Poll: Real Fans and Movies

[Phasmal]

So, I was watching Thor last night, and I thought of a question.

If like Thor or any of the Batman movies, you're into something that was initially in another medium, should you make an effort to get into the original?
Are you a `real fan` if you only like the movies/TV show?

I'm hugely into the Marvel movies, but I've never read comics (except a couple weeks reading Wolverine and Deadpool a couple of years ago). I'd like to get into comics, but they seem a tad difficult in knowing where to start and having to absorb a lot of backstory.

Same with Game of Thrones, I've recently gotten into the show, and I do intend to read the books, but I haven't yet.

So, what do you think?
Is the distinction between people who liked the source material and people who like the movie/Tv show meaningless?
Or are the people who like the source more `real fans`?

EDIT: Oh, I should also say that personally I think if you like something you should get to call yourself a fan, and if you run into someone who knows less you should be positive about it and not grumpy.
I'm just interested in what you guys think.

 

[Phasmal]

Does it matter? Is anyone honestly bothered by someone else liking what they like? It's like these fat pathetic neckbeards whining about "real nerds". Like what you like, it doesn't bother me that much, even if I disagree.

So yes, if you're a fan, then you're a fan.

I doubt it really matters, and I don't want anyone to take this thread too seriously (though this IS the Escapist).

I'm more interested in if people think it's important to like or at least know all about their chosen `thing's` origin.
Just to be clear, I'm not here to say someone is less than another based on what they like.

 

[Colour Scientist]

Does it matter? Is anyone honestly bothered by someone else liking what they like? It's like these fat pathetic neckbeards whining about "real nerds". Like what you like, it doesn't bother me that much, even if I disagree.

So yes, if you're a fan, then you're a fan.

Pretty much ninja'd in the first post.

I consider myself a huge Doctor Who fan but I haven't seen most of pre-reboot episodes or read any of the novels.
Similarly, I wouldn't get all uppity if someone called themselves a fan but haven't seen every single episode of the reboot.


I've read the GoT books, I don't think anyone who just enjoys the show is any less of a fan than I am.
The books aren't even that well-written.

People who get up their own arse about that kind of thing need to get some perspective methinks.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Are you fanatical about something? Then you're a fan. Same deal with real vs. not real gamer.

 

[Eamar]

Yes you're a fan, but you're a fan of the show/movie. Similarly, there are people who hate the adaptations but love the original. They're fans of the comics/book/whatever. I'd say they're often separate things, though obviously not mutually exclusive, and neither is more "correct" than the other.

I think sometimes terminology gets a bit more complicated though. For example, I'd find it odd if someone called themselves an "A Song of Ice and Fire fan" when they'd only ever watched the Game of Thrones TV series, or vice versa. Or if someone calls themselves a "Tolkien fan," I kind of expect them to have read some Tolkien rather than just watching the LOTR movies.

Overall though, I don't think it matters all that much.

 

[Parasondox]

You can still be a "real fan" if you haven't read or viewed the other medium that involves those characters. Someone may watch Superman shows and movies and still love everything about Superman without reading the comics but know enough to establish who that character is and what he is about and respect them. They admire and have an interest in the character so it doesn't really matter if you are a real fan or less of a fan.

Personally I think the term "real fan", or "real..." anything for that matter, is just either overused or outdated. It's like when someone says;

"You aren't a real fan of this game if you don't buy all the DLCs, season passes, £10 gaming guide, and expansion packs blah blah blah"

Actually it's like with everything else;

"You aren't a real F1 fan because you don't go to the Grand Prix"
"You aren't a real fan if you were born in [insert year here] because you weren't there when the Beatles were together"
"You aren't a real fan if you don't buy this sports teams kit/uniform/jersey each year"
"You aren't a real gamer if you use a control pad and not a keyboard and mouse" - no, seriously I saw that in a YouTube comment and that got over 20 likes.

Some of them may sound extreme but it does happen.

May advice is, you can be a fan of anything you want and have a keen interest in the movie or song or sports. You don't have to "bust the bank" just to prove you are a fan and no one can tell you whether you are a true fan or not because not every one fan is the same. Some many have been fans for years and decades, some may have just started a few months ago. It does not matter.

 

[Phasmal]

Well it seems to be fairly straightforward for most people. Glad people aren't taking it too seriously.
The majority vote seems to be you're a fan no matter your level of involvement with the source material. That's good.

I was just wondering considering it's not rare to hear `They only like it now it's a show!`.

I consider myself a huge Doctor Who fan but I haven't seen most of pre-reboot episodes or read any of the novels.
Similarly, I wouldn't get all uppity if someone called themselves a fan but haven't seen every single episode of the reboot.


I've read the GoT books, I don't think anyone who just enjoys the show is any less of a fan than I am.
The books aren't even that well-written.

People who get up their own arse about that kind of thing need to get some perspective methinks.

I'm the same Doctor Who-wise.

And really? I'd heard people praising how well written GoT is, but I guess that could be hype.
I will check it out when I've got money.

 

[Foolery]

Arbitrary classification of people using whichever medium exposes them to a certain character or series seems like too much work.

