FANDOM PARTICIPATION QUESTIONNAIRE [Confessions of a Liberal Puritan]

(Your Assistance is greatly appreciated! Please write your answers in Comments, since I haven't been able to put this in actual "Poll" form.)

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?
A.____ 2 years or less.
B.____ 2-5 years.
C.____ 6-10 years.
D.____ 11-15 years.
E.____ 16-20 years.
F.____ more than 20 years.

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate? See question #3, below, for examples of different ways of participating in fandom, if you're unsure. (check all that apply, or write in your own)

Media:
A.____Star Trek (any or all incarnations).
B.____Star Wars.
C.____Dr. Who.
D.____Buffy/Angel.
E.____Firefly.
F.____Babylon 5.
G.____Farscape.
H.____Stargate.
I.____new Battlestar Galactica.
J.____Xena.
K.____Anime/Manga (specify which series or artist you follow, if relevant:______________________ ).
L.____Other(s) _______________________________________________________________________.

Literary (NOT a comprehensive list, by any means):
M.____Harry Potter.
N.____Terry Pratchett.
O.____Anne McCaffrey.
P.____Heinlein.
Q.____Asimov.
R.____Douglas Adams.
S.____Andre Norton.
T.____Anne Rice.
U.____Tolkien/LotR.
V.____Others:_________________________________________________________________________________.

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)? (check all that apply, or write in)
A.____Attending real world meetings with fellow fans (discussion groups, fan clubs, conventions, etc.)
B.____Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C.____Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.
D.____Creation and/or consumption of fan fiction, fan art, fan music videos, filking, costuming, etc..
E.____Building/maintaining fan web-sites.
F.____Organizing/volunteering at conventions.
G.____Others:_________________________________________________________________________.

4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities (reading, watching, writing, reviewing, talking, filking, creating, etc.)?
A.____ 1 hour or less.
B.____ 2-3 hours.
C.____ 4-5 hours.
D.____ 6-10 hours.
E.____ 11-15 hours.
F.____ 16-20 hours.
G.____ more than 20 hours.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?
A.____ 0% (none).
B.____ 5% (1 in 20).
C.____ 10% (1 in 10).
D.____25% (1 in 4).
E.____ 50%.
F.____ 75%.
G.____ 100%.

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)
A.____Creative outlet (a safe place for self-expression or the exercise and refinement of my talents).
B.____Supportive community, real world or online (friends who share my interests and care about me).
C.____Fun (chance to play in & with some very cool worlds/characters, and to share my “toys” with others).
D.____Inspiration (ideas to discuss, principles to live by, or just a bit of hope for the future).
E.____Refuge (safe place to go and people to be with when life beats me up).
F.____Love (real or virtual; long- or short-term; sexual, platonic, romantic, friendship, or any combination).
G.____Other:___________________________________________________________________________.

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally? A.____Creative.
B.____Supportive.
C.____Fun.
D.____Inspiration.
E.____Refuge.
F.____Love.
G.___Other:_______________.

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?
A.____Very Satisfied (most of my needs or expectations being met).
B.____Satisfied (could be better, but all essentials are covered).
C.____Not Really Satisfied (some serious gaps or problems).
D.____Dissatisfied.
E.____Very Dissatisfied.

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date? (Best convention, best reading group, best discussion/panel/argument, best friend you’ve made, best encounter with an actor/writer/musician you admire, or whatever you consider to be the high point, so far.) Are you willing to describe it?__________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.____Female.
B.____Male.
C.____ 13 years or under.
D.____ 14-17 years old.
E.____18-22 years old.
F.____ 23-29.
G.____ 30-39.
H.____ 40-55.
I.____ Over 55.

11) Do you hold any particular religious beliefs? (Y / N) If no, skip to question #14 below.

12) If yes, how would you describe your beliefs? (Options listed in alphabetical order, or write in your own.)
A.____Atheist.
B.____Buddhist.
C.____Christian.
D.____Hindu.
E.____Jewish.
F.____Muslim.
G.____Native American.
H.____Pagan.
I.____Sikh.
J.____Taoist.
K.____Wiccan.
L.____I prefer not to answer.
M.____Other:__________________________________________________ .

13) If you have religious beliefs, how do they interact with your fandom? Check the answer that comes closest, or write your own: _____________________________________________________.
A.____They don’t interact (two separate parts of my life, religion & entertainment).
B.____They frequently come into conflict or seem to be competing for my loyalty (clashing world views).
C.____I sometimes see my beliefs reflected in my favorite texts and fan activities (fandom occasionally expresses or reinforces faith).
D.____My fandom is an extension of my religious beliefs and values (fandom as faith in action, in a sense).
E.____My fandom and my religious values are both part of me and my world view (not really separable).
F.____My fandom has shaped and/or informed my faith (fandom influences religious beliefs or practices).
G.____My fandom is the source of my religious beliefs and ethical world view (faith as extension of fandom).

