A fan convention, or con, is an event in which fans A fan, aficionado, or supporter is someone who has an intense, occasionally overwhelming liking and enthusiasm for a sporting club, person , group of persons, company, product, activity, work of art, idea, or trend. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom. They often show their enthusiasm by starting a fan club, of a particular TV show A television program , television programme (in most Commonwealth countries and Ireland) ), or television show (USA/UK) is something that people watch on television. It may be a one-off broadcast or part of a periodically recurring television series, comic book A comic book is a magazine made up of narrative artwork, virtually always accompanied by dialog (usually in word balloons, emblematic of the comic book artform) and often including brief descriptive prose. The first comic book appeared in the United States of America in 1934, reprinting the earlier newspaper comic strips, which established many of, or actor The word actor refers to a person who acts regardless of sex, while actress refers specifically to a female person who acts; therefore a female can be both. The Oxford English Dictionary states that originally "'actor" was used for both sexes. The English word actress does not derive from the Latin actrix, probably not even by way of, or an entire style of entertainment such as science fiction Science fiction is a broad genre of fiction that often involves speculations on current or future science or technology. Science fiction is found in books, magazines, art, television, films, games, theatre, and other media. In organizational or marketing contexts, science fiction can be synonymous with the broader definition of speculative fiction, or anime Anime (アニメ?, an abbreviated pronunciation in Japanese of "animation", pronounced [anime] in Japanese, but typically /ˈænɪmeɪ/ or /ˈænɪmə/ in English) is animation originating in Japan. The rest of the world regard anime to be "Japanese animation". Anime originated about 1917 and manga In Japan, people of all ages read manga. The genre includes a broad range of subjects: action-adventure, romance, sports and games, historical drama, comedy, science fiction and fantasy, mystery, horror, sexuality, and business and commerce, among others. Since the 1950s, manga have steadily become a major part of the Japanese publishing industry,, gather together to meet famous personalities (and each other) face-to-face. Some popular Fan run cons are Farpoint and Shore Leave in Baltimore, Philcon in Philadelphia, MediaWest Con in Michigan and many others. The fan run cons are held for the fans, by the fans.
At commercial shows which may be called "conventions", actors often give out free autographs An autograph is a document written entirely in the handwriting of its author, as opposed to a typeset document or one transcribed by an amanuensis or a copyist; the meaning overlaps with that of the word holograph to the fans, perhaps in exchange for a flat appearance fee, and sometimes may perform songs that have no relevance to the shows so as to entertain the fans.
Such conventions are usually quite expensive and are hosted in hotels. There is often tight security for the celebrities to protect against potentially fanatic fans. (Such features are not common at traditional science fiction conventions Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of various forms of speculative fiction including science fiction and fantasy. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expression as movies and television, comics, animation, and games, which are more oriented towards science fiction Science fiction is a broad genre of fiction that often involves speculations on current or future science or technology. Science fiction is found in books, magazines, art, television, films, games, theatre, and other media. In organizational or marketing contexts, science fiction can be synonymous with the broader definition of speculative fiction, as a mode of literature, rather than towards visual media, and do not include any paid appearances by famous personalities.)
Many conventions have award presentations relating to their genre (such as the Hugo Awards The Hugo Awards are given every year for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories. Hugo Awards have been presented every year since 1955 which have been presented at the World Science Fiction Convention Worldcon, or more formally The World Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention held each year since 1939 . It is the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (or WSFS). The members of each Worldcon are the members of WSFS and vote both to select the site of the Worldcon two years later and (since 1955) to select the since 1953).
Harlan Ellison speakingAnime conventions An anime convention is an event or gathering with a primary focus on anime, manga and Japanese culture. Commonly, anime conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels or college campuses. They feature a wide variety of activities and panels. Anime conventions are also used as a vehicle for industry, in which studios,, gaming cons, filk cons Filk is a musical culture, genre, and community tied to science fiction/fantasy fandom. The genre has been active since the early 1950s, and played primarily since the mid-1970s and furry fandom conventions A furry convention is a formal gathering of members of the furry fandom — people who are interested in the concept of fictional non-human characters with human characteristics. These conventions provide a place for fans to meet, exchange ideas, transact business and engage in entertainment and recreation centered around this concept. Originating may all be considered ultimately derivatives of science fiction conventions, which began in the late 1930s.
From anime conventions An anime convention is an event or gathering with a primary focus on anime, manga and Japanese culture. Commonly, anime conventions are multi-day events hosted at convention centers, hotels or college campuses. They feature a wide variety of activities and panels. Anime conventions are also used as a vehicle for industry, in which studios, has arisen the widespread stereotype A stereotype is a type of logical oversimplification in which all the members of a class or set are considered to be definable by an easily distinguishable set of characteristics. The term is often used with a negative connotation, as stereotypes can be used to deny individuals respect or legitimacy based on their membership in a particular group of the fans' tendency to dress up as their favorite characters (known as cosplay in anime terminology) in elaborate costumes that are time-consuming and/or expensive to assemble. (While the wearing of costumes, and even a costume competition [known in the United States as a "masquerade"] has been an occasional feature of traditional science fiction conventions since Forrest J. Ackerman Forrest J Ackerman or Mr. Science Fiction, was for over seven decades one of science fiction's staunchest spokesmen and promoters wore one during the 1st World Science Fiction Convention The First World Science Fiction Convention was held in the Caravan Hall in New York from 2 July to 4 July 1939, in conjunction with the New York World's Fair, which was themed as "The world of tomorrow". The convention was later named "Nycon I" by Forrest J Ackerman (who attended the convention in a costume designed by his in 1939, this has never been the dominant feature of such events.)
See also
Categories: Fan conventions
