A Possibly Incomplete Musing on Why Our Fandom Works...

Ever since this fandom began, I've noticed how well structured it is. I can, off the top of my head, think of several reasons for this, all dealing with the fandoms that came before. The people doing X-Files fandom either a. were figuring out how to run on-line fandoms by the seat of their pants because the web was "becoming" at the same time the fandom was, or b. they showed up after it was well established and found it thriving... and huge. It was difficult to make a mark on such a large group. There was little you could write or say or do that didn't become a reiteration of something seven others had just said within the same hour or day. Which isn't the fault of anyone but simply something that was. Two, they'd come from a smaller and generally more well-organized group (such as Forever Knight or DS9) that was waning. They brought fresh enthusiasm and those skills with them. Three, they'd been in a much more segmented fandom, such as BuffyTVS, that was hit or miss as to content. (Involved discussion vs. "<blank> is so Hot!").

So you had people looking for a place to do something new, a place to be able to *think* and create and interact with others, and about that time, Farscape showed up. And it was good enough, and intelligent enough (both intellectually, humorously, and emotionally) to appeal to them. And they decided to try to create the fandom they *wished* the others would be.

Now, I'm not saying that, as a fandom, we're anything like perfect. We're not. There are well done things (groups/writing/etc.) and less well done things, things superficial and things thought-provoking. But the show has drawn a passionate people with a variety of skills they'd learned and has given them a place for them to flourish. We've seen (and possibly participated in) how other groups have handled things like cons, and in turn some have created one of our own (::hugs ScaperCon crew and committees::), and we've seen other campaigns to save shows, and everything we've learned, we're implementing. Which is why it's going so well.

Warning: Pissed Off Fan and Mythology Scholar

Ok. Totally going off here - and I'm not sure if it ends up making a bit of sense, let alone the point I'm trying to make, cause it's late, I'm exhausted, etc. But yeah.

My thoughts (minor rant at the WB list I've been on) on this whole campaign:

First and foremost, I don't think it's entirely about Farscape. Ok, ok, before anyone grabs the lynch mob, let me clarify. We're fighting for it, it's what's in everyone's minds, and I *certainly* think it's worth it. What I mean by that is that I think this may be one of those grand conjunctions of events that culminates into what we're accomplishing now. And none of this is in any way tested/checked/etc. Just musings based on my experiences.

I think that, finally, we all as a fandom are fed up. We're tired of creativity, intelligence, and art getting sacrificed on the altar of the almighty dollar in exchange for crap that will appeal to the lowest common denominator. We're sick of nurturing something and watching something grow and then having the rug pulled out from under us without any warning or any way to make our voices heard.

We're tired of being treated like outcasts of society because we happen to be passionate about one of the things that most defines us as being human - the capacity for story. As well as for our enjoyment of stories that force us to think, and to look at who and what we are and why we make the choices we do. Because one thing story - good story - has always been used for, throughout history and culture, is a mirror. It's a mirror to who and what we are.

One theory currently being batted about in scholarly circles is that one of the reasons why our culture is as messed up as it is in some areas is because we have no unifying mythology. Without story we don't know how to deal with things psychologically. The big questions, things like death, emotions and relationships are the subjects of story because those are the things we grapple with all the time. Do we have to stop someone from making a deadly weapon out of a wormhole? No. Do we need to think about what we use the science we do have for? Yes. As John said, it's never just science. Story works on our unconscious mind as well, forming models of behavior for us to draw on. Television, movies, books, music, and comics (and I'm sure I've leaving something out there) are the closest things that we have to the mythologies and legends that used to be a defining element of culture. This is a part of our culture, and that's why I want to save it. Both for itself, and what it's quickly coming to represent to me.

Mostly this stems from someone on a Witchblade list I'm on (not for much longer, though - for several reasons) going off on everyone on the list that was putting energy and money towards trying to save the show. They went on about how those resources should be used (at least equally) for charities and not something as worthless/selfish as a show they happen to like. On the one hand, I'm certainly not trying to downplay the importance of other causes. I am, however, questioning my motives as the author of the email asked everyone on the list to do. Hence my rant.

And I think I'm very tired and need to go to bed now.

Koren
The Scaper army is mobilizing. This is a battle to be won with smooth and convincing words, with impassioned outpourings. This is a fandom and a show with heart, and we have to put our hearts into this.- Shaye