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? (Y / N). If you do, what is it about the literary or media “texts” you follow that you find most meaningful? That is, what makes a piece of popular art more than just an object to be enjoyed or consumed in the moment, but rather a source of raw material and a spur to your own creative efforts? (I know, it’s a bit like asking you to tell me the Meaning of Life in 10 words or less, but please give it a shot anyway!) _____________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Thank you for generously taking the time and trouble to respond to this survey! You have made a valuable contribution toward moving this fan/scholar closer to graduation and to freeing up much valuable time for reading fanfic!

October

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17 1	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1)F
2) A,D,F,H,J,K(Hayao Miyazaki)
O,P,R,S,V (L.M.Bujold, Christopher Stasheff, Diane Duane)
3) A,B,C,D
4) E
5) D
6) B,C,D,E
7)D
8) B
9) a con in 1996 (everything came together, great natural high and feeling of union/fellowship with fans and guests of honor)
10) A,H
11) Y
12) C
13) F
14) N

[link] [reply]

1)B.
2)K. (inuyasha,Miyazaki,Fruits basket,FLCL,should i go on?)
M.Harry Potter.
U.____Tolkien/LotR.
3)B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G. being a fangirl and obsessing over hot anime guys
4)G.
5)
D.
6)A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
7)C.
8)B.
9)err...i guess just going on forums and hanging out with people there who share the same interests as me. I met a whole bunch of friends. and "Hatori-san" there, it's great and fun
10)A.
D.
11)y
12)C.
13)A.
14)Y okay, i don't really get the last part, but i draw fanart because it's fun, and i love looking at other peoples art to inspire me. It's fun and enjoyable to do too, and each time i draw i get better.

[link] [parent] [reply]

(no subject) —

revdorothyl.livejournal.com

Thanks! —

1) C
2) D, K, L
3) B, C
4) D
5) B
6) A, B, C, D, E
7) C
8) B
9) It would have to be this three hour talk me and my friend Ed had about the Drizzt series being made into a movie. Its hard to explain everything, and half the things we started talking about in the middled there had nothing to do with Drizzt, it was still the most "interesting" conversation I've ever had about it.
10) D
11) Yes and no. I cant really describe it that well.
12) A combination of all. Again, its hard to explain it.
13) A
14) No

Thank you! This is very helpful!

1.) D
2.) K
3.) A,B,D,E
4.) G
5.) A
6.) A, B, E G- I have nothing else to put my attention towards.
7.) B
8.) B
9.) My website(s).
10.) A,D
11.) N
14.) Y- It's really just a bordom outlet.

Thank you!

1)C
2)C,D,E,I,M,N,R, Susanna Clarke, Brothers Strugatsky (Russian sci-fi)
3)B,C,D,A (I wish, but haven't been able to so far)
4)C
5)C
6)B,C,D,E, F(friendship)
7)B
8)A
9)My best experience is probably what I get out of fandom participation on a regular basis– having a place to belong, share my media/literary interests, talk to and meet people I wouldn't have a chance to meet otherwise. And I know this sounds cheesy - learning something new from all these experiences/discussions/interactions. I realize this is very general, but it's hard to single out one specific experience.
10)A, F
11)No
14) No

Thanks, my friend!

gobi-rex.livejournal.com

I'm gonna come back to this in the a.m., copy/paste, then answer it, and send it back to you via e-mail, as a word attachment, ok?

It sounds complicated,but just wait:the coding will be easy-peasy.

here ya go:
FANDOM PARTICIPATION QUESTIONNAIRE
(Your Assistance is greatly appreciated! Please write your answers in Comments, while I'm trying to learn how to put this in actual "Poll" form.)

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?
B.____ 2-5 years.

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate? See question #3, below, for examples of different ways of participating in fandom, if you're unsure. (check all that apply, or write in your own)

Media:

D.____Buffy/Angel.

Literary (NOT a comprehensive list, by any means):
None

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)? (check all that apply, or write in)
A.____Attending real world meetings with fellow fans (discussion groups, fan clubs, conventions, etc.)
B.____Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C.____Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.
D.____Creation and/or consumption of fan fiction, fan art, fan music videos, filking, costuming, etc..
4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities (reading, watching, writing, reviewing, talking, filking, creating, etc.)?
G.____ more than 20 hours.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?
A.____ 0% (none).

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)
A.____Creative outlet (a safe place for self-expression or the exercise and refinement of my talents).
B.____Supportive community, real world or online (friends who share my interests and care about me).
C.____Fun (chance to play in & with some very cool worlds/characters, and to share my “toys” with others).
D.____Inspiration (ideas to discuss, principles to live by, or just a bit of hope for the future). G.____Other:__It’s part of my research project into the fandom.
7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally?
C.____Fun.
G.___Other:_It’s equally the fun of meeting and talking with others in the fandom and I love the research.
8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?
A.____Very Satisfied (most of my needs or expectations being met).

