Friday at ChicagoTARDIS (I have my keyboard edition)

[neadods]

Before I talk about the con, some random links of interest:

sadbhyl on twitter: "Sat, 02:36: RT @cabin_pressure: Made me laugh: The first rule of Thesaurus Club is, you don't talk about, mention, speak of, discuss or chat about Thesaurus Club..."

Benedict Cumberbatch describes his holiday in the Seychelles Swimsuit pictures, y'all

Comments

[bentleywg]

Lunch: Is the convention at the same hotel as when Elisabeth Sladen came? Check the Target next door. Back then, there was a Pizza Hut just inside. I have no idea if it's still there, but it's close enough to check out.

[nonelvis]

Janet Fielding is ♥ ♥ ♥

[neadods]

She was fascinating at the feminism and Who panel. More on that later.

[penfold_x]

I will hold you to that.

[persiflage_1]

*roars of laughter at Peter Davison's answer to Janet*

[taiamu]

Re: Janet Fielding and Peter Davison--They were at Gally last year. Every panel they were on together was hysterical. :)

[neadods]

I know, I was there. Priceless entertainment. Happens again at 4 today...

[penfold_x]

"the role that the academic study of fans has had on fan practices."

So, basically, observation effect? Or what? More pls.

[neadods]

I don't think I ever answered this. I think it's about observation effect, but it's also about the question of whether someone who isn't a fan actually has a clearer understanding than someone who is part of the culture. Frankly, my answer is "hell no." Most of the not-fan studies I've seen were really the author superimposing their preconceptions on fandom. (you should see the profane comments in the margins of Enterprising Women.)

[penfold_x]

Thanks for following up. :)

I know what you mean about Enterprising Women (it felt quite off, so much that I didn't finish reading it, which is unusual for me).

I haven't read much other academic work on fandom. I did read all of Textual Poachers and appreciated that Jenkins didn't get caught up in the sexual aspects of fandom. Yes, there is slash, there is het, but these don't (IMO) define the movement behind fan fiction. There are a lot of people out there who want to tell stories, to bring their own lens to the media we're presented with, and much of that has nothing to do with sex. Heck, even the sex isn't always about sex.