[REC OMG] The Complex and Terrifying Reality of Star Wars Fandom

[permetaform]

So...

::cough:: See, I have this thing where I'm highly facinated/amused by rage, part of it is intellectual admiration and part of it is envy and wistfulness.

And part of it is just because righteous outrage, done right, is beautiful. And if it's done better it's hilarious.

"My girlfriend doesn’t understand what I see in Star Wars. We’ve had several soul-crushing arguments about what exactly makes this series so important to me, and every time I have found it more and more difficult to argue my case. As the maddening years have wound on, I think I finally understand the reason for this crippling handicap.

There is a diabolical twist to Star Wars fandom, you see, that defies comprehension, and yet is the life-blood of all Star Wars fans. It is this:

Star Wars fans hate Star Wars."

And it goes on and on and ON; as only a true Star Wars fan could.

And...at the end says something that's perhaps true of *all* fans as well.

The Complex and Terrifying Reality of Star Wars Fandom

Comments

[svmadelyn.livejournal.com]

Oh my GOD that was seriously fantastic.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Amusing article; thanks for linking it.

I have to say I also "love the idea" of Star Wars. But I've never loved it enough to devote that much attention to hating it-- I pretty much dismissed all the parts I didn't like right off and retain a pleasant memory of the few aspects I did like. ...It is always better in my head, though, than it seems to be on screen.

[myniamh.livejournal.com]

I think the Star Wars 'verse is always better in your own head.
I do adore the original films though, even if I agree with everything he said about them.

[metal-dog5.livejournal.com]

*nods* Absolutely. I agree with almost everything he said, and there are some other elements I'd add to the list. Having said that, I watch the movies with great affection.

[myniamh.livejournal.com]

I love that we can finally get our hands on the theatrical versions. I hate that they were hidden in the special features disk of the special edition movies though, we'll never get a nice boxed set thing.

I must have been destined for the fandoms I'm in now though, I was never really bothered by the Luke/Leia stuff from the films. XD

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

That was awesome. And true. Too true, and you're right that it can apply to all fandoms (or most, anyway) because only a true fan can have all the teeny tiny flaws memorized enough to obsess over them...(this is why the best parodies are made by true fans, because only a fan can truly touch the heart of everything that's wrong with a work...)

[metal-dog5.livejournal.com]

I have the original versions on laserdisc and video. If I had known the original versions were eventually going to be released on dvd, I wouldn't have bought the boxset. I figure George has enough of my money now that I'm not going to bother with yet another set.

Fandom destinies aside, was anyone bothered by the Luke/Leia lip-mash?

[myniamh.livejournal.com]

I don't think it bothered anyone because we didn't actually know they were related, we forgot to be shocked by the time we found out. It was totally ignored after the fact so many could just la la la it out of the way.

The new DVDs were very cheep and on sale as well so I got them. It's the NEW AND IMPROVEDness of the Extended Special Limited Edition versions that I don't like, there's building on something and there's just denying it was any other way but the approved version.

[kokkoryuha.livejournal.com]

That article was great! And it does relate to every fandom. You always find the greatest stuff.

[amalthia]

thank you so much for linking to this essay. :) I also love the idea of Star Wars but hate just about everything else about it, well except for the Timothy Zahn trilogy and the first trilogy (not special edition version)

[tiggymalvern.livejournal.com]

And...at the end says something that's perhaps true of *all* fans as well.

Oh, that's so true. Somehow every single fandom I've obsessed over and written for while it expands to fill the whole of my brain, I pimp heartily to people and then add at the end, 'But when you watch it, you have to make allowances for...'

[forked.livejournal.com]

That was beautiful- and kinda nails how I feel about most of the fandoms I'm truly 'fannish' about:
We hate everything about Star Wars.
But the idea of Star Wars…the idea we love.

Yea- that's pretty much it for over half my true fandoms.

[joey-wheeler.livejournal.com]

totally stole this ;) thanks for the rec :D and to see you reccing means you're either feeling better or at least have enough concentration to be able to rec as distraction, either way it's good. |D

[permetaform]

heh...actually I think it's more a product of my finally having consistent internet. ::wryyyy::

[permetaform]

heh, Weiss anyone? =D

[permetaform]

heh, ditto. ::highfives::

[permetaform]

hee! thank you!

[permetaform]

was my pleasure =)

[permetaform]

::nods:: and only true fans can keep the parody from being disgusting. It's a careful, careful project. =D

[permetaform]

=D thank you!

[permetaform]

np!

hee, yeah, I tend to 'filter' things too. It's very useful to reamin unenraged by the world. =D

[diluvian.livejournal.com]

Bwaaahahahaaa!

Fan + bitterness = OTP!

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

That is SO AWESOME. And yes, best explanation of fandom ever.

[permetaform]

::snorfle:: it's funny 'cause it's true!

[permetaform]

hee! yeah, kinda like a "insert fandom here" thing going on...