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Beastie
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Beastie is a term used by some to describe Beauty and the Beast (TV) fans.
It was coined by Stephanie Wiltse, editor of Pipeline, and then picked up by the media. Wiltse commented upon this in the Fall 1991 issue of Pipeline:
TV Guide ran an article in their November 16-22nd issue about what they theorized might be a Disney cartoon "Sexy Enough for Adults, Magical for Kids." freelancer Rick Marin threw in a mention for the tv series:(I know this editor helped coin this, but can't anyone come up with a better cognomen? ...And I don't mean "Beauties" either.) [1]
- "A fanatical cultdom sprang up around CBS's Beauty and the Beast TV show. Fan clubs of (mostly single) women in their 30's calling themselves Beasties' swooned over the show's dreamy leonine hero. 'They're just starved for anything that has to do with tho show (canceled in 1990 after three seasons) or the story itself,' says Beastie Barbara Coleman."
An early use by Stephanie Wiltse, this one in July 1989 was when she wrote that "half of her 800 or so subscribers "joined after the show was canceled because they were upset. What we're finding out is that the Beasties are coming out of their closets, as it were, and they're standing up and being counted like those students at the end of 'Dead Poets Society.' [2]
Wiltse gave a nod to the term's negativity in June/July 1989, but didn't mention she'd been the one to coin it:
People who thought they were alone (Well, if you were being called a 'Beastie' wouldn't you hide in the closet?) took up the fight anyway, found to their astonishment that they had simply joined ranks with a veritable army. [3]
While some fans accepted the term and used it to describe themselves, others were unhappy to be called "Beastie." A fan in January 1991 took another zine ed, Janis Allyn, to task for continuing to use the term in the December 1990/January 1991 issue of "Pipeline" after fans complained:
I want you to know how insulting your writing is to this fandom. We have long ago rejected being called “Beasties” and we have let it be known for three years that we will accept the name “Helpers” if we have to be named at all. “Beasties” was coined by lazy, Level 1 thinking media members who, as usual, grabbed for the easiest and most obvious name and one which also would have a connotation of contempt reflecting their opinion that this fandom is comprised of silly females hung up on the show. If your publication “...will begin under Steff’s watchful eye so that it will reflect her original vision...” then both of you should know how grating it is to see “Pipeline” use this appellation for the B&B fandom members. You repeated this name five times in your article. I suggest you drop this term for the fandom now because you are not ingratiating yourself with us.
- [Janis Allyn's response]: Thank you for expressing your feelings about my Pipeline article.... I was aware that the term "Beastie" would be offensive to those who have a long term devotion to the show. My apologies! [4]
While most fans did not like the term because they felt it infantile, at least one fan was unhappy in that it left out the other "half" of "Beauty and the Beast":
Speaking of 'Beastie,' I read a LOC in a B & B publication awhile back that said being thus called doesn't give due credit to Linda Hamilton's portrayal of Catherine. That is a good point, but I don't know if I could call myself a "Beautie." [5]
Similar Topics
References
- ^ from Pipeline v.4 n.8/9 (Fall 1991)
- ^ None, Archived version
- ^ from Pipeline n.2 v.6/7
- ^ from The Gathering Place, see more of this conversation at We have long ago rejected to being called "Beasties"...
- ^ from Keepin' the Dream Alive #3 (May 1990)