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date? (Best convention, best reading group, best discussion/panel/argument, best friend you’ve made, best encounter with an actor/writer/musician you admire, or whatever you consider to be the high point, so far.) Are you willing to describe it? Probably attending The Slayage and attending Phauxcon in Philadelphia --- meeting others who are fans.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.____Female. I.____ Over 55.

11) Do you hold any particular religious beliefs? (Y
12) If yes, how would you describe your beliefs? (Options listed in alphabetical order, or write in your own.)
B. semi__Buddhist.
C._semi Christian.

13) If you have religious beliefs, how do they interact with your fandom? Check the answer that comes closest, or write your own:
C.____I sometimes see my beliefs reflected in my favorite texts and fan activities (fandom occasionally expresses or reinforces faith).
E.____My fandom and my religious values are both part of me and my world view (not really separable).

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? (N).

Woul you like me to rec this on my LJ? I'd be delighted to do so.

Would you like me to rec this on my LJ? I'd be delighted to do so.

That would be great! Thanks very much!

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?

B.____ 2-5 years.

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate?
Media:

D.____Buffy/Angel.
E.____Firefly.

Literary

U.____Tolkien/LotR.
V.____Others: The Chronicles of Narnia/C.S. Lewis

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)?

B.____Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C.____Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.
D.____Creation and/or consumption of fan fiction, fan art, fan music videos, filking, costuming, etc..
G.____Others: (Not sure if this counts) Occasional social meet-ups with fellow fans (but not at conventions or other fandom related events, if that makes sense).

4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities?

D.____ 6-10 hours.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?

B.____ 5% (1 in 20).

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom?

A.
B.
C.

E.
F.

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally?

C.____Fun.
F.____Love (friendship)

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?

C.____Not Really Satisfied (some serious gaps or problems).

(Not satisfied, because the shows are no longer on the air, so it's that lack in particular that's dissatisfying)

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date?

My best experience with fandom was when I was new to it. It was with the Buffy/Angel fandom, at the website, The Bronze, when BtVS was still on the WB, and Apollo ran the website. It was so exciting to "meet" other people who understood why I was so drawn to the work, and who liked to dissect it and speculate about it.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.____Female.

G.____ 30-39.

11) Do you hold any particular religious beliefs? (Y / N) If no, skip to question #14 below.

Yes.

12) If yes, how would you describe your beliefs? (Options listed in alphabetical order, or write in your own.)

C.____Christian.

13) If you have religious beliefs, how do they interact with your fandom? Check the answer that comes closest, or write your own:

B.____They frequently come into conflict or seem to be competing for my loyalty (clashing world views).
C.____I sometimes see my beliefs reflected in my favorite texts and fan activities (fandom occasionally expresses or reinforces faith).
E.____My fandom and my religious values are both part of me and my world view (not really separable).

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? (Y / N). If you do, what is it about the literary or media “texts” you follow that you find most meaningful? That is, what makes a piece of popular art more than just an object to be enjoyed or consumed in the moment, but rather a source of raw material and a spur to your own creative efforts? (I know, it’s a bit like asking you to tell me the Meaning of Life in 10 words or less, but please give it a shot anyway!)

I write (really, at this point, it is better described as "have written) fan fic about characters from the Buffy/Angel universe. I think because the shows, particularly BtVS, were so character driven, the stories I was told were not enough, sometimes. I needed more. I needed to answer the next "what if" sort of question, particularly for my more beloved characters, or those characters who intrigued me, but weren't fully fleshed out. I seldom shared what I wrote, and when I did, I generally shared it with a select few.

Thanks so much for your thoughtful and helpful answers!

(no subject) — (anonymous)

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?

F.____ more than 20 years.

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate? See question #3, below, for examples of different ways of participating in fandom, if you're unsure. (check all that apply, or write in your own)

Media:

D.____Buffy/Angel.
E.____Firefly.
L.____Other(s) The Equalizer (a detective show from the late '80s)

Literary (NOT a comprehensive list, by any means):
M.____Harry Potter.
U.____Tolkien/LotR.

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)? (check all that apply, or write in)
A.____Attending real world meetings with fellow fans (discussion groups, fan clubs, conventions, etc.)
B.____Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C.____Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.
D.____Creation and/or consumption of fan fiction, fan art, fan music videos, filking, costuming, etc..

4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities (reading, watching, writing, reviewing, talking, filking, creating, etc.)?
F.____ 16-20 hours.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?

B.____ 5% (1 in 20).

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)

A.____Creative outlet (a safe place for self-expression or the exercise and refinement of my talents).
B.____Supportive community, real world or online (friends who share my interests and care about me).
C.____Fun (chance to play in & with some very cool worlds/characters, and to share my “toys” with others).

E.____Refuge (safe place to go and people to be with when life beats me up).
F.____Love (real or virtual; long- or short-term; sexual, platonic, romantic, friendship, or any combination).

