Difference between revisions of "Fans are Slans!"
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A (usually) humorous [[catchphrase]] meaning that [[fans]] are both bright and discriminated against. | A (usually) humorous [[catchphrase]] meaning that [[fans]] are both bright and discriminated against. | ||
| − | The central character in the | + | The central character in the 1940 [[A. E. van Vogt]] novel ''[[Slan]]'' was a superhumanly intelligent youth in unsympathetic surroundings. Hence, the [[gag line]] "'''Fans are Slans!'''" became a rallying cry among [[Third Fandom]]. |
| − | While not seriously considering themselves a [[tendril]]-bearing, mutant super- | + | While not seriously considering themselves a [[tendril]]-bearing, [[mutant]] super-intelligentsia, [[fans]] identified with slans as a persecuted minority because of the reactions they frequently got from [[mundane]] society merely for reading that "[[Buck Rogers stuff|Crazy Buck Rogers Stuff]]" or even reading at all – but not to the extent that they really believed fans were superhuman beings, [[Second Fandom]]'s half-serious [[Star-Begotten]] claims notwithstanding. |
| − | Still, during the 1940s and '50s, when many fans were intellectual autodidacts working in blue-collar jobs, there must have been a certain comfort in thinking themselves superior to the | + | Still, during the 1940s and '50s, when many fans were intellectual autodidacts working in blue-collar jobs, there must have been a certain comfort in thinking themselves superior to the mundanes around them. |
| − | A more recent variation | + | A more recent variation: "[[Fans]] really ''are'' [[slans]] -- they're just not very good at it...." |
The notion of fans as slans gave rise to such terms as ''[[slan shack]]'' and ''[[Slan Center]]''. | The notion of fans as slans gave rise to such terms as ''[[slan shack]]'' and ''[[Slan Center]]''. | ||
| − | Also see: "[[It is a Proud and Lonely Thing to Be a Fan]]. | + | Also see: "[[It is a Proud and Lonely Thing to Be a Fan]]," "[[Fans Are the Race of Tomorrow]]," [[Star-Begotten]], [[Sevagram]], [[Cosmic mind]]. |
{{fancy2|text= | {{fancy2|text= | ||
| − | Literally understood, "[[fans]] are superman mutants" -- or, at least, " | + | Literally understood, "[[fans]] are [[superman]] [[mutants]]" -- or, at least, "fans are smarter than most people" -- but actual semantic content is according to the mood and attitude of the user. |
See [[Slan]]. | See [[Slan]]. | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{fanspeak}} | + | {{fanspeak|start=1940s}} |
| − | |||
[[Category:catchphrase]] | [[Category:catchphrase]] | ||
Latest revision as of 04:48, 25 June 2021
A (usually) humorous catchphrase meaning that fans are both bright and discriminated against.
The central character in the 1940 A. E. van Vogt novel Slan was a superhumanly intelligent youth in unsympathetic surroundings. Hence, the gag line "Fans are Slans!" became a rallying cry among Third Fandom.
While not seriously considering themselves a tendril-bearing, mutant super-intelligentsia, fans identified with slans as a persecuted minority because of the reactions they frequently got from mundane society merely for reading that "Crazy Buck Rogers Stuff" or even reading at all – but not to the extent that they really believed fans were superhuman beings, Second Fandom's half-serious Star-Begotten claims notwithstanding.
Still, during the 1940s and '50s, when many fans were intellectual autodidacts working in blue-collar jobs, there must have been a certain comfort in thinking themselves superior to the mundanes around them.
A more recent variation: "Fans really are slans -- they're just not very good at it...."
The notion of fans as slans gave rise to such terms as slan shack and Slan Center.
Also see: "It is a Proud and Lonely Thing to Be a Fan," "Fans Are the Race of Tomorrow," Star-Begotten, Sevagram, Cosmic mind.
| From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959 |
| Literally understood, "fans are superman mutants" -- or, at least, "fans are smarter than most people" -- but actual semantic content is according to the mood and attitude of the user.
See Slan. |
| Fanspeak | 1940s— |
| This is a fanspeak page. Please extend it by adding information about when and by whom it was coined, whether it’s still in use, etc. |
