What does it mean to be a true fan? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Araréiel · 06-28-2004, 11:13 PM

I consider a major fan to be one who buys the best books, serious merchandise (flimsy copies of the Evenstar don't count), costumes in intricate detail, even change their names. A document was done wrong in my name change. Also spending considerable time studying the books to compare it to society and find the similarities Tolkien put into the book. How about learning Quenya and/or Sindarin?

I spent $200 on a leather copy of LotR on bible paper, $600 on HoME, $200 for a leather Silm, $125 for a leather Hobbit, thousands more on sterling and gold jewelry, costumes, weapons, pewter chess sets, and the like. And spun myself into major money problems. This is taking it too far.

A good fan is one who loves the books and knows them well, but doesn't go overboard.

A so-so fan is one who just saw the movies and has no idea Eowyn marries Faramir because they never got together in the movies, only a brief glance at each other in the end.

Feanor of the Peredhil · 06-29-2004, 09:39 AM

Ah, but Araréiel, should fanaticism be allowed only to those with money? I'd consider myself a fanatic (I know my friends consider me one), but I haven't got the resources needed to go overboard on merchandise. I content myself with my battered copy of FotR (bought with my first ever pay check), my slightly less battered [because its a lot newer] copy of TTT (a birthday present from my best friend at the time) and my just barely less battered than FotR copy of RotK (a gift from my brother). They are all FILLED with notes, highlighted passages, and a few random pages have come loose from the many times I've fallen asleep reading and slept on top of my books. My extra reading (the Silm., and the other works) comes with the help of my friendly neighborhood public library and the assistance of online book requests. I have some random posters, EEDVDs, the theatical version of TTT, and some of the toys, but I really can't afford hundred dollar books and costumes. Any extra money I have (and there isn't much) goes to treating friends to lunch, or buying books and CDs. Does that make me less of a fan than you?

I think so far, Meela has hit it best:

Quote:

If they absorb even a little piece of Tolkien, and take it truly to heart, that would make them a fan.

I don't think you have to be obsessive of either books or movies to be a fan... True fandom is when you like something because YOU like it. Not because of trends, not because someone says its cool. LotR fans love LotR. Not just the image that comes with it.

Fea

Araréiel · 06-29-2004, 09:56 AM

Yeah, but I said I was taking it too far. As I said, A good fan is one who loves the books and knows them well, but doesn't go overboard.

I knew someone who spent far more than I could hope to make in a year on movie stuff, yet knew nothing of what the movie was really about, other than that it was "pretty" and popular.

The best thing I can say about a REAL fan is that that person doesn't care wht the fads are. S/he is still faithful to what s/he loves and isn't ashamed to admit it.

Frodo2968thewhite · 06-29-2004, 12:03 PM

Mae Govannen Mellyn nin! Elen sila lumenn omentielmo!
I must say that Meela has captured true fandom the best so far... anyone that truly loves LOTR is a fan. I, for one, consider myself an expert, and I might be what some call obsessed. I love LOTR, and It has actually helped me in times of need. I have and have read every middle earth-related book i can find, and all of Tolkien's books. I even have 4 three inch binders filled with LOTR material I found online, in magazines, and photocopied out of different sources. one of them is filled to it's capacity with elvish. I have bought all the elven rings, the ring of Barahir, and the one ring. I also have two swords, Sting and Anduril.
But I don't feel I am going overboard, because I appreciate every item I receive. I know very much about Lord of the Rings, but even if I didn't, I would still be a fan. And lack of money has never held me back, when I was little, I took a piece of yellow paper and drew elvish writing of the on it, then rolled it up into the one ring, and I would wear it all the time.

I agree about the whole, "drooling" issue. I hate seeing people that say, "Oh, I love Lord of the Rings because Orlando Bloom is in it!" Then they fill everything with pics of him, and call it LOTR.
But I do think that every major fan should be called, "odd" "weird" or "obsessed" at least once for their love of LOTR.

They should also know at least 2 words of elvish.

I am a fan because of my love of Lord of the Rings, not my knowledge of it (even though it is a huge bonus), or my amount of merchandise.
Namaarie! Aa lasser en lle coia orn 'n omenta gurtha!
-Iorhael Lolindir Ancalime I Taur

Isowen · 08-03-2004, 02:21 PM

Maybe this is a little demanding but I think a true fan must read the books thoroughly a few times and also see the movies.

Lady Gamgee · 08-03-2004, 04:03 PM

Personally, I think that anyone who would be called a TRUE fan of LOTR has to truly enjoy the books & movies, perhaps even relate some of it to real life. It seems that the truer fans find out as much as they can about Tolkien, all of his works, the movies, the characters backgrounds, etc .... If there's one thing I can't stand is, what I like to call, a "bandwagoneer". For those who don't know what that is, it's someone who automatically decides they're gonna "like" something or someone just because it or they are popular ... when really they wouldn't give a second thought about it. Anyone who likes a movie, actor, etc... just because he's "cute" or "I like her", or any other countless things cannot call themselves true fans. There is much more to a movie, person, or music than what they're wearing or what color eyes they have.