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally?
A.____Creative.

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?
A.____Very Satisfied (most of my needs or expectations being met).

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date? (Best convention, best reading group, best discussion/panel/argument, best friend you’ve made, best encounter with an actor/writer/musician you admire, or whatever you consider to be the high point, so far.) Are you willing to describe it?

The friends I made online through fandom went out of their way to check in on me with phone calls and presents when I was in the hospital a few months ago.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.____Female.
I.____ Over 55.

11) Do you hold any particular religious beliefs? (Y / N) If no, skip to question #14 below.
Y

12) If yes, how would you describe your beliefs? (Options listed in alphabetical order, or write in your own.)

H.____Pagan.

13) If you have religious beliefs, how do they interact with your fandom? Check the answer that comes closest, or write your own: (fandom as faith in action, in a sense).

E.____My fandom and my religious values are both part of me and my world view (not really separable).

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? (Y / N).
Y, the stories have depth and potential and characters with enough facets that one can see possibilities that aren't covered in the stories presented. Often, the themes of the stories are so big that other angles beg to be explored.

Thanks so much! Your thoughtful and detailed responses are a big help to me in my research!

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?
B. 2-5 years.

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate? See question #3, below, for examples of different ways of participating in fandom, if you're unsure. (check all that apply, or write in your own)

Media:
C. Dr. Who.
D. Buffy/Angel.
E. Firefly.
G. Farscape.
I. new Battlestar Galactica.
L. Other(s) - Veronica Mars, Wonderfalls

Literary (NOT a comprehensive list, by any means):

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)? (check all that apply, or write in)
A. Attending real world meetings with fellow fans (discussion groups, fan clubs, conventions, etc.)
B. Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C. Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.
D. Creation and/or consumption of fan fiction, fan art, fan music videos, filking, costuming, etc..
E. Building/maintaining fan web-sites.
F. Organizing/volunteering at conventions.

4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities (reading, watching, writing, reviewing, talking, filking, creating, etc.)?
G. more than 20 hours.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?
F.____ 75%.

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)
B. Supportive community, real world or online (friends who share my interests and care about me).
C. Fun (chance to play in & with some very cool worlds/characters, and to share my “toys” with others).
D. Inspiration (ideas to discuss, principles to live by, or just a bit of hope for the future).
E. Refuge (safe place to go and people to be with when life beats me up).
F. Love (real or virtual; long- or short-term; sexual, platonic, romantic, friendship, or any combination).

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally?
E. Refuge.

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?
B. Satisfied (could be better, but all essentials are covered).

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date? (Best convention, best reading group, best discussion/panel/argument, best friend you’ve made, best encounter with an actor/writer/musician you admire, or whatever you consider to be the high point, so far.) Are you willing to describe it?

not only have i had the opportunity to meet the actors, writers, directors and creators of television shows i've loved over the years; i've also had the opportunity to meet people i considered real life best friends. without fandom, i wouldn't have met my current best friend. without fandom, i wouldn't have met someone who started out as a friend, developed into a partner and then came full circle to a great relationship once again.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.____Female.
F.____ 23-29.

11) Do you hold any particular religious beliefs? (Y / N) If no, skip to question #14 below.

Yes.

12) If yes, how would you describe your beliefs? (Options listed in alphabetical order, or write in your own.)
C. Christian.

13) If you have religious beliefs, how do they interact with your fandom? Check the answer that comes closest, or write your own:
A. They don’t interact (two separate parts of my life, religion & entertainment).

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? (Y / N).
No.

Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate this!

Re #14 —

cindywrites.livejournal.com

Re: Re #14 —

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?
C.____ 6-10 years.

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate? See question #3, below, for examples of different ways of participating in fandom, if you're unsure. (check all that apply, or write in your own)

Media:
A.____Star Trek (any or all incarnations).
B.____Star Wars.
D.____Buffy/Angel.
E.____Firefly.
F.____Babylon 5.
G.____Farscape.
H.____Stargate.
I.____new Battlestar Galactica.
_______________________________________________________________________.

Literary (NOT a comprehensive list, by any means):
M.____Harry Potter.
P.____Heinlein.
Q.____Asimov.
R.____Douglas Adams.
S.____Andre Norton.
T.____Anne Rice.
U.____Tolkien/LotR.

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)? (check all that apply, or write in)
A.____Attending real world meetings with fellow fans (discussion groups, fan clubs, conventions, etc.)
B.____Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C.____Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.
D.____Creation and/or consumption of fan fiction, fan art, fan music videos, filking, costuming, etc..

4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities (reading, watching, writing, reviewing, talking, filking, creating, etc.)?
F.____ 16-20 hours.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?
E.____ 50%.

