Theme: Fandom

Fandom refers to any kind of group that comes together around an interest in a particular film, tv series, celebrity, author or hobby. While fandom can equally be applied to rock groupies, model train enthusiasts and stamp collectors, the fandom we are concerned about here is genre fandom.

Fandom usually groups together in local clubs or online communities and especially at conventions. Conventions bring together authors or stars of a particular work, where people sell merchandising, autographs and memorabilia, hold talks and discussion panels and where fans engage in cosplay (dressing up in often elaborate costumes and makeup as their favourite characters). Conventions have grown to become major commercial events.

There have been a number of documentaries that depict the vagaries and (usually eccentricities) of fandom, beginning with Trekkies (1997) set around Star Trek fandom. A number of other fan niches have been covered.

There have been some fictional films depicting the lives of fans or works where fans are dragged into an adventure. These usually focus around SF fans, although there are some lesser depictions of horror and fantasy fans.

Filmmakers themselves are frequently fans and another form of fandom comes in terms of Genre Homage, where filmmakers are constantly paying tribute and making references to their favourite works.