Difference between revisions of "Fans are Slans!"
m |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
Because the central character in the 1946 [[A. E. van Vogt]] novel ''[[Slan]]'' was a superhumanly intelligent youth in unsympathetic surroundings, "'''Fans are Slans!'''" the unserious claim to slanhood, became a rallying cry among [[Third Fandom]]. | Because the central character in the 1946 [[A. E. van Vogt]] novel ''[[Slan]]'' was a superhumanly intelligent youth in unsympathetic surroundings, "'''Fans are Slans!'''" the unserious claim to slanhood, became a rallying cry among [[Third Fandom]]. | ||
| − | [[Fans]] identified with slans as a persecuted minority because of the reactions they frequently got from [[mundane]] society merely for reading that "[[Buck Rogers | + | [[Fans]] identified with slans as a persecuted minority because of the reactions they frequently got from [[mundane]] society merely for reading that "[[Buck Rogers stuff|Crazy Buck Rogers Stuff]]" or even reading at all – but not to the extent that they really believed [[fans]] were superhuman beings, [[Second Fandom]]'s half-serious [[Star-Begotten]] claims, notwithstanding. Still, during the 1940s and '50s, when many fans were intellectual autodidacts working in blue-collar jobs, there must have been a certain comfort in thinking themselves superior to the [[mundanes]] around them. |
A more recent variation, "[[Fans]] really ''are'' [[slans]] -- they're just not very good at it...." | A more recent variation, "[[Fans]] really ''are'' [[slans]] -- they're just not very good at it...." | ||
Revision as of 13:54, 20 September 2020
Because the central character in the 1946 A. E. van Vogt novel Slan was a superhumanly intelligent youth in unsympathetic surroundings, "Fans are Slans!" the unserious claim to slanhood, became a rallying cry among Third Fandom.
Fans identified with slans as a persecuted minority because of the reactions they frequently got from mundane society merely for reading that "Crazy Buck Rogers Stuff" or even reading at all – but not to the extent that they really believed fans were superhuman beings, Second Fandom's half-serious Star-Begotten claims, notwithstanding. Still, during the 1940s and '50s, when many fans were intellectual autodidacts working in blue-collar jobs, there must have been a certain comfort in thinking themselves superior to the mundanes around them.
A more recent variation, "Fans really are slans -- they're just not very good at it...."
The notion of fans as slans gave rise to such terms as slan shack and Slan Center.
Also see: "It is a Proud and Lonely Thing to Be a Fan."
| From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959 |
| Literally understood, "fans are superman mutants" -- or, at least, "fans are smarter than most people" -- but actual semantic content is according to the mood and attitude of the user.
See Slan. |
| 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. |