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)
A.____Creative outlet (a safe place for self-expression or the exercise and refinement of my talents).
B.____Supportive community, real world or online (friends who share my interests and care about me).
C.____Fun (chance to play in & with some very cool worlds/characters, and to share my “toys” with others).
E.____Refuge (safe place to go and people to be with when life beats me up).
F.____Love (real or virtual; long- or short-term; sexual, platonic, romantic, friendship, or any combination).

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally?

B.____Supportive.

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?

B.____Satisfied (could be better, but all essentials are covered).

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date? (Best convention, best reading group, best discussion/panel/argument, best friend you’ve made, best encounter with an actor/writer/musician you admire, or whatever you consider to be the high point, so far.) Are you willing to describe it?
Buffista F2F

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.____Female.

G.____ 30-39.

11) Do you hold any particular religious beliefs? (Y / N) If no, skip to question #14 below.
No

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? (Y / N). If you do, what is it about the literary or media “texts” you follow that you find most meaningful? That is, what makes a piece of popular art more than just an object to be enjoyed or consumed in the moment, but rather a source of raw material and a spur to your own creative efforts? (I know, it’s a bit like asking you to tell me the Meaning of Life in 10 words or less, but please give it a shot anyway!)
No

Thanks so much for your thoughtful responses! And thanks for mentioning "due South" (my sister just introduced me to Paul Gross' 2002 film "Men With Brooms" on Monday, and I got a kick out of seeing so many dS alumni together again, with some notable exceptions -- perhaps Callum Keith Rennie was too busy filming the BSG pilot at the time?).

This is quite helpful to me, and I really appreciate your taking the time and trouble to do it!

1) D
2) D, G, H, I
3) A, B, C, D, F
4) D
5) A (inasmuch as you don't count fannish friends as RL friends--I mean, what level of interaction with someone you initially met online turns them into an RL friend?)
6) A, B, C, D, E
7) B
8) B
9) Oh, gosh, that's a tough one. The most recent really good experience was a private gathering of a group of fannish friends; I've also had a lot of fun at MBTV BuffyCons, back in the day, and gotten a big thrill out of positive responses to fanfic.
10) A, F
11) Y
12) A (of the variety "I don't know, but I really don't think so)
13) E
14) Y. And I'm afraid I can't answer that; I've loved shows that haven't made me feel creative, and had shows that I don't admire as much that I wanted to play with. I tend to like settings where there are a lot of gen holes to be filled; I'm not a big writer of romance (though I have written it), and what I really enjoy is looking at things that get touched on by the show and then never really dealt with.

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?
B.____ 2-5 years.

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate? See question #3, below, for examples of different ways of participating in fandom, if you're unsure. (check all that apply, or write in your own)

Media:
D.____Buffy/Angel.
E.____Firefly.

Literary (NOT a comprehensive list, by any means):
M.____Harry Potter.

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)? (check all that apply, or write in)
B.____Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C.____Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.
D.____Creation and/or consumption of fan fiction, fan art, fan music videos, filking, costuming, etc..

4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities (reading, watching, writing, reviewing, talking, filking, creating, etc.)?
D.____ 6-10 hours.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?
B.____ 5% (1 in 20).

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)
B.____Supportive community, real world or online (friends who share my interests and care about me).
C.____Fun (chance to play in & with some very cool worlds/characters, and to share my “toys” with others).
D.____Inspiration (ideas to discuss, principles to live by, or just a bit of hope for the future).

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally?
C.____Fun.

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?
B.____Satisfied (could be better, but all essentials are covered).

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date? (Best convention, best reading group, best discussion/panel/argument, best friend you’ve made, best encounter with an actor/writer/musician you admire, or whatever you consider to be the high point, so far.) Are you willing to describe it?

Meeting people, online and later in real life, who like to discuss the same things I do.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.____Female.
G.____ 30-39.

11) Do you hold any particular religious beliefs? Y

12) If yes, how would you describe your beliefs? (Options listed in alphabetical order, or write in your own.)
C.____Christian (with an interest in paganism).

13) If you have religious beliefs, how do they interact with your fandom? Check the answer that comes closest, or write your own:
A.____They don’t interact (two separate parts of my life, religion & entertainment).

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? Y

I've written Buffy/Angel fanfic. I think these shows inspired me because I know the characters so well, and because I participate in online discussions about the shows. I'd never read fanfic before I got involved in Whedonverse fandom, and once I did it was amazing to let loose with *my* interpretations of the characters, and where I would have liked to see the storylines go.

1 C
2 H, I, L (SV, CSI)
3 A, B, C, D, G (academic work on fandom)
4 G
5 A
6 A, B, C, D, E, F
7 B
8 A
9 n/a
10 A G
11 N
14 n/a

1) B.

2) A.,D., E., H., L.(Dead Like Me)

N., S., V. (Robin McKinley, Charles DeLint, Edward Eager)

3) A. (Though not for the purpose of discussion/fannish activities in regard to the show(s), but to get to meet/know one another)
B.
C. (most prevalent, constant)
D. (rare, occasional)

4) C.

