The General Public's Perception of This Genre

[Kean]

What I do think hampers all types of fiction being accepted are the sci-fi zealots. When you mention scifi you think of classic Star Trek geek loser that translates everything into Klingon, etc.. the stereotypical zit-faced, tape on glasses nerd. THAT is what hampers sci-fi. Because really, even if you are a fan you would be hard-pressed to mention that to a non-fan because of that stereotype. Honestly, things like Comic Con don't exactly shed a positive light on people. Really. They show they are fringe society, and they act like fringe society, so they are treated that way. You cant really do this:

and expect people that are not fanatics to understand. You just come across as being weird and slightly 'out there.' But then again, thats what they want, innit?

It's a double-edged sword.

Yet this kind of fanaticism is completely and utterly acceptable?

Nobody bats an eye if the see 400 pound man weep when his team loses.

There's a double standard, alright.

 

[PrincessBuffy16]

I love that about this boards too.

I live around close minded people. I have exactly two friends who are opened to the things I like, and even if they don't like it, they can understand it. Other people are just too judgmental. When I was a kid, people used to call me "Buffy the potato Slayer".. can't remember why, tough. I mean, the potato part. Somehow, they found it funny. So, I stopped talking about Buffy.. to anyone. I started two years ago, when I joined this place. Same goes for other shows I watch.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Yet this kind of fanaticism is completely and utterly acceptable?

Hell no.. they get looked at in the same light. Fanatics are fanatics.


EDIT:
the only sports fanatics that are halfway cool are the Raiders fans!

 

[Kean]

Hell no.. they get looked at in the same light. Fanatics are fanatics.

I don't buy that at all. There is no way a fanatical sports fan suffers the same derision as a SciFi fan.

I don't do fanatical anything but I know that I walked out my door tomorrow in head to toe Manchester United gear no one would bat an eye, but if I walked out like Kitty Pryde or Wonder Woman, I'd be pelted by the kids on the street and viewed as an absolute joke!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I don't buy that at all. There is no way a fanatical sports fan suffers the same derision as a SciFi fan.

I don't do fanatical anything but I know that I walked out my door tomorrow in head to toe Manchester United gear no one would bat an eye, but if I walked out like Kitty Pryde or Wonder Woman, I'd be pelted by the kids on the street and viewed as an absolute joke!

You have to remind me.. I dont know how you can remind me.. but one of the chicks that works in the warehouse at least one day a week wears her wonder woman outfit.. I will try to snatch a picture next time.

 

[VisionGirl]

And see, I think that Incredibles family looks totally cute while the Red Sox fan looks like a big dork! Not that I would dress like either, but still....

 

[Skanky Vamp]

and why would you not dress like either?

 

[Blondie Bear]

DO you think that being in the Bible Belt has slanted your view a bit? I dont really see the same problem that you do and when you look at box office receipts for Thor and GL and I am sure Captain America, when you look at sales of genre novels, I don't really think its is far to say an American problem.

No, because I didn't grow up in the Bible Belt, nor have I spent my entire life here. Also, I've done lots of research on this topic and read similar thoughts from critics from all over the country, including New England.

---------- Post added at 10:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 AM ----------

I find it really hard to discern the Irish experience and attitude of fantasy as something separate from the American because the field is so dominated by American shows and the American experience.

What I do think hampers all types of fiction being accepted is a a society dominated by religious zealots.

Very good point. American pop culture sort of is the pop culture. I know a lot of other countries hate us because they think we water down their cultures by exporting ours. Yet, there is almost no fantasy that is native to America. We have to borrow it from England, Germany, Russia, Asia, Scandinavia, etc. Neil Gaiman has a whole thing about this, how America is bad for magic and gods; it's like they die when their believers move here.

 

[Kean]

Very good point. American pop culture sort of is the pop culture. I know a lot of other countries hate us because they think we water down their cultures by exporting ours. Yet, there is almost no fantasy that is native to America. We have to borrow it from England, Germany, Russia, Asia, Scandinavia, etc. Neil Gaiman has a whole thing about this, how America is bad for magic and gods; it's like they die when their believers move here.

Well, to be honest I do think there is an argument for the saturation of American culture on a global scale (but that's another thread lol).

And while I agree with Gaiman on the fact that there isn't much indigenous American fantasy being explored (although I think the early seasons of Supernatural gave it a go) there is very little exploration of these traditions by the indigenous cultures either. If they are explored it is done by American film makers and companies.

I mean, in Ireland we have a mythology to rival that of Greece, but it is not explored in the slightest. In fact, the last time I remember it happening was with Tristen and Isolde...staring James Franco. 😕

 

[Skanky Vamp]

No, because I didn't grow up in the Bible Belt, nor have I spent my entire life here. Also, I've done lots of research on this topic and read similar thoughts from critics from all over the country, including New England.

Then maybe it's an income or education thing. I don't know. I can honestly say that I have never come across anyone that said reading (fiction) is a waste of time. I mean, even the redneck here in the office reads and has recommended books to me.

