Fandom Spaces as Sacred Spaces
This month we are going to talk about an unusual kind of sacred space: fandom spaces.
Encyclopedia.com defines a sacred space as “a defined place, a space distinguished from other spaces. The rituals that a people either practice at a place or direct toward it mark its sacredness and differentiate it from other defined spaces.” While typically religious in meaning, a sacred space can be any space that holds this meaning and these practices for an individual or group.
Fandom is not a new concept, per se, as it applies to sports fan and particularly those who are dedicated to a certain team. The current use of the word, however, typically denotes a specific subculture that contains communities built around a shared consumption not of sports but of movies, TV shows, fiction, trading card games etc. Typically of a “nerd” or “geek” variety. Examples include Harry Potter (books), Supernatural (TV show), Star Wars (Movies, etc.), and Magic: The Gathering (trading card game).
Drs. Plante, Reysen, Roberts, and Gerbasi delineate in their research a difference between “fanship” and “fandom.” Fanship is defined as a “psychological connection with a fan interest” whereas fandom is a “psychological connection with others sharing the same interest.” They also observed that different fan groups have differing levels of fanship and fandom within them which they stated suggests “that fan groups may differ not just in content, but …. the motivation underlying fan participation.”
Fan participation and the connection with others this engenders is where the sacred space lies. Fan participation in fandom includes a vast array of creative output. This can include fan-made fiction, art, hand painted playing pieces for board games, or hours and hours customizing the perfect card deck or making the best costume (called cosplay) to show off both one’s skill and love for a specific property or character.
The internet has allowed fans to stay connected year-round. All of this communal involvement creates an extended sense of belonging to a community that is larger than oneself. Some fandoms are international in their scope.
In the sense of a sacred space being a prescribed location wherein people come together, such as a religious building, modern “nerd” fandom has a unique place for its members to engage with each other and their fandom content: conventions.
Despite the largest fandom conventions—called cons in fandom parlance—garnering mainstream media attention these events are still widely unknown to the public. They resemble trade and industry conventions insofar as including topical panels and containing a product floor (called the Dealer’s Room in most cases) where attendees can buy merchandise the similarities widely end there.
To understand cons as a sacred space it is best to look at fandom through a sociological lens (i.e., as a subculture). The Oxford dictionary defines subculture as “a cultural group within a larger culture, often having beliefs or interests at variance with those of the larger culture.” Subcultures are also defined as having developed their own norms and values regarding cultural, political, and sexual matters.
Recall the difference between fanship and fandom. Fanship is an interest. Fandom is frequently incorporated as a way of life with the fan’s yearly calendar planned around cons and other fandom events.
This is the importance and the sanctity of cons. Fandom has its own rules, norms, and social mores that are not always in line with mainstream culture. Cons are the place where fans can exercise and experience their norms, social mores, etc. without the pressure or stigma of the mainstream or their everyday life.
Many feel a need to hide this aspect of themselves and/or the depth of their involvement to avoid ridicule or harassment from peers, coworkers, or family. Attending every game for a favorite sports team is viewed as acceptable whereas attending multiple card game tournaments is mocked. Others, such as furry, are seen as a psychological disorder by the uninformed.
Thus, cons are a “home” and place of that all-important psychological need of belonging. Many have “con friends” that they can only see at conventions much like cousins one is only able to see at family reunions. I contacted some of my colleagues who also identify with various fan subcultures and asked what con space means to them:
“It’s a space where I don’t have to mask my weirdness, the things I spend so much energy hiding. Furry was the first place I ever really felt accepted, and that’s still really powerful for me, nearly 21 years later” – Dave L.
“There is a feeling of being amongst my people that is all too rare despite living in what is largely described as an open minded and accepting area. Within a con space it is safe to express myself however I choose to. As a gay man, that is worth preserving and venerating.” – Chris B.
“Funnily enough, the image comes to mind of stepping through the hotel doors like one might step into a church. A large, well-lit space where you’re in the presence of a grander uniting idea. People partake in sacrament (giant pizzas and booze) and cultural music and dance.” – Chris B.
“I think they’re sacred spaces because it’s like a homecoming…Cons provide that connection to the family of my choosing. There’s the sense of being a part of something bigger. I think that’s such a core spiritual ‘thing.’ Being able to help create that space as con staff is really meaningful and allows me to give back.” – Damon @.
It is not unusual in the sacred fandom space to hear talk of chosen family nor it is unusual for romantic relationships to form. In essence, the sacredness of a con can be described as a place that fulfills an essential emotional need: the need to belong. The majority of humans need to be able to affiliate with and be accepted by a larger group. Many bridge the gap from fanship to fandom because of the belonging and because of the breadth and depth of acceptance that is far more common in these spaces than in the mainstream. That is the sanctity of having a place to belong.
If you would like more information about fandom please follow any of these resources:
Fandom and Participatory Culture by Jenkins, Jensen, and Hills
Fandoms: Subcultures on the Rise! by Alessio, LaMinta, and Vinci
Fandom and the Search for Meaning: Examining Communal Involvement With Popular Media Beyond Pleasure by Tsay-Vogel and Sanders
Finding Meaning within a Fandom: Not all Fans are Alike by Rojas, Edwards, Griffin, et. al.
Routes to Fandom Discovery and Expression of Fan Identity in Furry, Anime, and Fantasy Sport Fans by Reysen, Plante, Roberts, et. al.