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{{Short description|Gathering of fans of a topic}}
{{refimprove|date=May 2009}}
{{Refimprove|date=May 2009}}[[File:Comic Frontier 12 Crowd.jpg|thumb|[[Comic Frontier]], a doujinshi convention held in [[Jakarta]], Indonesia]][[File:Animecon 2007 cosplay.jpg|thumb|Two young women cosplaying as [[anime]] characters during the 2007 [[Animecon (Finland)|Animecon]] in [[Jyväskylä]], Finland]]
[[Image:Sfcon-ellison-talk-ddb.jpg|thumb|right|[[Harlan Ellison]] speaking at [[Minicon]] 41, April 13, 2006.]]
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'''Fan convention''' (also known as '''con''' or '''fan meeting'''), a term that antedates 1942,<ref name = "Coppa in Hellekson and Busse">{{Citation | first = Francesca | last = Coppa| editor-last = Hellekson| editor-first = Karen| editor2-last = Busse
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|editor2-first = Kristina| contribution = A Brief History of Media Fandom| title = Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of the Internet| year = 2006| page = 43| place = Jefferson, North Carolina| publisher = [[McFarland & Company]]| isbn = 978-0-7864-2640-9| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UgZsi_DOKoQC&pg=PA43#v=twopage&q&f=false}}</ref> is an event in which [[Fan (person)|fans]] of a particular [[film]], [[Television program|television series]], [[comic book]], [[actor]], or an entire [[genre]] of entertainment, such as [[science fiction]] or [[anime]] and [[manga]], gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and each other. Some also incorporate commercial activity.


⚫
A '''fan convention''' (also known as a '''con''' or '''fan meeting''') is an event in which [[Fan (person)|fans]] of a particular topic gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and each other. Some also incorporate commercial activity. The term dates back to at least 1942.<ref name="Coppa in Hellekson and Busse">{{Citation | first = Francesca | last = Coppa |author-link=Francesca Coppa | editor-last = Hellekson| editor-first = Karen |editor-link1=Karen Hellekson | editor2-last = Busse
⚫
|editor2-first = Kristina |editor-link2= Kristina Busse | contribution = A Brief History of Media Fandom| title = Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of the Internet| year = 2006| page = 43| place = Jefferson, North Carolina| publisher = [[McFarland & Company]]| isbn = 978-0-7864-2640-9| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UgZsi_DOKoQC&pg=PA43}}</ref>

==Overview==
Fan conventions are traditionally organized by fans on a not-for-profit basis, though some events catering ''to'' fans are run by commercial interests for profit. Many conventions have award presentations relating to their genre (such as the [[Hugo Award]]s which have been presented at [[Worldcon|The World Science Fiction Convention]] (WorldCon) since 1953).
Fan conventions are traditionally organized by fans on a not-for-profit basis, though some events catering ''to'' fans are run by commercial interests for profit. Many conventions have award presentations relating to their genre (such as the [[Hugo Award]]s which have been presented at [[Worldcon|The World Science Fiction Convention]] (WorldCon) since 1953).


At commercial events, performers often give out [[autograph]]s to the fans, sometimes in exchange for a flat appearance fee, and sometimes may perform songs that have no relevance to the shows or otherwise entertain the fans. Commercial conventions are usually quite expensive and are hosted in hotels. There is often tight security for the celebrities to protect against potentially fanatic fans. Such features are not common at traditional [[science fiction convention|science-fiction convention]]s, which are more oriented toward science fiction as a mode of literature, rather than toward visual media, and do not include any paid appearances by famous personalities, and maintain a less caste-like differentiation between professional and fan.
At commercial events, performers often give out [[autograph]]s to the fans, sometimes in exchange for a flat appearance fee, and sometimes may perform songs that have no relevance to the shows or otherwise entertain the fans. Commercial conventions are usually quite expensive and are hosted in hotels. There is often tight security for the celebrities to protect against potentially fanatic fans. Such features are not common at traditional [[science fiction convention|science-fiction convention]]s, which are more oriented toward science fiction as a mode of literature, rather than toward visual media, and do not include any paid appearances by famous personalities, and maintain a less caste-like differentiation between professional and fan.


