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What’s in a "Fan"…? Apparently, Quite a Bit
Written by Einat Brigler
There are not many people in the world insane enough to sit up late at night to ponder the meanings and histories of certain words, but a recent series of fan-forum incidents has led me to the questioning of what exactly a fan is, and whether or not the object(s) of their fandom owe(s) them heart, soul and time for their love and devotion.
With the recent re-emergence of rock and punk in the form of pretty boys in eyeliner thrashing around on stage and offering their audiences salvation in the form of violent riffs, screaming vocals and aggressive concerts, it is not hard to see how a person can tumble head-over-heels from spectator to fan, but when kids camp out for twenty hours before a concert in order to obtain the privilege of standing at the barrier, we may be taking things a little far. Or better yet, when they mass in groups near the bus' for hours after the show in order to meet said band and claim ownership of their time and fame. Usually, it is easily said that out of gratitude, the tired band members will plaster smiles on their faces and brave the screams, exploding barrage of flash bulbs and the random intrusive groping, but if, god-forbid, they decide that their fatigue is too great, and they manage to pile into the bus while avoiding fan-masses, the resulting backlash is increasingly harsh, with fans threatening to leave the fandom and/or accusing the band of being heartless and arrogant assholes, or sellouts. That being said (and witnessed), among a great deal of other highly intrusive behavior, I set out to find the exact definition of the world fan along with its history, and what privileges come with claiming such a title.
The word fan – according to the mighty Oxford English Dictionary – originally entered the English language as an abbreviation of the word Fanatic in 1525. Back then, the connotation was entirely negative – meaning a person who was either insane or a religious maniac. It was a derogatory term aimed at the masses whose main interests revolved around promoting their religion regardless of the personal or social cost. It was a hostile term and not something to be proud of or declared. By 1534 'fanatic' became a term used to describe a person who garbled in gibberish while possessed by the spirit of a demon or some other "godly" presence – hard to see the connection between religious insanity and today's devoted kids…but let’s plough onwards.
It wasn’t until the late 1600s (1682 to be exact) that the term 'fan' began to take on a more positive definition. Around that time, with the growing social interest in baseball developing throughout the masses, fan meant a keen or regular spectator of a professional sport, and was later transformed to mean an enthusiast for a particular person or thing. Fans were simply people who followed the going-ons within a sport, favoring one team over the next, or one player over the others – and this was a definition that stuck for nearly 300 years, but in 1975, fandom as we know it exploded and was reformed with the cult-like following developed by the hit television series Star-Trek. The sudden mass of people flocking to collect series paraphernalia, emulating the characters and later, idolizing the actors, redefined the term fan and transformed it into a word that means an enthusiast for a particular group or person collectively. These fans are long term, dedicated supporters who are sometimes perceived as being drawn from a distinct social group. For the past 32 years, it is this definition that has stuck.
But here’s what puzzles me. Nowhere in the 482 year history of this word does it declare that fans can claim any sort of ownership to the object of their fandom. It is true that many people who have a fan-following are grateful to their admirers and will constantly state this, but being a fan gives the follower absolutely no right to a celebrity's or band's time, attention, person, or personal information. Interesting, so why has this translated to fans crowding the bus area after shows?
Mind you, this is something that is exclusive to the music industry and does not happen in Hollywood at all. When did it become the norm for fans, who are supposed to be supportive followers of the collective group (or individual) to demand attention, hugs, pictures and personal acknowledgement from the object(s) of their devotion? Pretty recently – and by recently we’re talking 1990 – with the explosion of the "boy band" phenomenon. These singers/artists would go out after shows to meet their followers, giving hugs and signatures as a reward for attending a show, and as boy bands (and other various groups) faded out and "real" bands and 'rock' took center stage once more, the younger, more naïve bands continued this tradition to the point where it has now become expected.
Now when you buy a concert ticket, you’re not just paying for the concert, but for the opportunity to meet the band after the show and if, for some strange and oddly logical reason the band does not come out to meet you, any fan is given full rights to take this as a personal insult and begin spreading ripples of dissent among the fandom. Yeah, right. Being a fan entitles you to none-of-the-above. By declaring your fandom, you are declaring your love and support for a band. Any opportunity to meet then can be taken, but really they owe you nothing but gratitude – which they give in constant waves in the form of concerts, signings, festival shows and the continued dedication to the music you (as a fan) have come to love. Meeting the members of a band, either post or pre-show, is a bonus – and one that should be cherished. It should not be an expectations and should never be used as an excuse to hate and/or badmouth them among other fans. That said – let it be declared that through paraphrasing the all-powerful definition of the Oxford English Dictionary, fandom is love and support for not just for the band (artist, celebrity, etc….) but for all other fans and random members of the fandom as well. And really, I am of the opinion that that is how it should stay.
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