Fanationalism

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

Despite its minuteness, fandom has in its thirty-odd years of existence developed a distinct national spirit similar to the nationalism of modern states. The idea of a national government, covering all the slan race, is seen in many drives for a general fan organization. The idea of a homeland is exemplified in dens, science fiction houses, clubrooms, and finally in the proposed Slan Center and Fantasy Foundation. This dictionary is a work in the national language; another facet of the same thing was the old plugging of Esperanto as Science Fiction's Tung of Tomoro. In the matter of national religion we have Roscoe, plus such things as ghughuism, foofooism, khamsin, etc, but more truly religious is the quest for a Purpose for fandom, and the idea of swearing on your honor as a fan. The fannish idea of the mission of the nation has been satirized in fan fiction about the setting up of a Fantastocracy and the like. Race superiority is implied in the claims of starbegottenness and slanhood. A national literature complete in all fields has encouraged work in fan and fantasy drama, narrative poetry, music, and so on. National heroes have had tough sledding because of our iconoclastic bent, but a few near-deities have emerged (plus a few near-demons). Expansionism is expressed in recruiting activity. A number of distinctive fan folkways are described scattered thru this encyclopedia.

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944

Despite its minuteness, fandom is in its decide or so of existence developed a distinct national spirit, similar to the nationalism of modern states. The idea of a national government, covering all the slan race and nobody else, is seen in the many drives for a general fan organization. The ideal of a homeland is exemplified in dens, science fiction houses, clubrooms, and finally in proposed Slan Center and Foundation. This dictionary is a work in the national language; another facet of the same thing is the plugging of Esperanto as Science Fiction's Tongue of Tomoro. In the matter of a national religion, we have ghughuism and FooFooism but most truly religious is the question for a Purpose for fandom and the idea of swearing on your honor as a fan. The fannish idea of the mission of the nation has been satirized in fan fiction about the setting up of a Fantastocracy, and the like. Racial superiority is implied in the claims of star-begottenness and slanhood. A national literature complete in all fields has encouraged work in fan and fantasy drama, narrative poetry, music and so on. National heroes have had tough sledding because of our iconoclastic bent, but a few near-deities has emerged. Expansionism is expressed in recruiting activity. A number of distinctive fan folkways are described scattered thru this encyclopedia.

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Fanspeak

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