5) D.

6) A. (nominally right now, RL gets in the way)
B. (mostly), E. F.

7) F.

8) B.

9) Nillyfest 2004, where the board I "live" on pitched in to bring a member from Israel to the US to visit a few cities and I was able to join the gathering in SF, meet her and many other truly wonderful people.

10) A. H.

11) Y

12) C.

13) If you have religious beliefs, how do they interact with your fandom? Check the answer that comes closest, or write your own: Began as A, moved into B, and now it's closer to C. The acceptance I received in a fan setting helped me (begin to)learn to be open about who I am all the time, and not compartmentalize myself.

14) Y - I have, though I don't currently, but I've been ill and had some other situations that have made me less drawn to creative endeavors due to the energy required. When I have (and I hope to again), the biggest attraction has probably been being able to write or create in a world I already find very attractive, to make the kind of story I'd like to make; and yet use discipline to make it fit within the confines of what's already there. Working the story into canon so it fits seamlessly is very important to me. It's like creating an elegant puzzle.

I hope this helps.

Thank you for these detailed and helpful responses! This is exactly the sort of feedback that I need for my dissertation project. You've really helped me out here.

1 A

2 D & E, M & U

3 A & B & C

4 E

5 0%

6 B & C & D

7 D

8 B

9 Discussing Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in detail...with serious, intelligent people, unapologetic for their speculation and focus.

10 AH

11 Yes

12 L

13 C

14 N

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?
D.

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate? See question #3, below, for examples of different ways of participating in fandom, if you're unsure. (check all that apply, or write in your own)

Media:
G.____Farscape.
H.____Stargate.
I.____new Battlestar Galactica.
X-Files

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)? (check all that apply, or write in)
A.
B
C.
D.
F.____Organizing/volunteering at conventions.

4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities (reading, watching, writing, reviewing, talking, filking, creating, etc.)?
B.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?
A.

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)
A.
B.
C.
E.
F.

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally?
C.

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?
B

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date? (Best convention, best reading group, best discussion/panel/argument, best friend you’ve made, best encounter with an actor/writer/musician you admire, or whatever you consider to be the high point, so far.) Are you willing to describe it? Friends made.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.
G.

11)Y
12) C.

13)
A.

14) Y; Unfortunately, I wish I knew the answer to this. I don't.

1) C
2) Media: D, E
Literary:
V: Shannara series, by Terry Brooks
3) B, D
4) E
5) A
6) A, B, C, D, E
7) C
8) A
9) The friends I've made, many of whom I feel more comfortable talking to than any of my meatspace friends
10) B, E
11) N
14) N

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?

For a value of "involved in any fandoms" that meant more than "talking with other people the morning after the show and occasionally daydreaming up stories" - B.

For just the above: F.

(Re-reading favorite books? *Please*. I started doing that in the 2nd grade.)

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate?

Media:
D.____Buffy
E.____Firefly.
G.____Farscape.
H.____Stargate.
I.____new Battlestar Galactica.

Literary (NOT a comprehensive list, by any means):
U.____Tolkien/LotR.
V.____Others:Bujold, Dunnett.

(...there's a Norton fandom?)

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)?
A.____Attending real world meetings with fellow fans (discussion groups, fan clubs, conventions, etc.)
B.____Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C.____Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.
D.____Creation and/or consumption of fan fiction, fan art, fan music videos, filking, costuming, etc..

4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities?
C.____ 4-5 hours.
D.____ 6-10 hours.

Depends on the week. Christ, I need a life.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?

C.____ 10% (1 in 10).

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)
A.____Creative outlet (a safe place for self-expression or the exercise and refinement of my talents).
C.____Fun (chance to play in & with some very cool worlds/characters, and to share my “toys” with others).
D.____Inspiration (ideas to discuss, principles to live by, or just a bit of hope for the future).
G.____Other:_Slapfights.

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally?
D.____Inspiration.
G.___Other:_Slapfights

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?

B.

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date? Are you willing to describe it?

_Oh, *cricky* How the hell am I supposed to pick just one?

*ponders*

Either snarking at/being snarked at by the actor who did the voice for one of my favorite characters at a con Q&A, or getting rec'ed for the first time on Poly recs.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.____Female.

None of your damn business.

11) Do you hold any particular religious beliefs?

Yes. In fact, they are *very* particular.

12) If yes, how would you describe your beliefs?

C.

13) If you have religious beliefs, how do they interact with your fandom? Check the answer that comes closest, or write your own:
E.____My fandom and my religious values are both part of me and my world view (not really separable). (I don't compartmentalize worth a damn.)

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? (Y). If you do, what is it about the literary or media “texts” you follow that you find most meaningful? That is, what makes a piece of popular art more than just an object to be enjoyed or consumed in the moment, but rather a source of raw material and a spur to your own creative efforts? (I know, it’s a bit like asking you to tell me the Meaning of Life in 10 words or less, but please give it a shot anyway!)

