On Fanmousness

[lastandleast]

Fanmous (adj.) Famous for being a fan.

Although not in Funk & Wagnalls just yet, fanmous is a word whose time has come. Back in the day, I got a little taste of it--receiving fifteen or more e-mails about my website a day, being considered a "cool kid" by my group of wacky Hanson fan peers, and even getting recognized out and about, both online

Comments

[saffronlie]

I personally don't think that JKR's editors spend *enough* time on her work... they're too busy rushing the book towards publication to worry about if it's actually any good. I don't think JK even has someone to call at midnight asking for advice, because that someone should have advised her that Horcruxes shouldn't be sprung on the reader in the second-to-last book. But that's probably a topic for some other time

[lastandleast]

Oh, you mean the original fiction that's being published this winter? ;)

Although I sort of came off that way in this post, I'm not resentful of modern-day fanmousness. I'm sure I'm echoing the words of a thousand Star Trek fanzine writers when I say that it's funny to see what used to be little and fringe becoming big business.

Good for the fans who built communities for the things they loved. I've been enjoying my peek at Harry Potter fandom, and I certainly enjoyed the roller coaster ride that was fansonhood.

But you have to admit, it's weird how fame can spring up in the cracks these days, and how the dangling carrots of "my neighbor was on the Today Show!" and "The kid two dorms down toured the country for Scholastic Books!" motivate the way people behave and think.

[saffronlie]

Yeah, the original fiction that five million fangirls will buy for her name. In a few years she won't be so lucky. Well, I hope.

[buddyholly]

i still think you're the cool kid, haha. but really, that is strange how they are touring the country for making some silly little website. strange how our country is changing in these types of ways. becoming famous for doing practically nothing.

[lastandleast]

Well, I'm glad the coolness smoke and mirrors worked on someone. ;)

I think even Andy Warhol would be wowed (horrified?) by the modern fame machine--it's a life goal these days, rather than a side affect like it used to be.

[buddyholly]

yeah that is definetly true. andy warhol was definetly a product of the strange fame boat. or something.

[bellaloca]

I got into a conversation with a gentleman whose profession is "statistics". That's it, all he does. Just gather information and release it to the media, some governmental work as well.
His latest journey around the country was spurned by a Time magazine writer whom he was gathering statistics for:
Q:What does todays younger generation (age 18-25)strive for most in life (in todays society.)
A: to be famous.
Not money, not family, not health...to be famous. Crazy.

My question: (I thought of this after he left)- is this a result of reality TV or is Reality TV a result of this?

J

[lastandleast]

Ah. But money and health come with being famous, as Paris Hilton and her fake nose and $10,000 weave prove ;)

I think the desire for fame and the success of reality TV are like fire and oxygen--one couldn't exist without the other, and their proliferation goes hand in hand. (And, much like the Ike song, just never seems to end.) I wonder, though, about their actual staying power: once upon a time, every TV show made was a Western. And now none are--will reality TV go the same way? And will the fame bug go with it?

[azureina]

Ahh...I remember those days. :-) You were our leader, our queen. Times were easier, and being a college student I had more of it on my hands.

Memories...in the corner of my mind...lol

And then we grow up, and real life has a tendancy to get in the way. Those two jetsetters will one day find themselves at an entry level position, school loans hanging over their heads, and longing for the days when life was simple and all about Harry Potter.

[ctrlaltdelete]

What I always wondered, at the time, was why Hanson didn't capitalize on the fandom the way that Scholastic is doing today. It seemed to me that nurturing that group from the top down would be a brilliant way to maintain momentum and buyer interest. Instead, Hanson - at the time I thought it was their Handlers, but their actions over the past few years seem to indicate that it was, in fact, them - clamped down on expressions of fandom and tried to regulate the hell out of it. (This coming from someone whose Hanson.net membership was actually REVOKED for something she said on the message boards.)

I guess what I'm saying is, good on Scholastic for recognizing that feeding into the fan machine is good for business. And continual boos to Hanson for alienating their customers.

[lastandleast]

I completely agree about the Hanson thing--they're shooting themselves in the foot by regulating their fandom to death, while brilliant Scholastic is helping it to flourish, knowing that it will sell more product in the long run.

And it's especially funny that a fiction publisher would embrace a fanfic-crazy audience as much as they have, when Hanson, who make music, a commodity fanfic could never supplant, forbid even the use of the word on their lame-o website.

It's all about being visionary on the PR front: Scholastic is; Hanson isn't.

(Although, that TTA webpage building contest was a step in the right direction, even if they picked safe and poorly done over risky and fabulous. But I bet Hanson had nothing to do with it, though--that was the dark days of IDJ.)

[buddyholly]

they forbid the word "fanfic" on the message boards???!!! i cannot fucking beleive that. i am so out of touch with that band now, seeing as i am too cheep to pay for a membership at hanson.net......wow oh wow they really are lame. that breaks my heart.