Fandom, the care and feeding of...

[odditycollector]

I've now read the latest by JK Rowling, and... I thought it was better than some of the other ones. There aren't likely to be any deep thoughts about the new Potter book from me, as my most severe reaction to it was a bit of exasperation at the less subtle bits.

What was far more interesting to me, however - the thought that stayed in my mind after I closed the book and put it away - was *why* I read it. I'm not a Harry Potter fan. I wasn't before I read HBP, and the new book didn't change anything. I mean, I read fic occasionally, for a variety of reasons, but it never *sparked* with me the way certain worlds do.

So why, I found myself asking myself, as if I might know more than I did, did I rush out the first day it was released? I don't do that for Terry Pratchett's books, which I enjoy far more. I don't worry about following television shows or comics that closely, letting them pile up so I can go through them at my leisure. I still intend to finish watching the first season of Lost, the third of Due South, the entirety of Blake's 7. The most recent Batman movie was out for weeks before I bothered... and that was quality.

But HBP? The books came out at 12:01, and the bookstores were *open*, decorated liberally with promotional posters and cardboard cutouts of the characters in question. Many shoppers were decked out in appropriate costume - the plastic witch hat makers must have thought Halloween came early this year. There hadn't been similar excitement over a new episode since...

Since Episode Three, actually.

[Poll #534477]

Perhaps I just got caught up in the shared excitement? I mean, I didn't show until late Saturday morning, but the bookstore was still like a very specific scene from Fforde's Lost in a Good Book, you know the one, and... well, maybe you don't, actually. Because I'd look pretty silly assuming you've all read the same books as me, a little bit like Hermione and her much quoted Hogwarts: A History!

[Poll #534478]


And maybe that's it, right there. I read HBP for most of the same reasons I watched the last couple Star Wars movies. Little emotional investment on my part, but I'd absolutely hate not knowing what anyone around here was talking about. And, besides, it's somewhat expected, isn't it? Harry Potter has become the Star Wars of fandom. You don't have to read it, but you'd feel compelled to at least explain yourself otherwise. It would be a stance, almost *political* around here - a little like actively refusing to vote.

[Poll #534479]

Fandom has *is* a shared culture. There's some segmentation, of course (like those anime fans, what whackos) and more overlap (except for those of you likely to read this. You guys count as in fandom proper) but at least around *here*, the Harry Potter series is assumed into the script knowledge. Even those who don't care for the details probably know the basics... at least enough to get most of the jokes.

[Poll #534480]



The moral is? Maybe that fandom is weird, and certain things - like Harry Potter and Star Wars - are a bit like watching the world news... or at least hearing about it from a friend. Of course, these things have *actually* made the global news, so perhaps my point is more moot than it seemed when I started.

But anyway. This was a fun excuse for some pointless polls, yes?

[Poll #534481]

Comments

[vagabondsal.livejournal.com]

You know, funnily enough, I too got corralled into giving HBP a read this weekend. (Maybe it was the free digital copy that a friend practically foisted upon me that did me in.) It's strange, because you know that if anything, I'm even more apathetic towards the HP franchise than you are, and yet...it was such an event, you know? Two out of every three posts on my f'list this weekend were about HBP, rumor this rumor that speculation as to what size socks Harry wears. Even though I could happily go the rest of my natural days without ever hearing about the boy who lived ever again, I still sort of wanted to key into all that fannish energy bouncing around. Like I told another non-fan friend this weekend, I sort of felt like the Jewish kid at his elementary school's Christmas pageant.

[metaphor.livejournal.com]

I do the friending-of-people thing specifically for Fforde references. my main fandom's so little, but it's growing!

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

I'm not a HP fan either - I haven't even read all the books - but it was just fun to go with friends to the bookshop at midnight, and sit around drinking and watching the people in costumes. And then it appealed even more to go and buy the book in a cheaper, queueless shop!

[badficwriter.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty dedicated to one fandom at a time....I have never read HP fic that wasn't by someone already doing comic book fic. I'm not sure why.....I just have less patience for nonprofessional work that isn't something I'm already obsessed with.

I liked the HP books I read. When they showed up in the public library. I'm sure I'll like this one too. When it gets there. Or when my son gets into it.

But I completely get the 'keeping track of fandom!' thing. And if I weren't' lazy and doing housewifely things this weekend, I might've considered going to peoplewatch, too, as a way of participating.

[holyschist.livejournal.com]

I haven't read HP since the first two books (or maybe only one? I read before the hysteria). It just doesn't do anything for me. I'm used to everyone talking about media I don't know a damn thing about (growing up without a TV does that). And since my 'to-read' list is 200+ books long and growing daily, I don't read books anymore unless I'm actually interested in them.

*shrug*