That was a bad idea.

[thebitterguy]

Found an interesting article about a reporter attending a Harry Potter Con in Las Vegas. There's some bits in it that remind me of the whole Writercon kafuffle. Her reactions remind me a bit of my own first visit to Media*West, only magnified significantly.

You've heard of Star Trek conventions, I say. It's not so different.
'Nuh-huh,' says one. 'There it's all about the merchandising and maybe, you know, you get to meet William Shatner. It's not about wearing a cape and going to lectures.'

The bartenders obviously have a coloured opinion conventions, probably brought about by Creation's behemoth events in Vegas.

This quote makes me wonder, though:

But then, there's something so very female about this. It's the first time that women have ever dominated fandom in this way, and so of course it's all about doing extra homework and making sure your uniform is nicely pressed. It's really not a coincidence that one of the most popular characters to dress as is Hermione Granger, Harry's over-achieving little-miss-perfectionist friend.

Taken mostly out of context, it's an interesting observation on the author's part. I've never been part of any female dominated fandoms (technically, I've never been a part of a 'fandom'. I have hobbies and interests, but I tend to stop there).

Is there a substantive difference? I doubt it. I mean, the James Marsters show had a surprising dearth of literary analyses, although the attendees were usually dressed quite nicely.

Frederick Crews's sequel, Postmodern Pooh, is infinitely more ridiculous than his Sixties original because in the past 40 years, the literary theory establishment has almost collapsed under the weight of its own jargon. I think that if I hear the word 'discourse' again, I'll scream, although it's when I go to 'Out of Bounds: Transgressive Fiction' that I get really annoyed. It's a seminar analysing Hermione Granger-Professor Snape fan fiction. That is to say, a relationship between a teenage girl and a fortysomething man, which often, it transpires, takes the form of a rape narrative. There are 200 women in the room. And a whole lot of talk about female empowerment and gender reversals, but, frankly, if it was 200 men talking about rape narratives involving underage schoolchildren, it would be a matter for the police, and I don't think this is empowering anybody.

Okay, it's true that my exposure to Harry Potter outside the canon is pretty much nil (other than the utterly DELIGHTFUL Miss Scribe & Cassie Claire stuff that's practically Enquirer worthy). In fact, my entire personal exposure to fanfic and slash doesn't go a lot further than clucking my tongue and shaking my head like an old patriarch at his offsprings attachment to the Beatles whenever redeem147 or anidada mention, well, anything.

If you recall, I ran from Media*West like Road Runner from the Coyote. Meep Meep, and I was out of there. And I, ladies and gentlemen, consider myself something of someone who's been through the fandom hoops and around the fandom blocks. I can only imagine what some poor Guardian reporter (I will eschew the term "mundane", as I'm not a total asshole) would feel, para- dropped into Sin City to wander around a HP con.

Of course, slash involving the cast of HP would probably be a little more disturbing, considering the characters tend to be split 35/65 between adults and people under 16. I mean, all that ‘whatever floats your boat’ and GGG stuff has to work its way past a lot of societal taboos, especially if you haven’t seen Emma’s b-day party photos.

I dunno. It's just a bit weird, like seeing a particularly clueless astronaut exploring an alien society.

Comments

[indefatigable42.livejournal.com]

It's the first time that women have ever dominated fandom in this way...

See, saying that right after talking about Star Trek... all the big-name Trekkies (and I mean that in the best possible light) whose names I have heard from the early days of the fandom were female -- Bjo Trimble, Joan Winston, Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath and the like. These people were writers, campaigners, 'zine publishers, fic writers and convention organizers.

I have to wonder if men who participate in fandom completely dismiss the number of women who participate in fandom, because they don't consider things like fanfiction (a largely feminine pursuit in many fandoms) to be 'participating'. They probably think it doesn't count because it's a girly thing. Once again, circular logic makes the world go 'round.

Fanfic can also be a bit of an underground thing -- unless you're a fanfic writer or reader, you may not see how big it is, even if you're in the fandom in some other capacity. Outsiders definitely don't see it until some journalist decides to point and laugh, so maybe journalists like that one do see a largely male representation. Or maybe she's just going on the tired old stereotype that science fiction is 'for boys'.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Personally, that quote instantly marked the guy as a jackass. The stereotype is, of course, the pasty-faced dork who lives in his parents' basement but honestly, I've found in most "fandoms" it's women who dominate by far. Most of the men are along for the ride or lack the social skills.

[thebitterguy]

The author was a chick, too. I have no idea why they sent someone so out of their depth.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Wow. I think I accidentally hit a very deep vein of irony with my comment then. Probably enough to build a skyscraper.

No doubt gave the ladies a laugh, though.

[anidada.livejournal.com]

*shrug* Your last sentence above pretty much sums it up for me, too. I could go off on a semiotic tangent, but I'll spare you. :)

[thebitterguy]

Nooo! I desire your semiotic analyses!

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Good commentary. I got nothin' else interesting to say, but, I enjoyed reading this. :)

[brand-of-amber.livejournal.com]

99% of everything is crap.

That includes reporters.

And fanfic.

And cons.

And reporters writing articles about fanfic cons.

[kaijugal.livejournal.com]

"But then, there's something so very female about this. It's the first time that women have ever dominated fandom in this way"

*laughs so hard she falls of her chair*

What the hell has that person been smoking? XD

Not only do women participate in so many fandoms in so many ways, and have "dominated" both in numbers and in their level of involvement over the years, but I can name at least a half a dozen cons that fit this bill in spades,

i.e. B & B Con anyone? http://con2003.batbtunnels.org/index2.asp

Thanks for my laugh of the day Justin. :D