Re:I have killed Jedi’s and their fans
Sorry y’all, today has been a day for rambling inanely since I’m in a curious state of mind. I don’t mean to derail this fun topic.
The Triumph the Dog link was hilarious… I think it shows how many people perceive Star Wars fandom.
For better or worse (depending on who you are), it’s become part of pop-culture to make fun of Star Wars [i]uberfans[/i], and the sub-culture of Star Wars fandom — a large, easy target, and, especially with the advent of the new film, it’s open season.
The media tends to focus on those “cultists” who make a spectacle of themselves, or take their hobby to extremes (that’s entertainment!). For instance, Trekkies who wear their uniforms to work, learn Klingon, and/or worship at The Church of Spock. Or Star Warsians who like to dress up and role-play in the queue for movies, memorise the dialogue, (“Hmm, yousa point is well seen… that’s why you no liking us meesa thinks”) or devote themselves to Jediism (they remind me a bit of Hare Krishnas, but with less colourful clothes, oh and they carry light sabers instead of tambourines, and ummm. Okay…). It’s bound to invite ridicule from some, and indeed many revel in both the negative attention from the bemused, uninititiated spectator, as well as the positive reaction from fellow fans/cult members..
They’re getting noticed. Many people like to set themselves apart from the mainstream in the most obvious of ways — remember the days of Punk? (of course Star Wars is a huge mainstream success).
It’s because the more extreme fans sometimes come across as so far removed from reality (perceived to be living in fantasy worlds) that many scorn them. It’s unfair, the whole fanbase gets stereotyped… Whether false or not, or partially true, there’s this prevalent idea in the heads of many that the fans are geeks and freaks (no doubt some are in any group). I’m a freak, and not ashamed of it, but my geekinees still needs work.
Of course there’s nothing wrong with dress-up or role-playing. I haven’t the courage for it (not even on Halloween), but I’m sure it can be lots of fun. Some day I’ll pluck up the courage to go to a midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show dressed as Frank N. Furter… Or no, I probably won’t, but I admire the free-wheeling fun spirit of those who can. Guess it has to do with an unfortunate experience when I played Hamlet… My codpiece made of real cod fell off on stage. Knew I should have gone for suckerfish. [i](btw, I was a big D&Der back in the day).[/i]
In the case of Star Wars (particularly the more recent ones), those who are inclined to see it as overblown, juvenile dreck are more likely to see the fans (the hardcore older ones) as totally out of touch with reality in their enthusiasm. It’s aimed at kids primarily, I believe, but for some of the older crowd, the nostalgia factor plays a part in wanting to watch it. And of course it’s a specatacle with new effects… Plenty of bang for your buck.
And, my comments aside, this is one of the most hilarious threads I’ve ever read at sadgeezer.com. I give it ten severed Jedi heads up. 😀