Primer
| Synonyms: | fandom primer |
| See also: | Canon Resource, Master Post, Ship Manifesto |
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A fannish primer is a nonfiction resource compiled by one or more fans to provide basic information about a fandom, ship, or character for the benefit of others who might be interested in joining the fandom. Primers are intended to lower the barriers to entry (such as decades of convoluted and difficult-to-acquire canon, aka superhero comics) to entice more people into your fandom. The primer may include one or more of the following types of information: canon overview; list of characters; popular ships; popular fanfic tropes; fanwork recommendations; links to forums, archives, and other fannish resources; and an argument for why the fandom/ship is the best ever and everyone should join it.
The meaning of the word in the fannish sense is derived from the education term "primer": An elementary textbook introducing a topic, or teaching basic concepts.[1]
LiveJournal had several communities where primers were posted, including newbieguide, ship_manifesto, and crack_van. Fans also posted (and continue to post) primers on their personal journals.
Primers on Tumblr tend to be image-heavy and/or in the form of Powerpoints.
Examples
- Two Pros Primers, Archived version from 1992.
- Example of an NSYNC fandom primer posted on a personal fansite in late 2001.
- A Niall/Harry Ship Primer (One Direction) by bisousniall posted on Tumblr in August 2012 and actually more of a masterpost
- The Fandom Primer tag on AO3, although it's not yet canonical.
- Falling Into Fandom, a 2012 Beauty and the Beast (TV) essay by "A Fellow BATB Lover!"
- Love Japanese Style! The Lovefest of Love Hina by Skyrocket.
See also Fandom 411 at FanNation
Challenges and Fests
- Unconventional Fanworks Exchange is an exchange that allows fandom primers and ship manifestos as well as other meta. (Dreamwidth)
- Meta Manifesto is a fest for meta. (Dreamwidth)