Like Batman because of the Nolan films? That's cool by me.
Like Batman because of the Arkham games? That's also cool by me.
Like Batman because of the Animated series? Once again, cool by me.

If they all enjoy Batman in some form, they might just be inclined to seek him out in comic books, etc. Maybe they'll even enjoy a certain character from Batman that will lead them into checking out Green Arrow, or whatever.

At the end of the day, any exposure is good exposure.

 

[Scarim Coral]

In my opinion no especially when you used the word "real" and calling yourself a fan if you only apply youself to the films only. I think the proper term would be [insert the show/ film and movie or tv] fans?
Granted I have never met anyone declaring him or her self to be a real fans of a film or dvd but never once try to read the original source. They tend to state which media fan they are part of like e.g. Game of Throne TV fan or Marvel films fans etc.

 

[Tom_green_day]

Surely if you like something you're a fan? Isn't that, like, the definition? You can try and get into other versions if you want but if you like it you like it.

 

[Euryalus]

I think it'd be misleading to say you're a fan of something in General if all you care about is one aspect.

If I claimed to love Metroid, but only liked the prime series, then that would a bit disingenious? It's best to just say your a fan of the thing in particular you like I guess, but really, who cares, Or rather why should they?

 

[Colour Scientist]

Well it seems to be fairly straightforward for most people. Glad people aren't taking it too seriously.
The majority vote seems to be you're a fan no matter your level of involvement with the source material. That's good.

I was just wondering considering it's not rare to hear `They only like it now it's a show!`.

I consider myself a huge Doctor Who fan but I haven't seen most of pre-reboot episodes or read any of the novels.
Similarly, I wouldn't get all uppity if someone called themselves a fan but haven't seen every single episode of the reboot.


I've read the GoT books, I don't think anyone who just enjoys the show is any less of a fan than I am.
The books aren't even that well-written.

People who get up their own arse about that kind of thing need to get some perspective methinks.

I'm the same Doctor Who-wise.

And really? I'd heard people praising how well written GoT is, but I guess that could be hype.
I will check it out when I've got money.

The story is engaging and interesting but I doubt he's going to win any awards for his prose anytime soon, if you know what I mean.

 

[FalloutJack]

The only 'real fan' I understand is people who just enjoy stuff and don't make a big deal out of it like every OTHER fan...who is obsessive to the point of irritation or embarrassment.

 

[shogunblade]

A fan is a fan, I don't think anything should be taken away from that.

If I find somebody who likes the Electric Light Orchestra, Magnetic Fields, Metal Gear Solid, Earthbound, Earthworm Jim, ETC, I'll go crazy and nerd out about it, and despite how much or how little they know, if they like it, I'm more than willing to talk with them about it.

I don't think anybody is less of a fan because they enjoy something without putting in the prerequisite years of following a story. If that was the case, compared to the comic book nerds I know, I'm barely out of my training wheels, but if I can carry a conversation about Batman: Night Cries or Superman: Metropolis and they haven't read them, Are they any less of a fan?

Short answer: No, If anything else, a fan can still grow into all the other stuff with time.

 

[King Aragorn]

You're a fan if you like a certain aspect of the universe/character. There is a difference between being a Batman movie fan and comic fan for example, because not everyone necessarily likes both, but just like Eamar said neither is necessarily exclusive, you can be both, one or the other.
PS: When it comes to comic books there has been a reset for both Marvel and DC, for DC it's called The New 52 but I don't what remember what Marvel's line was called. Perhaps you could try starting from there and then backtracking to some famous storylines/arcs?

 

[Sniper Team 4]

I think if you like something to the point where you know more about it than just 'in general' or you get really excited about it, then you are a fan. I think there are different levels of being a fan though.

Example: I'm a fan of The Avengers movie. I enjoy it and I like talking about it and the world building going on in the different movies.

I'm a super nerd fan when it comes to Star Wars though. My knowledge and love of that series far eclipses that of The Avengers, but that doesn't mean I don't consider myself not a fan of The Avengers.

 

[Ratty]

Yeah if you like a concept of something or one interpretation of it you're a fan. At least of that interpretation. It somehow being wrong or inferior to not like something to the degree or in the way that other people do is one of the most bullshit ideas in geek/nerd culture. I guess it must come from the misguided assumption that some fans are either "diluting" a fandom or steering a property in the wrong direction.

But at the same time I can understand the desire to express how devoted or intense a fan of a property you are with your fellow fans. If only so you know what aspects and to what degree you can gush about it together.[footnote]At least I know when I go to conventions I do a lot of gushing. "Oh my God is that a life-sized Tom Servo replica?!?"[/footnote] This is the one place where terms like "hardcore" might come in useful, if not abused in the above-mentioned way.

The Star Trek fandom has struggled with this kind of thing for a long time. To the point that "Trekkie" and "Trekker" denote different levels of obsession with the franchise.

 

[red ant]

Voted the last option and do not feel adding the word real makes anymore more or less of a fan.

Hand fan- used to fan self can be real or fake doesn't matter it exist therefore it is real

Powered fan- mighty and strong as real as it gets and blows you away

Fan- person with strong interest in something

Lets say you like a show but never read the book.
You can still be fan.
Same goes both ways.