Hey there all! In a kind of follow-up to my previous post, I wanted to see if there was any one who had an interest in possibly contributing to this history of anime fandom I’m compiling; a few folks recently had to drop out due to some health/family issues, so there are some spots open if anyone is interested! My goal with this, as I said, is a collected work – a collection of “fandom memoirs” for lack of a better term, written by those who were there and a part of fandom, from the late 1970s through the early 2000s. I’m not shooting to make a full, complete, unabridged history of fandom, but rather have a primary-source record of fandom’s history, from its participants. If studying the history of SF fandom has shown me anything, being able to see what individual folks were doing, and where, and how really does amalgamate together to help in that larger understanding. And, speaking both as an academic historian and just personally, I think it’s vitally important for people to record and preserve the things they did, and accomplished.
Per this book’s articles, I'm shooting for entries between 5,000 and 10,000 words. In addition to articles provided by contributors, the book will also contain Helen McCarthy's Foreword, my preface and intro, pictures (hopefully one for each entry, as well as a few pics from conventions/program covers/fanzines/ etc., scattered throughout) and two In Memoriam pages dedicated to contributors who have unfortunately passed away before completion, Jim Kaposztas and Kevin Lillard respectively.
While I want each individual's unique recollections and experiences, there are a few topics that I hope could be addressed in one form or another (again, your perspective on or experiences regarding it, as opposed to an overarching, "official" narrative), if possible, including:
• how you first came across/were introduced to both anime/manga, and its nascent fandom
• growth of fandom; networks began and nurtured, and the nature of those networks; lasting friendships made, etc.
• interactions with traditional sf conventions, video rooms and “mini-cons” within until, eventually, the growth of standalone conventions, and the origins of/activities at those early conventions
• changes that occurred within fandom, over the years you've been active
• what fandom meant to you, personally, in the years that you considered it at its "best"
Also, I’m hoping to get as much information as possible relating to fan activities that are no longer around; not as prominent today; or are still extant, but perhaps done in different ways, such as:
• Early internet usage – BBSes, Usenet groups (rec.arts.anime, of course, as well as any others perhaps not as well known), IRC channels, FTP sites, mailing lists, convention lists or forums, series-specific sites (such as those on Geocities, Angelfire sites), etc.
• Fansubs, including the technology regarding, and the various distribution networks, for
• Fanzines – titles, creation of, distribution channels for, inspirations for creating, and their decline, etc.
• Filking – inspirations for, stories of performances, etc.
• Creation, and public showings of, AMVs
So, if anyone is interested, just shoot me a PM! I have enough entries for me to move forward as is, but since I do have a little more wiggle-room now, I figured I would reach out here again and see if any one would like to hop on board!
Take care!