Difference between revisions of "Serious Constructive"
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| + | == (1) A Kind of Fan Attitude == | ||
| + | '''''Serious Constructive''''', commonly portmanteaued as '''''sercon''''' (the latter a coinage of [[insurgent]] [[Canadian]] [[fan]] [[Boyd Raeburn]]), originally a jibe at [[fans]] who took themselves, [[science fiction]] and the role of [[fandom]] too seriously, now more commonly refers to the pursuits of [[fen]] more interested in serious study and criticism of [[sf]] than in [[fanac]] for fanac’s sake. | ||
| − | + | ''Serious constructive'' arose in the early 1950s as a put-down of overly serious [[fans]], who tended to take not only [[science fiction]] but themselves and their involvement in [[fandom]] far too self-importantly – they valued making lists over genuine critical insight, would rather pontificate than tell a joke, looked askance at those whose approach was more [[fannish fandom|lighthearted]] than their own and saw it as their [[scientifiction]]ally patriotic duty to "promote" [[science fiction]] to the place where it belonged in [[mundane]] considerations, i.e., surely at the top of the pile of all Literature. | |
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| − | + | In ''[[The Enchanted Duplicator]]'', [[Jophan]] finds himself in a beautiful City on a broad thoroughfare of towering, shining, marble skyscrapers. There he meets [[Ed Wood|Dedwood]], one of the City Planners, a Serious Construction Engineer, who offers to show him around the gleaming edifices. However, Jophan discovers the imposing structures aren’t at all what they appear, but ramshackle facades, “a few inches thick and obviously unstable.” | |
| − | + | Dedwood admits awkwardly: “It’s to impress the Public. They wouldn’t be impressed by [[Trufandom]], so some of us thought we’d erect this '''city of Serious Constructivism''' to give them a better idea of our importance.” | |
| − | + | [[Sf fandom]] was founded by serious [[fans]] who wrote letters to [[prozines]] to comment on and criticize the stories, and serious [[sf]] criticism has always been a staple in the [[microcosm]], but by the mid-1940s enough stuffed shirts had attached themselves to [[fandom]] that some [[faans]] with a more humorous bent were beginning to poke fun at them. "Sercon" and "[[fannish fandom|fannish]]" were regarded as polar opposites, the former being identified with the philosophy of [[FIAWOL]] and the latter with the philosophy of [[FIJAGH]]. | |
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| + | However, beginning in some [[fan]] quarters as early as the 1960s, and certainly by the time of the early 1970s, however, the term had lost much of its derisive clout, as [[neofen]] misapplied it to straightforward works of serious and at least somewhat constructive criticism, and even some [[fans]] aware of the former pejorative implications nonetheless felt the descriptive usage filled a necessary [[fanspeak]] niche. Some still use it as a put-down, of course, but you'll have to judge by context. | ||
== (2) A Euphemism== | == (2) A Euphemism== | ||
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from [[Fancyclopedia 2 Supplement]] ca. 1960: | from [[Fancyclopedia 2 Supplement]] ca. 1960: | ||
| − | The contraction [[Sercon]] should be laid at the door of the [[Derelict Insurgents]], of [[Toronto]]. And [[Willis]] explains the correct interpretation of the | + | The contraction [[Sercon]] should be laid at the door of the [[Derelict Insurgents]], of [[Toronto]]. And [[Willis]] explains the correct interpretation of the Serious Constructive Insurgent phrase: the idea is that, since we are in [[fandom]] and devoting time to it, we should at least pretend that it is worthwhile, as a premise to our actions concerning it. |
}} | }} | ||
{{fanspeak}} | {{fanspeak}} | ||
[[Category:fancy2]] | [[Category:fancy2]] | ||
Revision as of 21:27, 19 September 2020
(Did you mean a convention named Sercon?)
(1) A Kind of Fan Attitude[edit]
Serious Constructive, commonly portmanteaued as sercon (the latter a coinage of insurgent Canadian fan Boyd Raeburn), originally a jibe at fans who took themselves, science fiction and the role of fandom too seriously, now more commonly refers to the pursuits of fen more interested in serious study and criticism of sf than in fanac for fanac’s sake.
Serious constructive arose in the early 1950s as a put-down of overly serious fans, who tended to take not only science fiction but themselves and their involvement in fandom far too self-importantly – they valued making lists over genuine critical insight, would rather pontificate than tell a joke, looked askance at those whose approach was more lighthearted than their own and saw it as their scientifictionally patriotic duty to "promote" science fiction to the place where it belonged in mundane considerations, i.e., surely at the top of the pile of all Literature.
In The Enchanted Duplicator, Jophan finds himself in a beautiful City on a broad thoroughfare of towering, shining, marble skyscrapers. There he meets Dedwood, one of the City Planners, a Serious Construction Engineer, who offers to show him around the gleaming edifices. However, Jophan discovers the imposing structures aren’t at all what they appear, but ramshackle facades, “a few inches thick and obviously unstable.”
Dedwood admits awkwardly: “It’s to impress the Public. They wouldn’t be impressed by Trufandom, so some of us thought we’d erect this city of Serious Constructivism to give them a better idea of our importance.”
Sf fandom was founded by serious fans who wrote letters to prozines to comment on and criticize the stories, and serious sf criticism has always been a staple in the microcosm, but by the mid-1940s enough stuffed shirts had attached themselves to fandom that some faans with a more humorous bent were beginning to poke fun at them. "Sercon" and "fannish" were regarded as polar opposites, the former being identified with the philosophy of FIAWOL and the latter with the philosophy of FIJAGH.
However, beginning in some fan quarters as early as the 1960s, and certainly by the time of the early 1970s, however, the term had lost much of its derisive clout, as neofen misapplied it to straightforward works of serious and at least somewhat constructive criticism, and even some fans aware of the former pejorative implications nonetheless felt the descriptive usage filled a necessary fanspeak niche. Some still use it as a put-down, of course, but you'll have to judge by context.
(2) A Euphemism[edit]
In the late 1980s, "getting sercon" became a euphemism for getting stoned.
See also: DF2.
| From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959 |
| There's a bit of serious constructiveness in every good little fan, but it's a label of questionable honor because of the nature of the beast. A do gooder or self-appointed censor, sometimes; he often believes that he has a Mission in Fandom, and labors for some Lofty Purpose or Worthy Line of Endeavor. He may be the fannish equivalent of the Rotarian or Chamber of Commerce booster; he likes to think fandom or science fiction will be the better for his work. And sometimes he is the organizer or builder who accomplishes an enduring work despite the scoffing of Voldesfen. Walt Willis represents his type of fans as Serious Constructive Insurgents, apparently indicating thereby adoption of the constructive features of the Insurgent Movement.
from Fancyclopedia 2 Supplement ca. 1960: The contraction Sercon should be laid at the door of the Derelict Insurgents, of Toronto. And Willis explains the correct interpretation of the Serious Constructive Insurgent phrase: the idea is that, since we are in fandom and devoting time to it, we should at least pretend that it is worthwhile, as a premise to our actions concerning it. |
| Fanspeak |
| This is a fanspeak page. Please extend it by adding information about when and by whom it was coined, whether it’s still in use, etc. |
