Senior biology and secondary science education major
As young adults navigating through our formative years, we are constantly challenged to find people with whom we can forge a genuine connection. For some, camaraderie is found in family, roommates or that kid you sit next to in your statistics discussion. Others seek less traditional means, and so enters the fandom.
The term “fandom” describes a community of people who bond over a common interest. That interest can be a movie, game, character, band, anything. You name it, and there is probably an extraordinarily intense group of devotees who have formed a community based on their shared enthusiasm for it.
Each case of fandomania presents itself differently, depending on the individual and his or her area of interest. Symptoms range from occasional indulgences or casual fondness to total immersion into the lifestyle of a fictional character. The fans themselves are as unique as the subculture they so proudly represent.
Speculation about what drives these obsessions is endless: the search for community, craving an acceptable forum for more unusual interests, the expression of deep and unrelenting love, a distraction from a less pleasant reality — take your pick. It’s different for everyone.
From the outside looking in, there are a lot of questions. People don’t know whether they should react with hesitant support, genuine curiosity or complete confusion. But a lack of understanding is no excuse for judgment or condemnation.
Outsiders might look at a fandom with uncertainty and even distaste, but they rarely take the time to compare ultra-fans’ behavior to their own obsessions. Most of us can think of at least one thing in our lives that causes such zeal and enthusiasm to spill out of us. It might not be a television show or book series, but rather your future career or your social life.
Just because you focus your time and effort on climbing the corporate ladder instead of Comic-Con doesn’t allow you to make a judgment that one is a better use of time than the other. Each has its own merits and disadvantages that could support an argument for or against it. Perhaps instead of drawing distinctions between ourselves and fangirls or fanboys, we should try focusing on what we have in common: genuine passion.
Passion, I think, is at the very heart of a fandom. You might believe this effort and enthusiasm toward teen idols and pop culture phenomena is misdirected, and you might be right. But it also shows the depth of dedication and excitement of which today’s youth are capable.
It is refreshing to see so many people unapologetically being themselves. Enthusiasts happily share their potentially unusual interests with no reservation or thought of the stereotypes with which other people might associate them. Say what you will, but fandoms attract and support independent thinkers who are accustomed to the potential isolation of the road less traveled.
For a generation that is often described as apathetic, I offer this as evidence to the contrary. The future relies on the actions of a passionate few, and our fandom dedication shows that we have passion in spades.
Danielle Wilkin is a senior biology and science education major. She can be reached at dwilkindbk@gmail.com.
