Open Forum Friday: Are Fan Conventions a Waste of Time?
Well if you’re a fan of movies, TV, video games, books or comics, and you’re not in San Diego this weekend, you’ve probably already been following coverage of the San Diego Comic Con this week via one or more of your favourite websites. It’s basically the largest convention of its kind anywhere in the world, and while it used to be primarily focused on comics alone, the explosion of comic book movies, licensed properties and media crossovers in recent years has turned it into perhaps the biggest annual pop culture event, period. But what is it about this gathering that keeps people coming out? When something becomes so huge and so crowded, does the average attendee really get their money’s worth, or do they just end up spending all their time waiting in lines?
I’ve never been to the SDCC, but I have been to the Fan Expo in Toronto a few times, and I have to admit that while the atmosphere was fun, I didn’t really get much out of it other than a couple of autographs and a few graphic novels (which I probably could have just bought online anyway). I know part of the appeal is that it’s a gathering of like-minded people, but once it gets so big that it includes everyone on the planet, does that camaraderie still exist? It seems to me that what once was a place for fans to interact has now become a big PR event dominated by major corporations. But I guess free swag and celebrity appearances are still irresistible to some people. What do you think… are fan conventions worth all the effort? Is Comic Con still about the comics, or is it now being overshadowed by the Hollywood presence? Do you wish you were in San Diego right now? Give us your thoughts here on Open Forum Friday.
Comments (23)
Hey Sean, you’re contributing to the media’s negative stereotype of us geeks with that “unflattering” photo of Superman and Supergirl. Ha ha.
Have you read already? The coolest man on the planet, Johnny Depp, made an appearance at SDCC! All he has to do is wave to the crowd, and then he gets to leave. (BTW, how old does he have to get before we can start calling him John?)
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 24th, 2009I just thought the picture was cute.
Come on Reed, what are your thoughts on conventions, we know you’ve been to a few! Would you ever go to another one?
Posted by Sean on July 24th, 2009I’ve never been to any, but it seems like it could be fun. I’ve seen a few past panel discussions from Comic Con on Youtube and it seems like it would be worthwhile.
Posted by Nick D on July 24th, 2009I’ve been to a few to support some artist and friends that have booths. I usually get two feelings, 1. I work to hard and need to find the time to read more comics and 2. I really need to get more action with girls dressed up as my childhood fantasies! (picture above not an example of what I’m talking about)
Posted by rus in chicago on July 24th, 2009I’ve been to a horror film con called Monster-Mania about 8 times. It’s a great place to find cool dvd’s and stuff, but I’m not that into getting autographs and all that.
I would go to comic con for the experience. I’m not a comic book reader however.
Posted by Jon Rocks on July 24th, 2009They are a waste of MY time, but hey, to each their own. Fan culture is a bit disturbing to me because it tends to (by its own nature) be overly reverential and fetishizing rather than actually learning anything (beyond trivia, anyway)
Posted by Kurt on July 24th, 2009Comic Con is the only convention that I really want to go to. Friends of mine have been and said it was great.
Posted by Swarez on July 24th, 2009I’ve never been to a convention of any kind since this culture doesn’t exist over here so I’ve never had the opportunity but I would really like to experience it.
As an Aussie, we don’t get much opportunities for such conventions besides Supernova, but I do enjoy them. The interviews, being with fellow fans and the exclusive stuff you can grab is great. Americans are spoilt with this sort of thing with both Comic-con, Blizzcon etc.
Posted by stevie_boy on July 25th, 2009Compared to fan conventions, I think watching sports is a greater waste of time.
I’ll only attend another convention if the organizers pay for my travel and meal expenses and an appearance fee of $500.00 US.
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 25th, 2009We’re social creatures. I went to Comic Con twice whilst going to school in SoCal and it was between my comicbook phase and my anime phase so I basically shadowed some friends that wanted to be there but I could see how a specific place for you to see people could be fun it’s an event of sorts.
Posted by Ian on July 25th, 2009Reed, you’re not very good at self-appreciating humor. Many might think you mean it, but of course knowing you. . . .:)
Posted by Dave on July 25th, 2009Dude come on! without them who would we make fun of?