People telling stories. Describing possible journeys, possible paths, and wondering where the other fork in the road went.

- hg

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?

C.____ 6-10 years.

2)

Media:

D.____Buffy/Angel.
E.____Firefly.

3)
A.____Attending real world meetings with fellow fans (discussion groups, fan clubs, conventions, etc.)
B.____Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C.____Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.
D.____Creation and/or consumption of fan fiction, fan art, fan music videos, filking, costuming, etc..
E.____Building/maintaining fan web-sites.
F.____Organizing/volunteering at conventions.
G.____Others:Save Our Show Campaigns, review writing, fundraising.

4)
F.____ 16-20 hours.
G.____ more than 20 hours.

Dependent on projects, really. If I'm organizing a party, it's more than 20 hours.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as

F.____ 75%.

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)
A.____Creative outlet (a safe place for self-expression or the exercise and refinement of my talents).
B.____Supportive community, real world or online (friends who share my interests and care about me).
C.____Fun (chance to play in & with some very cool worlds/characters, and to share my “toys” with others).
D.____Inspiration (ideas to discuss, principles to live by, or just a bit of hope for the future).
E.____Refuge (safe place to go and people to be with when life beats me up).
F.____Love (real or virtual; long- or short-term; sexual, platonic, romantic, friendship, or any combination).

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally?
F.____Love.

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?

B.____Satisfied (could be better, but all essentials are covered).

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date? (Best convention, best reading group, best discussion/panel/argument, best friend you’ve made, best encounter with an actor/writer/musician you admire, or whatever you consider to be the high point, so far.) Are you willing to describe it?

I don't have one answer to this, and Livejournal doesn't have a server big enough to hold it all.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.____Female.

G.____ 30-39.

11) Y

12) Non-practicing Jew.

13) If you have religious beliefs, how do they interact with your fandom? Check the answer that comes closest, or write your own: N/A

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? Y.

If you do, what is it about the literary or media “texts” you follow that you find most meaningful? That is, what makes a piece of popular art more than just an object to be enjoyed or consumed in the moment, but rather a source of raw material and a spur to your own creative efforts? (I know, it’s a bit like asking you to tell me the Meaning of Life in 10 words or less, but please give it a shot anyway!)

I'm an essayist, so I don't write fic, but I do write about my fandom, the shows we watch, and the people who create them. Also run a website for a television writer, so there's some art involved.

Fandom has created unique life experiences for me, that differs from most fans' experiences. There's a bit of the dreaded BNF going on for me, is what I'm saying, sheepishly. For me, it's not enough to discuss something I love from a distance, I need to wrap myself in it and let it soak in. So because I loved Buffy and Angel, I loved the people who made it possible, and found ways to become closer to them in small ways. That love was reciprocated by some, and so here I am, getting to occasionally put my fingerprint on fandom and the things we all spend too much time thinking about. In order to do that, I was loud with effort, kind of, "HEY LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME! I'm your FAN!"

Which probably doesn't answer your question at all.

1) E
2) A, B, D, E, G, H, J, M, O, R
3) A, B, C, D
4) E
5) B
6) A, B, C, D, E
7) B
8) B
9) Ummm....
10) A, G
11) Y
12) C
13) C
14) N

1. B
2. D
3. A,B,C,D, E
4. F
5. A
6. A,B,C,D
7. A
8. B
9. Meeting my lovely Betas.
10. A,G
11. No
12. N/A
13. N/A
14. Yes. It's all about inspiration and particpation. I hadn't been able to write anything for years before I started doing so in the fandom. Suddenly I had inpiration, and the fact that I could then share it with people who would enjoy what I produced meant that I was encouraged to write more.

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?
A.__x__ 2 years or less.

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate? See question #3, below, for examples of different ways of participating in fandom, if you're unsure. (check all that apply, or write in your own)

Media:
D.__x__Buffy/Angel.
E.__x__Firefly.

Literary (NOT a comprehensive list, by any means):

R.__x__Douglas Adams.
U.__x__Tolkien/LotR.

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)? (check all that apply, or write in)
A.__x__Attending real world meetings with fellow fans (discussion groups, fan clubs, conventions, etc.)
B.__x__Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C.__x__Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.

4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities (reading, watching, writing, reviewing, talking, filking, creating, etc.)?

D.__x__ 6-10 hours.
E.__x__ 11-15 hours.

NOTE: This includes activities with fan groups, even if they're not directly related to the shows. Most weeks this is D, sometimes E, and rarely even more.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?

C.__x__ 10% (1 in 10).

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)

B.__x__Supportive community, real world or online (friends who share my interests and care about me).
C.__x__Fun (chance to play in & with some very cool worlds/characters, and to share my “toys” with others).
D.__x__Inspiration (ideas to discuss, principles to live by, or just a bit of hope for the future).
E.__x__Refuge (safe place to go and people to be with when life beats me up).

