfing the net for news, any news, any little bit that one might have missed. Lurking at a dozen forums, trying to glean spoilers or other kinds of info, or read reactions to something one already knows. You're in a permanent state of nervous excitement. You can't eat or work properly... It's frelling annyoing, but my self-control just isn't strong enough to fight it. It's as if a part of my brain just... quits. (I'm glad not too many RL people are reading this blog... *g*)
First time it happened to me? The Lord of the Rings wait (especially for the first movie...) - Then the cancellation of Farscape - and now, ironically, Harry Potter, book five. Ironically, because I'm *still* not really a HP fan. I'm not even really sure I want to read the book. I'm a HP fan the way I was a HL fan - head over heels for one character, but kinda lukewarm about the rest of the universe. Sure, there's parts of the books I enjoy immensely, and aspects of the universe I find intriguing, but without Sirius (and, to a lesser degree, Remus), I wouldn't *dream* of, say, reading fan fiction about it. And I still hold that there are more impressive children's books out there, books that I wish had a fandom, because I'd really *love* to read fic about them. (I've recommended them many times already, but I just feel a need to plug Michael de Larrabeiti's 'Borribles' books again...)
Nevertheless, I've been behaving like a Potterhead for about a week now, and it has interfered majorly with my studies, and my sleeping habits, and a thousand other things. Not to mention that I've been depressed (to a not too devastating, but still noticeable degree) since I found out about The Death on wednesday. Did I mention that HP - of all fandoms! - has finally turned me into a slash reader?! How's that for irony... I blame it all on the great fics out there. I didn't *want* to read them, but they kept being recommended all over the place! There, now I feel better. Well, not really, but it's nice having someone to blame. I'm not so twisted yet as to blame J.K. Rowling for making the choices she did - these are *her* books! Better blame the slashers for adding so many layers and making those characters so real that I can't help but care deeply about them. *eg*
Maybe I should start sending feedback, so that they see the ship is still in demand? Hm... but I don't *need* another active fandom!
Ah, decisions, decisions... Why So Difficult?!?
Anyway, I'm sure you all know what I mean. Many of you have been part of it, probably several times - like myself. It's fun, in an exhausting, and sometimes exasperating kind of way. Suddenly, fandom takes precedence over Real Life, with a vengeance. You're staying up all night surfing the net for news, any news, any little bit that one might have missed. Lurking at a dozen forums, trying to glean spoilers or other kinds of info, or read reactions to something one already knows. You're in a permanent state of nervous excitement. You can't eat or work properly... It's frelling annyoing, but my self-control just isn't strong enough to fight it. It's as if a part of my brain just... quits. (I'm glad not too many RL people are reading this blog... *g*)
First time it happened to me? The Lord of the Rings wait (especially for the first movie...) - Then the cancellation of Farscape - and now, ironically, Harry Potter, book five. Ironically, because I'm *still* not really a HP fan. I'm not even really sure I want to read the book. I'm a HP fan the way I was a HL fan - head over heels for one character, but kinda lukewarm about the rest of the universe. Sure, there's parts of the books I enjoy immensely, and aspects of the universe I find intriguing, but without Sirius (and, to a lesser degree, Remus), I wouldn't *dream* of, say, reading fan fiction about it. And I still hold that there are more impressive children's books out there, books that I wish had a fandom, because I'd really *love* to read fic about them. (I've recommended them many times already, but I just feel a need to plug Michael de Larrabeiti's 'Borribles' books again...)
Nevertheless, I've been behaving like a Potterhead for about a week now, and it has interfered majorly with my studies, and my sleeping habits, and a thousand other things. Not to mention that I've been depressed (to a not too devastating, but still noticeable degree) since I found out about The Death on wednesday. Did I mention that HP - of all fandoms! - has finally turned me into a slash reader?! How's that for irony... I blame it all on the great fics out there. I didn't *want* to read them, but they kept being recommended all over the place! There, now I feel better. Well, not really, but it's nice having someone to blame. I'm not so twisted yet as to blame J.K. Rowling for making the choices she did - these are *her* books! Better blame the slashers for adding so many layers and making those characters so real that I can't help but care deeply about them. *eg*
Maybe I should start sending feedback, so that they see the ship is still in demand? Hm... but I don't *need* another active fandom!
Ah, decisions, decisions... Why So Difficult?!?