Culture

Fan I Am #1: Examining Fandom Identity

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Crowd Of People

And so, after spending time exploring the job market and its pathologies, I turn my attention to fan identity.

I’m doing this because in many discussions with friends, the question has often come up – “why do we identify with our hobbies?” And this is coming from a group of gamers, anime fans, technologists, manga writers, and people who are offended at how “Big Bang Theory” portrays geeks. We’re not exactly “un-fannish.”

But we do have that question – as may you.

It’s a great question because why do people care about calling themselves Anime Fans, or Sports Fans (or fans of a specific team no matter how bad it is), or Gamers, and so on? I mean why does this become part of who we are? Why, if this identity is so important, does it lead to fan battles and meltdowns that seem to negate it or tarnish it?

Does this kind of identification actually make sense – and if so, under what conditions.

This question intrigued me, so over time, and with he feedback of some great people, I assembled a theory on fan identity – and where it is and isn’t healthy. There’s a lot more to fans than people think, including the fans themselves.

This exercised proved to be useful as it gave me a taxonomy of fans. Such a guide can help us understand identity as geeks since we intersect with fandom pretty heavily. It also helps analyze pathologies we may encounter, since another popular thing in any fandom is complaining about how awful it is. Where, in short, does identity work and where does it fail?

So, let’s voyage into the mind of the fan. Or my mind thinking about fans. Sort of fanception.

And, if I must present my fan/geek creds I consider myself a fan of:

  • Video games (enough I debate proper identities).
  • Anime (Japan delivers some great stuff in the medium that continues to entertain).
  • Cooking (Is this a fandom? Have you ever heard me go on about curry?)
  • Geekdom itself. (SUre I analyze it but also I just enjoy it).

So I’m a geek. And a fan.

Let’s go meet ourselves.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

Geek Catalog Update 10/26/2014

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And here’s the latest update on the Geek Catalog.  Be sure to check out the ever-growing lists for Geek Focus or Community Focus.

Comics

  • History
    • Wonder Woman Museum – A museum dedicated to Wonder Woman – and sponsors various charities as well.
  • Literacy
    • Comics For Kids – Collects and donates comics to kids, with a focus on literacy and developing creativity.
  • Military Support

Computing

  • Female Geeks
    • Girl Develop IT – A nonprofit that provides accessible programs for women who want to learn coding.
  • General
    • Code For Progress – A community that trains IT professionals, provides residency, and helps people get involved in communities and causes.

Video Games

  • Charity
    • GamesAid – An UK-based “Umbrella Charity” that supports a number of smaller charities that help disadvantages and disabled young people via video-game related events and activities.
    • Indie Games For Good – Indie Games For Goods raises money for Child’s Play by focusing on Indie Game marathons.

Writing

  • Literacy
    • LitWorld – A global nonprofit that does on-the-ground solutions to address literacy.

 

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

The Problem With Leaderless Movements

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I hear about Leaderless Movements a lot.  Some seem to be good, some negative, some have purpose, some unruly mobs.

But at times I am suspicious of Leaderless Movements.  Why?

Because why assume they’re leaderless?

Humans organize, humans form structure.  There are leaders, of one kind or another.  The ones that truly want things to be leaderless reroute their power and use it to uplift and engage, so you don’t see them.  If their goal is a leaderless movement, they do this – prominent enough to show they’re not taking power.

There are no truly leaderless movements.  Take it from a manager.

Now, when you hear of a Leaderless Movement, ask yourself not if there are leaders (they are) but what are their goals?  Because there may indeed be leaders, and unless you are aware of them you don’t know their agendas, or goals, or reliability.

And “Leaderlessness” may just be a cover.

 
– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.