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally? A.____Creative.
B.__x__Supportive.

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?
A.__x__Very Satisfied (most of my needs or expectations being met).

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date? (Best convention, best reading group, best discussion/panel/argument, best friend you’ve made, best encounter with an actor/writer/musician you admire, or whatever you consider to be the high point, so far.) Are you willing to describe it?

_I enjoy the board I read a lot, but the true high point was meeting folks from the board in person. It was like we had known each other for ages; we got along together immediately.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.__x__Female.
G.__x__ 30-39.

11) Do you hold any particular religious beliefs? (Y / N) If no, skip to question #14 below. y

12) If yes, how would you describe your beliefs? (Options listed in alphabetical order, or write in your own.)

C.__x__Christian.

13) If you have religious beliefs, how do they interact with your fandom? Check the answer that comes closest, or write your own:

C.__x__I sometimes see my beliefs reflected in my favorite texts and fan activities (fandom occasionally expresses or reinforces faith).
E.__xx__My fandom and my religious values are both part of me and my world view (not really separable).
F.__x__My fandom has shaped and/or informed my faith (fandom influences religious beliefs or practices).

(If I need to pick just one, I have indicated the primary one with a xx.)

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? (Y / N). N If you do, what is it about the literary or media “texts” you follow that you find most meaningful? That is, what makes a piece of popular art more than just an object to be enjoyed or consumed in the moment, but rather a source of raw material and a spur to your own creative efforts? (I know, it’s a bit like asking you to tell me the Meaning of Life in 10 words or less, but please give it a shot anyway!)

1) How long have you been a fan (involved in any fandoms, media or literary)?
A.____ 2 years or less.

2) In which fandoms do you currently participate? See question #3, below, for examples of different ways of participating in fandom, if you're unsure. (check all that apply, or write in your own)

Media:
D.____Buffy/Angel.
H.____Stargate. [both of them]
I.____new Battlestar Galactica.
L.____Other(s):
due South, Highlander, NCIS, House

Literary (NOT a comprehensive list, by any means):
None

3) In what ways do you participate in your fandom(s)? (check all that apply, or write in)
A.____Attending real world meetings with fellow fans (discussion groups, fan clubs, conventions, etc.)
B.____Online discussions with other fans (TWoP or other posting sites, blogs, e-mail groups, fanfic reviews)
C.____Re-reading/re-watching your favorite books/movies/programs numerous times.
D.____Creation and/or consumption of fan fiction, fan art, fan music videos, filking, costuming, etc.

4) Approximately how many hours a week (on average) do you spend on fan activities (reading, watching, writing, reviewing, talking, filking, creating, etc.)?
G.____ more than 20 hours.

5) Roughly what percentage of your RL (Real Life, as opposed to online) friends and family are also fans (participating in any SF/Fantasy fandom, even if their interests don't exactly match yours)?
B.____ 5% (1 in 20).

6) What do you get from your participation in fandom? (Check all that apply, or write in.)
A.____Creative outlet (a safe place for self-expression or the exercise and refinement of my talents).
B.____Supportive community, real world or online (friends who share my interests and care about me).
C.____Fun (chance to play in & with some very cool worlds/characters, and to share my “toys” with others).
D.____Inspiration (ideas to discuss, principles to live by, or just a bit of hope for the future).
E.____Refuge (safe place to go and people to be with when life beats me up).

7) Of the options given in question #6, which one is most important to you, personally?
C.____Fun. (This was a very hard choice, by the way; it could equally well have been B, with A as a strong runner-up.)

8) How satisfied are you with your current experience in fandom?
B.____Satisfied (could be better, but all essentials are covered).

9) What is the best experience you’ve had in fandom, to date?
The Stargate convention in Vancouver in April of this year. Not only was it a well-run convention with lots of great guests and a host of wonderful, friendly fellow fans, but I got to tour the sets -- an incomparable thrill.

10) What is your sex and age? (check all that apply)
A.____Female.
H.____ 40-55.

11) Do you hold any particular religious beliefs?
No

14) Do you write fanfic or create other forms of fan art? (Y / N). If you do, what is it about the literary or media “texts” you follow that you find most meaningful?

Yes; I write a bit (in several fandoms). I could interpret this question in a number of ways, so I'm not sure if this answer will quite address what you're asking. I have been powerfully drawn to a number of shows/movies for a variety of reasons, but I've only been interested in reading fic and inspired to write fic in the handful of fandoms where there is at least one character (sometimes more) whom I deeply love. That's the single common criterion that makes all the difference for me.

1) B
2)Media: D, E, H, L (DC 'toons). Literary: M, V (Comics, mostly DC)
3)A, B, C, D.
4)D
5)C
6)A, B, C
7)C
8)B
9)People in fandom go so far out of their way to do nice things for each other, which isn't true of most other communities, in my experience.
10)A, E.
11)N
14)N