[[Anime convention]]s, [[gaming convention]]s, [[filk music|filk-music]] conventions, and [[furry convention]]s may all be considered derivatives of science-fiction conventions, which began in the late 1930s.
[[Anime convention]]s, [[gaming convention]]s, [[filk music|filk-music]] conventions, and [[furry convention]]s may all be considered derivatives of science-fiction conventions, which began in the late 1930s. [[Image:Sfcon-ellison-talk-ddb.jpg|thumb|right|[[Harlan Ellison]] speaking at [[Minicon]] 41, April 13, 2006]][[File:Audience microphone at APExpo 2010 022.jpg|thumb|In fan conventions, the audience is sometimes invited to line up and ask questions using a dedicated microphone.]]


⚫
{{anchor|masquerade}} While the wearing of costumes—and even a costume competition (known as a "masquerade")—has been an occasional feature of traditional science-fiction conventions since [[Morojo]] and [[Forrest J Ackerman]]<!--NOTE: Ackerman styles his name with no period after the middle initial (August 2009)--> wore them during the [[1st World Science Fiction Convention|First World Science Fiction Convention]] in 1939, this has never been the dominant feature of such events. From press coverage of comic book and anime conventions has arisen the widespread image of fans' tendency to dress up as their favorite characters in elaborate costumes (known as ''[[cosplay]]'' in anime terminology) that are time-consuming and/or expensive to assemble.
[[File:Audience microphone at APExpo 2010 022.jpg|thumb|In fan conventions, the audience is sometimes invited to line up and ask questions using a dedicated microphone.]]


Different conventions use different methods to count their attendance, which leads to some confusion about actual convention size.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ontechnologyandmedia.com/2017/10/16/comic-con-attendance/ |title=Comic Con Attendance: Numbers, Numbers, and Numbers |last=Whitehouse |first=Kendall |date=16 October 2017 |website=ontechnologyandmedia.com |access-date=16 July 2018 |archive-date=17 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717070936/https://ontechnologyandmedia.com/2017/10/16/comic-con-attendance/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
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{{anchor|masquerade}} While the wearing of costumes—and even a costume competition (known in the United States as a "[[wikt:masquerade|masquerade]]")—has been an occasional feature of traditional science-fiction conventions since [[Forrest J Ackerman]]<!--NOTE: Ackerman styles his name with no period after the middle initial (August 2009)--> wore one during the [[1st World Science Fiction Convention|First World Science Fiction Convention]] in 1939, this has never been the dominant feature of such events. From press coverage of comic book and anime conventions has arisen the widespread image of fans' tendency to dress up as their favorite characters in elaborate costumes (known as ''[[cosplay]]'' in anime terminology) that are time-consuming and/or expensive to assemble.


== History ==
== History ==
Fan conventions for various genres of entertainment extends to the first conventions held in the 1930s. However, while a few conventions were created in various parts of the world within the period between 1935-1960, the number of convention establishments increased slightly in the 1960s and then increased dramatically in the 1970s, with many of the largest conventions in the modern era being established during the latter decade. Impeti for further establishment of local fan conventions include:
Fan conventions for various genres of entertainment extend to the first conventions held in the 1930s. However, while a few conventions were created in various parts of the world within the period between 1935–1960, the number of convention establishments increased slightly in the 1960s and then increased dramatically in the 1970s, with many of the largest conventions in the modern era being established during the latter decade. Impetuses for further establishment of local fan conventions include:


* The return of superhero characters and franchises during the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]] (1956-1970)
* The return of superhero characters and franchises during the [[Silver Age of Comic Books]] (1956–1970).
* science fiction adaptations for television serials (e.g., ''[[Star Trek]]'') in the 1960s-1970s
* Science fiction adaptations for television serials (e.g., ''[[Star Trek]]'') in the 1960s–1970s.
* the growth of role-playing (in the 1970s and 1980s) as a genre of tabletop, live-action and eventually video/computer gaming, which not only inspired roleplay of favorite characters in full-body costumes but also inspired existing franchises to adapt their themes for said methods of gaming
* The growth of role-playing (in the 1970s and 1980s) as a genre of tabletop, live-action and eventually video/computer gaming, which not only inspired roleplay of favorite characters in full-body costumes but also inspired existing franchises to adapt their themes for said methods of gaming.
* the growth in home taping (starting with VHS in the late 1970s) of television broadcasts, including popular serials.
* The growth in home taping (starting with VHS in the late 1970s) of television broadcasts, including popular serials.
* the growth of computerized communication, including the Internet and Internet-dependent applications in the 1980s and 1990s.
* The growth of computerized communication, including the Internet and Internet-dependent applications in the 1980s and 1990s.