Therefore, I think to be a True Fan, you must understand much about the people, places, and characters in these movies & books. True fans can also be collectors. For me, right now I'm collecting movie posters & books ... and plan on collecting the action figures too (gotta take one at a time

). True fans have gotta read the books, no doubt about it. If you don't, you're truly missing out. I am a fairly new fan to LOTR, but I am a TRUE FAN, and will remain loyal to my fellow Middle Earth inhabitants

Arie · 08-03-2004, 04:14 PM

A true fan? One who isn't infatuated with movie stars and is meaningful in all of their posts on the Downs.

06-29-2004, 12:03 PM	#4
Frodo2968thewhite Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Shire Posts: 95	Mae Govannen Mellyn nin! Elen sila lumenn omentielmo! I must say that Meela has captured true fandom the best so far... anyone that truly loves LOTR is a fan. I, for one, consider myself an expert, and I might be what some call obsessed. I love LOTR, and It has actually helped me in times of need. I have and have read every middle earth-related book i can find, and all of Tolkien's books. I even have 4 three inch binders filled with LOTR material I found online, in magazines, and photocopied out of different sources. one of them is filled to it's capacity with elvish. I have bought all the elven rings, the ring of Barahir, and the one ring. I also have two swords, Sting and Anduril. But I don't feel I am going overboard, because I appreciate every item I receive. I know very much about Lord of the Rings, but even if I didn't, I would still be a fan. And lack of money has never held me back, when I was little, I took a piece of yellow paper and drew elvish writing of the on it, then rolled it up into the one ring, and I would wear it all the time. I agree about the whole, "drooling" issue. I hate seeing people that say, "Oh, I love Lord of the Rings because Orlando Bloom is in it!" Then they fill everything with pics of him, and call it LOTR. But I do think that every major fan should be called, "odd" "weird" or "obsessed" at least once for their love of LOTR. They should also know at least 2 words of elvish. I am a fan because of my love of Lord of the Rings, not my knowledge of it (even though it is a huge bonus), or my amount of merchandise. Namaarie! Aa lasser en lle coia orn 'n omenta gurtha! -Iorhael Lolindir Ancalime I Taur __________________ INAGURAL GOLDEN RING MARATHON, OCTOBER 20, 2005!!! FRODO LIVES!!!!

08-03-2004, 02:21 PM	#5
Isowen Haunting Spirit Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The blackened depths Posts: 86	It doesn't take much really Maybe this is a little demanding but I think a true fan must read the books thoroughly a few times and also see the movies. __________________ I hope Butterbur sends this promptly. A worthy man, but his memory is like a lumber -room: Thing wanted always burried, If he forgets, I shall roast him.

08-03-2004, 04:03 PM	#6
Lady Gamgee Animated Skeleton Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: The Shire Posts: 30	Personally, I think that anyone who would be called a *TRUE* fan of LOTR has to truly enjoy the books & movies, perhaps even relate some of it to real life. It seems that the truer fans find out as much as they can about Tolkien, all of his works, the movies, the characters backgrounds, etc .... If there's one thing I can't stand is, what I like to call, a "bandwagoneer". For those who don't know what that is, it's someone who automatically decides they're gonna "like" something or someone just because it or they are popular ... when really they wouldn't give a second thought about it. Anyone who likes a movie, actor, etc... just because he's "cute" or "I like her", or any other countless things cannot call themselves true fans. There is much more to a movie, person, or music than what they're wearing or what color eyes they have. Therefore, I think to be a True Fan, you must understand much about the people, places, and characters in these movies & books. True fans can also be collectors. For me, right now I'm collecting movie posters & books ... and plan on collecting the action figures too (gotta take one at a time ). True fans have gotta read the books, no doubt about it. If you don't, you're truly missing out. I am a fairly new fan to LOTR, but I am a TRUE FAN, and will remain loyal to my fellow Middle Earth inhabitants __________________ "....though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater." ~~ Haldir

08-03-2004, 04:14 PM	#7
Arie Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fangorn Forest Posts: 50	A true fan? One who isn't infatuated with movie stars and is meaningful in all of their posts on the Downs. __________________ "Don't tell me of facts, I never believe facts; you know Canning said nothing was so fallacious as facts, except figures."--Sydney Smith

06-28-2004, 11:13 PM	#1
Araréiel Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 92	I consider a major fan to be one who buys the best books, serious merchandise (flimsy copies of the Evenstar don't count), costumes in intricate detail, even change their names. A document was done wrong in my name change. Also spending considerable time studying the books to compare it to society and find the similarities Tolkien put into the book. How about learning Quenya and/or Sindarin? I spent $200 on a leather copy of LotR on bible paper, $600 on HoME, $200 for a leather Silm, $125 for a leather Hobbit, thousands more on sterling and gold jewelry, costumes, weapons, pewter chess sets, and the like. And spun myself into major money problems. This is taking it too far. A good fan is one who loves the books and knows them well, but doesn't go overboard. A so-so fan is one who just saw the movies and has no idea Eowyn marries Faramir because they never got together in the movies, only a brief glance at each other in the end.

06-29-2004, 09:56 AM	#3
Araréiel Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 92	Yeah, but I said I was taking it too far. As I said, A good fan is one who loves the books and knows them well, but doesn't go overboard. I knew someone who spent far more than I could hope to make in a year on movie stuff, yet knew nothing of what the movie was really about, other than that it was "pretty" and popular. The best thing I can say about a REAL fan is that that person doesn't care wht the fads are. S/he is still faithful to what s/he loves and isn't ashamed to admit it.