Artemis On Fandom And Her Web Page
| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Artemis On Fandom And Her Web Page |
| Interviewer: | Diane Silver |
| Interviewee: | Artemis |
| Date(s): | conducted in the spring of 1997, posted October 1997 |
| Medium: | online |
| Fandom(s): | Xena: Warrior Princess |
| External Links: | Artemis On Fandom And Her Web Page, Archived version |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Artemis On Fandom And Her Web Page is a 1997 Xena: Warrior Princess fan interview at Whoosh!.
Series
For others in this series, see Whoosh! Interview Series.
Some Excerpts
When did you first become a fan of X:WP?
Before there was a show, way back in the "first" season on Hercules. I have been watching Hercules since the beginning. Xena was a really neat character. I wasn't too happy with UNCHAINED HEART because this meant that we were losing the best villian of all time. Then they announced that Lucy was getting her own show, my fear was it would be cancelled as soon at it hit. Whew! Hope "Young Hercules" survives, it looked really good.
When did you first get involved with online Xenadom?
When the Hercules forum first went up. It was an easier format when you only had a handful of people and they all stuck to the same threads, then one day a Xena thread started (well the rest is history).
What was it like in the early days?
Scary question. On the one end it was easier, everyone was "up to speed" and everyone watched the shows together. We didn't have too much of "Who's Xena and what are you guys talking about now" kinda things. But the beginning also spawned some really mean people. I understand that they left due to their unpopularity.
The problem with all fandom (and not just Xena/Herc) is that there are people out there who are fans, the common folk who discuss the show and have a happy time. Then there are fanatics who regard the show very seriously and take offense to someone misjudging it (I had an argument with somone at a pizza house once cause they thought Lucy was "Fuggly", so yes we all have that in us). Then you have the thinkers. People who have ideas about what to do: cons, websites, fanzines, etc. Then you have the Do'ers. Then you have the people who want to be in charge (at all costs). These are the people who use fandom as a vehicle in their own lives to further their popularity. And then you have the people who didn't ask to be furthered in popularity.
But regardless of what has happened and what will happen, we are all connected by a common bond, the love of something. Sometimes it's unrequited, and othertimes it's an overwhelming passion. One thing about love though, it's never boring!
Has your involvement with online fandom changed your view of the show? yourself? the world?
Yes and no. No it hasn't changed my views of the world or of myself. I have been involved with fandom since I was very young. And when Doctor Who hit it big over here in the early 80's I couldn't escape it. I have had the same experiences with the same types of folks for over 15 years now. I can safely say its a full circle each time I experience it.
Online is more negative. You "can't" take it back, and you "can" get angry easier. When you don't see a face, or know a person it's easier to be cruel. It's easier to believe what you want and not what they want. It's a cold world out here, nothing to brag about. For example, look at Lucy, she tried IRCing (now THAT'S the evil medium). Why? Because it it would be fun to check out the fans and see what they all do. H*ll, I would be curious! Well, she said one bad thing and out she got kicked. Now everyone in the room would have treated her differently if they would have just known. "Why didn't she tell us it was her?" Well the same has been said before on a different scale, in a different place. So for me, it hardly changed any thoughts I already had about people. I have been here before!
Yes it has changed my thoughts of the show. I notice a trend that Steven (Sears ala Tyldus) and the others are falling into right now, catering to the fans. Bad move! I know a certain show in England that did that. Let's just say one of the stars got really fed up and quit. (He was the show BTW). I have been enjoying Hercules more these days. (Full circle again) Don't get me wrong, I love Xena, but I have been noticing somethings that have changed since the beginning and I don't really care for it. I think there is not enough "creative" input and too much listening to what the others have to say. However, I'm not a Joxer fan.