Fandom Before The Internet: A More Civilized Age?
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A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.…
The internet didn’t exist! For some of you, that is probably a statement that does not compute at all. Given the current state of technology, it can be hard to remember (or try to imagine) a time when data and information aren’t at your fingertips and available in a matter of seconds. That time did exist, though, and it wasn’t all that long ago. In the world of popular culture fandoms, the way information was provided and consumed was dramatically different from what we have today. This meant that conversation and debate were also a million miles away from the current age.
All media was in physical form only. If you wanted to read a book or a comic, you had to go to a store and buy them, or borrow them from a library. Movie releases would usually make their way to video cassettes for purchase or rental. Does anyone remember the “Be kind, rewind” slogan that video rental shops used to use? Then there was the nightmare which was a stretched piece of tape on a video cassette that would distort the playback, usually at a crucial point in the movie. This was usually caused by previous viewers having paused and then hitting rewind and forward to try and look at a segment in more detail.
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Here in the UK, some comics were released weekly, which did allow for regular content and updates on whatever genre/fandom it was about. When it came to news, there were also some pop culture publications that were weekly, along with some monthly variants that were the go-to places. Some of these covered fandoms across different genres while others just stuck with specific genres, like sci-fi or horror. Some of the more popular franchises, like Star Wars, had their own dedicated publications.
When it came to discussion and debate of fandoms and franchises, the options were limited. A lot of this came down to age and lifestyle. School kids would enjoy their fandom banter in the playground or around at the house of a friend, maybe even at a sleepover. Those of working age might have discussions at the office by the water cooler or a break room. Of course, there was the old classic sanctuary of a pub to discuss things over a drink (or three). The huge difference between now and then was that all these interactions happened face to face. There was no hiding behind a keyboard and username; when you did something out loud, you would immediately see the reactions of those around you. A conversation could be nuanced dynamically for the audience in question, but people were instantly accountable for everything they said.
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These days we are spoiled for choice when it comes to content and delivery systems. If you want content, then the world, or rather the internet, is your oyster. Streaming services have revolutionized the way that we can view media. Movies and TV shows are all there, all of the time, for a small fee at least. There are thousands of websites and blogs covering pop culture fandoms (CultureSlate obviously has a keen interest in this!). News and updates are updated 24/7, and they travel fast. On top of that, there is no shortage of breakdown videos where every single frame of a piece of media is deconstructed in infinite detail. Sometimes these can go too far, and the magic of the viewing experience can be tainted as a result. Then throw opinion into the mix and we can head into dangerous territory when it comes to reasoned discussion and debate.
There are so many platforms that allow everyone to have a voice and opinion. This is not always a good thing though; there is a phrase I like to use about opinions, but I won’t share it here as this is a family site! Anyway, it is now possible to consume content and debate/argue with people around the world. The world of fandoms today very much reminds me of Kevin Smith’s Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Ben Affleck’s wonderful line, “The internet is a communication tool used the world over where people can come together to b*tch about movies….”
In a lot of cases, reasoned debate is not what happens. No matter what franchise or fandom, the world is full of haters and trolls who have nothing better to do than…well…“come together to b*tch about movies.” This has created a very strong image of toxic fandoms. Classic examples of this are the blind hatred of Rey Skywalker, The Last Jedi, or the “Kathleen Kennedy and Disney ruined my childhood” nonsense. Very few people are able to make sensible conversations on these topics. There is no nuance; it is all black and white, and usually just repeats the words or views from someone else’s opinion piece that supports their position. What’s even worse are the comments sections for articles where people react to a clicbait headline where it is absolutely clear they haven’t even bothered to read the actual article.
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It’s not all bad though. The internet is a goldmine of excellent information and news for fandoms to consume. There is plenty of positive information and chat out there, it’s just unfortunate that the algorithms seem to push the negative stuff. The key here is how you choose to use the tools at your disposal.
From a personal perspective, I grew up in a world before the internet existed. My childhood was still immersed in a world of science fiction and fantasy. I relied on those weekly comics and the irregular releases of books to satisfy my thirst. Opportunities to go to the cinema were limited, but I did get to see some of the old classics on the big screen and we had the odd gem on TV. Getting a video cassette player was revolutionary, and suddenly more content was within my reach.
As the years rolled on, the internet appeared. Suddenly there was a new way for me to consume my Star Wars content and different, faster ways to get news. The content wasn’t as far-reaching as it is now, so the negative noise was a lot quieter. If that was your thing, then there were definitely places you could visit for the drama. With the advent of social media, though, the world truly changed.
Granted, there is a big difference between a kid and an adult when it comes to consuming media, but the evolution of technology over the years has definitely changed the way we are exposed to things. Over the years I have gone full-on with the internet. Reading and watching everything I could about the fandoms I follow, but predominantly Star Wars-related. I wanted to soak up everything that I could, learn everything that I could.
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Just recently, though, I have stepped back a bit. I don’t need to see every trailer breakdown (or even every trailer). I don’t need to know every single thing anymore. Maybe that is just an age thing, now that I am 46 years into my sci-fi and fantasy journey. I rarely engage in arguments on social media anymore; it’s a pointless waste of energy, as in 99% of cases, people just aren’t going to apply some critical thinking or open their minds about the subject at hand. The internet is the wild west, but also a beautiful thing. There is positivity and negativity and how that is navigated is down to the user. Personal choice and freedom are key here.
I have gone from someone who tried to take in everything I could to someone who is now able to step back. On the whole, I try and approach things more akin to my distant youth, and just try and enjoy things and marvel in the wonders of the content without needing to have every minute detail broken down and explained for me, or to argue about a certain point of view!
I would still maintain that fandom before the internet was definitely a more civilized age…but at the same time I do appreciate that having everything immediately available to your fingertips is not the worst thing in the world when it comes to fandom information.
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