 

[BuffyElevated]

I get called a nerd a lot for liking BtVS as much as I do. It doesn't bother me anymore, because the only people who call me a nerd are the people who don't watch or don't like the show, and I can live with that. They just don't understand the love for the show, so whatever. I'm not a fan of scifi in general; I just happen to like a few shows that fall into that genre.

 

[Marisa]

Well people wouldn't call me anything at least to my face lol so I wouldn't say I have this problem, plus sci-fi would be the least of my worries. Now my older friends used to think my obsession with tv was maybe a little weird but not the sci-fi genre tv in general. Maybe I just don't talk to enough people I suppose. I do see people who like Star Wars get called nerds but not unless they are like super obsessed and talk about conventions and stuff like that either way take it as a compliment 😛

I think the other genres are more popular because I guess they are easier to get into. I get into a lot of tv but I only stick with a majority. The other genres have a lot to choose from I guess? Plus they are just that mainstream anything mainstream has more of a chance because people will go to it easier.

I also think a big thing about people being called nerds that like sci-fi is just that the TV in general. When you see a "nerd" on TV the first thing they do like is Star Trek or Star Wars so society classifies them as nerds.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

When you see a "nerd" on TV the first thing they do like is Star Trek or Star Wars so society classifies them as nerds.

Exactly. The whole world sees you as Sheldon when you happen to know what a flux capacitor is. But that is an image made by and supported by the sci-fi community as well. It's their means of othering.

 

[Blondie Bear]

Then maybe it's an income or education thing. I don't know. I can honestly say that I have never come across anyone that said reading (fiction) is a waste of time. I mean, even the redneck here in the office reads and has recommended books to me.

And I think we're moving away from it a bit both because of the reasons I've mentioned above and because people are finding ways to monetize it. If you can make money off of it, it's not a waste of time, is it? (In this twisted logic, anyway.) Hollywood and the publishing industry have both realized that there is a huge fan base for this stuff, one which tends to be rabid in its enjoyment and will buy anything you sell.

However, there is still a pretty strong bias among some segments of the population against being too bookwormy, too smart, too interested in fiction. I've worked with people who bragged about not having cracked a book in years, as if that was something to be proud of. I've worked with people who have assumed, whenever they saw me reading, that it was a romance novel, and when I tried to explain that it was fantasy, their eyes glazed over and they wandered off. Same thing when I've been writing in public--people ask what my book's about, and all I have to do is tell them it's a fantasy novel and that's enough for them. (It's when that's not enough and they're like, "yeah, but what's it about" that I know I've found someone I can actually talk to.)

Mr. Bear also has co-workers who haven't cracked any book that's not non-fiction (and in some cases, not even that) in years, and he works in the business world. So it's not just uneducated rednecks; they're all over.

Exactly. The whole world sees you as Sheldon when you happen to know what a flux capacitor is. But that is an image made by and supported by the sci-fi community as well. It's their means of othering.

I think it's reverse-Othering (you don't want us, well, fine. We don't want you, either), but otherwise, yeah.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

Even this late 50's bible thumper.. I will always look into her car to see what she is reading.. usually Anne Rice or Hairy Pooter or Grisham, books of that type. So, when you say things like that I just cant comprehend it.

 

[caritas08]

So, I asked a couple of my friends what it is that turns them off about fantasy. They pretty much echoed what Goby said in an earlier post about liking "realistic" books and movies instead. (I understand what people are saying about "fanatics" and cosplay etc. but my friends aren't exposed to any of that so that doesn't really come into play in this particular situation).

I think part of it too is they may have seen something like the Matrix or Blade Runner, not connected with it and just judge all sci-fi fantasy as something they've "seen before". (Not that the Matrix or Blade Runner is bad, I'm just using them as examples).

I confess I myself do that with doctor/lawyer/crime shows. I've seen a few episodes from various ones, like Goby said there was no character development and I was bored out of my mind, and I have no interest in ever watching one.

I have watched Bones, Castle and Dexter but I never would have given them a chance if it hadn't been for David, Nathan and Julie respectively and the only reason I kept watching was I liked the character development. There are many similar shows that had Whedon alumni that I gave up on quickly. In short, I guess I myself am just as quick to prejudge something as my friends are just because of disappointments.

 

[Icarium]

The funny thing about sci-fi is that it's rejected both by the average Joe for being too nerdy of a hobby and by the academic circles for being too low brow. And the problem is made worse by the weird notion that certain books are not sci-fi because they are too "literary". Sci-fi is merely a genre, not a benchmark of a lack of quality, after all. "1984", for instance, is very much a sci-fi book - just try telling that to your literature professor. TVTropes calls this phenomenon Sci Fi Ghetto

As for TV shows, a big factor for sci-fi/fantasy's lack of popularity is the limited budget for special effects. Fantasy books have been massive hits in the last decade with Twilight and Harry Potter, only the best known examples.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

As for TV shows, a big factor for sci-fi/fantasy's lack of popularity is the limited budget

But it's not just sci-fi and fantasy that is affected by that, they are the most predominate but I PROMISE you this, Boardwalk Empire will be canceled because they cost of the set and set decoration is too high.