Posted by jaime on July 25th, 2009Conventions are fun for seeing like-minded people and attending interesting panels.
It’s also a place to meet the creators of your hobby in a way that movies and sports can’t provide.
I agree that the internet has taken away a lot of the thrill of finding that rarity.
Also, I went to San Diego in ‘93. It was still about
Posted by zubzwank on July 26th, 2009comic books then, not movies. I think SDCC has, for better or worse, lost something of its original intent.
I don’t know about Comic Con, but I’ve been to Otakon (an anime convention) a few times. While I’m not a die-hard, go-all-three-days person, I LOVE cosplay (both making costumes and seeing others’) as well as some of the panels. I like seeing fan music videos.
It’s just fun to go somewhere and see people who are as into something as you are (if not waaay more) and interact with them. And take pictures of awesome costumes. But maybe that’s just me.
Similarly, I was talking to my boyfriend who said he’d probably never accompany me to an anime convention, but Comicon is more up his alley mainly because of the unveilings of movies that happen there… which makes me wonder… are there movie conventions and if not, why aren’t there? Or would that be just as much a waste of time?
Posted by Falsk on July 26th, 2009Well there are certainly genre movie conventions, but I think when you’re talking about a film “convention” you’re basically talking about a film festival. Film fests are a little more interesting to me than Comic Con just because you get to see full movies. Comic Con did have a few screenings but mostly it was just panels showing off clips and trailers.
Posted by Sean on July 26th, 2009Hahaha, yes, film festivals, duh. I was out of it when I wrote that. You can’t really compare a film fest to a con, though. They’re just two different animals.
Posted by Falsk on July 27th, 2009I was at San Diego last year, it was too packed to enjoy. The event is crowded with studios now. They use the opportunity to saturate the geek market, and with good reason. This is a demographic that spends on hobbies more than most.
Toronto is getting pretty packed too, but I like to go every year. I scored a Barbarian Queen poster a few years back thanks to the scouting skills of Wintle. I go for the celebration of like minded nerds, but I do find some pretty sweet gems now and again as well.
I still need to go to a Trek convention before I die.
Posted by doug nagy on July 27th, 2009I do think Falsk has a point about “movie conventions.” Film Festivals don’t have panels in which upcoming movies, that are not finished, are promoted. There are industry cons where filmmakers get to sell their movies to international distributors. I think there is a market for “movie conventions” for fans. Imagine being able to pay and line up for guaranteed autographs from your favorite movie stars. As exists currently, niche movies are probably best promoted at cons that are geared to specific genres.
doug, I’d love to see you dropping f-bombs at a family filled Trek convention and then being escorted out by Klingon security guards.
Posted by Reed Farrington on July 27th, 2009Just got back from Comic Con San Diego actually and I had a blast. It’s really exhausting though because this was my first year going for three straight days. There’s tons of cool events and exhibits to check out. Love the tv/movie discussion panels, endless booths with cool rare things to buy (found a booth with super rare movie soundtracks that had stuff I didn’t even think existed. But yeah, of course there is a lot of walking, standing, waiting and temptation to spends tons of cash but I think it’s worth it because I love movies, tv shows, comics and video games and it’s pretty much all of that. Only thing is though you really have to plan a head of time. With such huge crowds you have to make sure you know stuff about transportation, scheduling, and other stuff you might check out.
Posted by Cody on July 27th, 2009I’ve been going to Otakon since 96′. I kinda view it as a film festival, the live action room was decent for a couple of years. Anyway, at Otakon you’re bound to see some film or anime that you’ve never seen before and sometimes they bring in guests like Simon Yam and Tony Ching. Imagine seeing Fudoh, Audition, Ebola Syndrome, Ichi, Ong Bak and Battle Royal for the first time with huge audiences and that’s what you sometimes get at Otakon.
Posted by Duke Togo on July 27th, 2009I know that cute couple, it’s me and my boyfriend Thor lol! Feel free to add me anyone on Facebook. Looking forward to next year’s Comic-Con.
Posted by Kristin Kalin on September 1st, 2009Love
Kristin
Facebook: Kristin Kalin
Posted by Kristin Kalin on September 1st, 2009eeeeeeeeesh.
Posted by Shut-Up Ed on September 1st, 2009Leave a Reply