Cynical Fandom
| Meta | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Cynical Fandom |
| Creator: | Jeff Johnston |
| Date(s): | November 1976 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Topic: | |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Cynical Fandom is a 1975 essay by Jeff Johnston.
It was printed in Spectrum #28.
Introduction
A few fans have started to become worried about the prevalence of cynicism in fandom, and indeed, it does seem to be on the rise. The interesting thing about this situation however is that fans don't normally consider themselves as cynics in the least...not in STrekdom anyway. Why then the fear of this increase? And what is it that is motivating fans toward a more cynical bent?
Some Topics Discussed
- the author of the essay self-identifies as a cynic
- cynics are simply truth-tellers, and because of this, they bear a terrible burden
- while the author does not specifically name it, he very likely is reminding fans of the scandal written about in The facts are these. Hoover is not telling the truth.
- Star Trek fandom was started by science fiction fans
- Star Trek fans are naive and too idealistic
- Star Trek fandom will certainly wane in popularity
- fans are not addressing problems in Star Trek fandom in order to protect its image
- truth telling and honest discussion can't be done in Star Trek fandom because too many of its zines are made up of fanfic, leaving little room for fan communication; fans should then discuss these things in letters to each other
From the Essay
Cynicism seems ironic in fandom because the image of the Star Trek fan that we like to promote is one of a kindly, generous, warm-hearted person who embraces the far-reaching idealism embodied in the show Star Trek. That fact that we picture ourselves as idealists makes any cynic stick out that much more. Rather than being idealists, cynics more likely are doggedly practical people, realists and even pessimists. Quite a disparity eh?
If cynicism is all that opposed to the image of the STrekfan, then why do many people consider cynicism on the rise or what perhaps, is wrong with our image of the average fan if we don't include the cynic?
The first thing that comes to mind is the nation's latest pastime of airing dirty laundry. Remember Watergate? A famous battle cry if I ever heard one! Watergate, consumer's advocates, Ralph Nader & Co., and even government agencies are telling us to watch our step and question everything that goes on which we can't eyeball personally. Undoubtedly this will have a tendency to show up some in fandom too, since we are all effected by mundane events whether we admit it or not.
Is a cynic justified in being a cynic because fans aren't what they say they are, or do things they don't talk about? Maybe. Part of it may come under "protecting the image." Several very nasty things happening in fandom have been covered up simply because the concensus [sic] was that it would look bad for fandom. A few years back S.T.A.R. very strangely stopped all business. Despite the circumstances that may have accompanied the demise of S.T.A.R., and even if there was legitimate cause for it's disbandment, the fact remains that hundreds of people lost money when that happened. A couple hundred people who each sent in $2, $3 or more dollars for a membership, the newsletter, the poster set, or the fanzine...that adds up to a couple thousand dollars. Just - gone. A lot of people have inquired in lettercols "what happened to S.T.A.R.?" but how many reports have been printed of what really happened and why so many people didn't get anything for their money or their money back? Another thing that is covered up is the rationale behind charging for fanzine prices. In comparison with SFandom's zines, the ones in STrekdom are exorbitantly overpriced, with far less inside to show for it. What are the rationales behind people who charge unknown prices into the total bill of their fanzines and won't tell you what they were? And how about the way that large conventions are run nowadays? Many of them schedule their cons in the same weekend in clear powerplays. There are monstrous advertising blitzes, in major attempts to undermine the success of "the other guy." Free enterprise? Or Dog-eat-dog?
Of course, the major basis we have for comparison is science fiction fandom. This is inevitable since STrekdom was founded by SF fans and a few fans even straddle both fandoms. Although it may be a little unfair to expect STrekdom to accomplish what SFandom has been practicing for almost 40 years, it does show us what can be done. By comparing a sampling of fans from one fandom with the next it may become apparent to a few people that STrekfans often resist reality too much. They are too idealistic, too caught up in their world. Many of them won't admit to things like the fact that STrekdom probably has a limited lifespan and will no longer be hyperactive like it is now, in another 20 years. And Star Trek itself was not that much. It gave fandom a jumping off point. Fandom has actually surpassed the quality of Star Trek - since the show itself was only 79 little episodes filmed way back in the 60's with 60's censorship and TV restrictions; yet many fans still desperately cling to the fact that ST is sacred and holy, when it's fandom they should be devoting effort to. Cynics might be tired of the ritual offerings to the sacred shrine and deified actors. I'm sure that to many, Star Trek already seems a thing of the past, and something that time could be better spent on somewhere else. Trying to get this point across to avid fans of the show would probably be interpreted as a cynical, pessimistic way of viewing their show, when in fact the point put across may only be that the best part of fandom is fandom itself.
If this is what the cynics want to say, to put a little more realism in fandom and let a few people see it from a different light, then where do cynics go to discuss it. Where do they appear in print? In all probability lettercols are too short to contain any detailed discussion on such a thing and few fanzines carry discourses on fandom since most fanzines are filled with fanfic. The best refuge for the cynics then is probably thru letters, where they can discuss what they want to their heart's content. Letters don't get the coverage that zines do, but there is a quality to any thing a cynic has to say that offsets this. Because cynicism is so opposed to the normal image we try to promote, it comes across all the more strongly, and cynics are likely to be somewhat frustrated people since in a world of idealists it's hard to get a point across. They're apt to speak out that much more forcibly.
Cynics may be on the rise, but there still aren't all that many around yet. A cynic in STrekdom is likely to be a realist, as opposed to an idealist. He is likely to have contact with SFandom since this gives him an overview of STrekfans that is hard to obtain inside of STrekdom alone. If a cynic is one who speaks out against the un-discussed items in fandom, then he has to have awfully good lines of communication himself in order to find out about such things to begin with. Cynics are also likely to be faaans, people who are more concerned with fans and fandom than Star Trek. Such people have probably discussed ST until it oozes out of their ears, and long for a chance to better the only thing about ST that still remains viable- fandom. If it takes all of this to be a cynic, then not everyone qualifies. Certainly it takes more than being a realist to be qualified as a cynic in fandom.
If there aren't all that many true cynics in fandom, only a couple noisier-than-average ones, then why the apprehension? Why fear of pessimism? It may go back to the fact that most ST fans are just a wee bit too idealistic, as far as fandom is concerned at least. Many fans are afraid of change, and cynics tend to be liberal with their ideas on how to change things for the better. It's always been safer to be conservative. Fans may also be afraid of losing our wonderful image. As a general group ST fans are. warm, sincere, and intelligent people, but we all aren't virginally pure.
In promoting our own image, we'd like to think that. Cynics might threaten to debase that image...and prove that we're only human after all. Airing our evils may be the single most threatening thing, that cynics have as their verbal weapon. The fact that there actually are bad things in fandom like fan parasites, frauds, cheating, swindles, slander movements against fans and other things is thoroughly upsetting to many fans. Many that you talk to will firmly deny that they exist, and they will insist that discussing them after they occur does not help anyone after the fact. Yet - ignoring them doesn't make them any less real, nor does it arm other fans to the fact that they exist by warning them. A few people will realize that eventually, and cynics will probably be listened to more often in the future, but this won't make them go away either. Most of the cynics you meet in STrekdom are probably perfectionists too, and won't be happy until everything is just right. If you are a die-hard idealist en joy things now while cynics are still few and can't find places to air their gripes, and rent a large rock while your at it...you'll need it to crawl under in a couple of years.