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Science fiction fandom]]
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* [[List of fan conventions by date of founding]]
*[[Fantasy fandom]]
⚫
*[[List of fan conventions by date of founding]]
*[[List of anime conventions]]
*[[List of anime conventions]]
*[[List of comic book conventions]]
*[[List of comic book conventions]]

Latest revision as of 21:47, 21 February 2024

Comic Frontier, a doujinshi convention held in Jakarta, Indonesia
Two young women cosplaying as anime characters during the 2007 Animecon in Jyväskylä, Finland

A fan convention (also known as a con or fan meeting) is an event in which fans of a particular topic gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and each other. Some also incorporate commercial activity. The term dates back to at least 1942.[1]

Overview[edit]

Fan conventions are traditionally organized by fans on a not-for-profit basis, though some events catering to fans are run by commercial interests for profit. Many conventions have award presentations relating to their genre (such as the Hugo Awards which have been presented at The World Science Fiction Convention (WorldCon) since 1953).

At commercial events, performers often give out autographs to the fans, sometimes in exchange for a flat appearance fee, and sometimes may perform songs that have no relevance to the shows or otherwise entertain the fans. Commercial conventions are usually quite expensive and are hosted in hotels. There is often tight security for the celebrities to protect against potentially fanatic fans. Such features are not common at traditional science-fiction conventions, which are more oriented toward science fiction as a mode of literature, rather than toward visual media, and do not include any paid appearances by famous personalities, and maintain a less caste-like differentiation between professional and fan.

Anime conventions, gaming conventions, filk-music conventions, and furry conventions may all be considered derivatives of science-fiction conventions, which began in the late 1930s.

Harlan Ellison speaking at Minicon 41, April 13, 2006
In fan conventions, the audience is sometimes invited to line up and ask questions using a dedicated microphone.

While the wearing of costumes—and even a costume competition (known as a "masquerade")—has been an occasional feature of traditional science-fiction conventions since Morojo and Forrest J Ackerman wore them during the First World Science Fiction Convention in 1939, this has never been the dominant feature of such events. From press coverage of comic book and anime conventions has arisen the widespread image of fans' tendency to dress up as their favorite characters in elaborate costumes (known as cosplay in anime terminology) that are time-consuming and/or expensive to assemble.

Different conventions use different methods to count their attendance, which leads to some confusion about actual convention size.[2]

History[edit]

Fan conventions for various genres of entertainment extend to the first conventions held in the 1930s. However, while a few conventions were created in various parts of the world within the period between 1935–1960, the number of convention establishments increased slightly in the 1960s and then increased dramatically in the 1970s, with many of the largest conventions in the modern era being established during the latter decade. Impetuses for further establishment of local fan conventions include:

  • The return of superhero characters and franchises during the Silver Age of Comic Books (1956–1970).
  • Science fiction adaptations for television serials (e.g., Star Trek) in the 1960s–1970s.
  • The growth of role-playing (in the 1970s and 1980s) as a genre of tabletop, live-action and eventually video/computer gaming, which not only inspired roleplay of favorite characters in full-body costumes but also inspired existing franchises to adapt their themes for said methods of gaming.
  • The growth in home taping (starting with VHS in the late 1970s) of television broadcasts, including popular serials.
  • The growth of computerized communication, including the Internet and Internet-dependent applications in the 1980s and 1990s.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Coppa, Francesca (2006), "A Brief History of Media Fandom", in Hellekson, Karen; Busse, Kristina (eds.), Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of the Internet, Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, p. 43, ISBN 978-0-7864-2640-9
  2. ^ Whitehouse, Kendall (16 October 2017). "Comic Con Attendance: Numbers, Numbers, and Numbers". ontechnologyandmedia.com. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
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