Topic: SW Fandom: A Societal Subculture?

I was talkin to my girl yesterday and I kept bringing up my involvement in the BFFC. She cant exactly relate cuz it's not her thing. That got me to thinking about fandom in general and how few we are as a grouping. Im defined by a lot of different subcultures, metalhead, skater, goth, whatever floats my boat. But SW is a huge part of my identity too...

Does that make us a subculture of sorts?

What are your thoughts, and how do you relate to people as a SW Geek?

well, idc what they think. i go right out and exploit it, especially when meeting new people. most of the time, they accept it. come to think of it, i don't think anyone i know has a problem with it. same with jazz. i like jazz. and i like to play my trumpet.

I think it could be considered a subcultre, because of how involved the people get in it.

yep, subculture. a sect of that subculture is good old BFFC.

i think the second question on this thread is something of an onion, because the
answer could be complex, but the short version is that-once people know ur well versed
in the starwars universe, and hip to the EU...etc, it is one more thing to bond with people whom
you might not normally identify with- at least that has been my experience.

wow.

no one's posted on this in a while.

just thought maybe someone might take interest in reviving it.
Yes, someone like me...

I was talking to someone the other day about being a SW fan, and I find it so funny that I know so much crap about what amounts to absolutely nothing to do with reality.

I know, that's the whole point. It's just funny how these things consume our lives.

What's your take on it?

As I often mention in my posts, I have a master's in cultural anthropology, yada, yada, yada. From an academic perspective I would say that  SW is a subculture. As you mentioned in your first post, it is part of your identity. There is no hard and fast definition for what a subculture is but a lot of it has to do with your identity and how you present yourself to others and how you perceive yourself.  Now with these Jedi churches and whatnot it is becoming clearer and clearer that SW has become part of our mainstream consciousness and people associate with one another via this cultural conduit. There is also a temporal aspect. SW has been around now for what 32 years, so I think it's safe to say that it is not just a fad. It's like punk or goth or any other group. I guess one big difference is that with subcultures based on fashion, style and music there are multiple access points through which people can express their identity in terms of the theme. In the case of SW it is its own theme.

As far as its connection to reality goes well...we all have our own version of that don't we?

Anyway, I have read academic papers on treckies/treckers and they are always presented as a subculture. I think SW fits the criteria very well.

Great topic!

I must admit that, this is not the biggest part of my identity. GASP I know. Above all all (even art, though thats more like my talent...), I will always be, first and foremost, a Nintendo gamer/fangirl. Just all there is to it. I've been playing Nintendo games since before I can even remember.

Identity is a complex thing. Very few of us are complete beings. (Even though the christians on the evolution thread may disagree). Most of us are a mixture of our experiences, what we want to be and what our environment forces on us. And we should always "be all that we can be just as long as we are free." The most important thing is to not let others dictate who we are. That's the toughest too. This world is full of people trying to tell others who they are supposed to be, especially here in Japan...but that discussion belongs on the other thread too.

Well...

...I am Indiana Jones.

But yeah I've always been obsessed with SW. But lately...idk, Blade Runner is kinda replacing it as my favorite sci fi movie.

Man! Don't get me started on Indiana Jones! Those stupid movies are the reason I studied archaeology in college and then went on to grad school in anthropology. It has taken me to Norway, Yemen, Hong Kong, Thailand, Guam and Japan and I never made it back home! I even bought all the gear, I have the real jacket, hat, whip, trousers, boots shirt, shoulder bag and strap, I had one of the pistols..... MAN! I hate that f...ing guy! I also have the Toys McCoy Japanese action figure that cost me about $300.00 new off the shelf...This hobby is waaaaaaaay to addictive and expensive.  And Harrison didn't even get to use the whip in the last film! WTF!

Well I concede that there are multiple access points in SW. Theres the "good" aka Jedi, theres the "bad" sith. There is the fan freaking tastic aka mandalorians, just for a few examples. After attending my first Comic Con along side the 501st and Rebel Legion, I am certain that Star Wars is woven into society as subculture. We have a dialogue all our own, a look that is all our own, and  ways to connect with those who share the interest. Just like the hippie subculture of the 60's, (or does that count as counter culture only?) the same stands for SW. I don't know if I could have it any other way.

I thought Indy used the whip in the tomb bit? But then I've only seen it once and that was on the flight to London so my brain was probably frazzled.

I have way too many influences, mostly Sci Fi - Aliens is my favourite film of all time. Even managed to hire the reel and have it shown at the movies at my 21st. Also into Resident Evil & Dino Crisis, Terminator, Blues Bros, Xmen and Dark Hunters. Too many others to mention...

That is exactly what I mean!

Having read so many of KT's books and seeing how she's helped the development of the Mando'ad society, I've definitely taken to considering them from an anthropological point of view.

I don't have a Master's though.

Just a thought from an amateur anthropoligical hobbyist specializing in Mandalorian culture...