The Queen, Obsession, and Toast

Once, I was obsessed with the Queen of England. (Elizabeth II. You know, the one that’s alive.) Like, SO obsessed. I was eleven or twelve, and I spent a LOT of time in the biography section of my local library, checking out every book possible on the woman, watching documentaries, learning royal customs, wondering if our pedigrees cross at some point many generations back…(they don’t, by the way.) Did you know she has a major obsession with hats? Seriously, the woman has a hat for every outfit, and she has a billion outfits.

             

The thing is, when I was in the throes of royal obsession, I did it quietly, by myself. Well, sometimes I’d talk to my mom about it, so that she could be in on my life, but mostly, it was me. And that was just fine. As an extremely private person, I felt like I could feel an appropriate amount of ardor for a total stranger without uncomfortably invading their privacy, or divulging any secrets of my own.

             

Maybe if I actually lived in England, there’d be some other people to joy in the fandom of the Queen. But if that were the case, I would probably find something else to obsess over.

             

The idea of Fandom in general is really off putting to me. If I were in the shoes of one of these musicians, I’d be thoroughly freaked out if people were constantly discussing me, everything about me, everything I did, and so forth. Like I said: Extremely. Private. The whole thing just makes me slightly uncomfortable.

             

Be that as it may, I can see how the internet has effected the way people choose to geek out over their personal idols – especially in the music industry. My father-in-law was a Deadhead, and at the age of 70, he still wears T-shirts from his band following days.

             

The thing I found curious about this new-age “relationship between fans and the people and things around whom they organize” was how dependent a person’s success is on their fans.

“The flip side of fans’ increased power is a loss of control amongst those who’ve been able to control music production, distribution, and coverage….Getting control back is not an option. That’s just not going to happen. So the question is how you can build relationships with these fandoms that are mutually supportive. They do this best when bands and labels have to do their part to make that work.”

Can you imagine if the livelihood of the Queen of England relied on whether or not people liked her? Set aside that she’s a figurehead monarch who comes from old money. Fine, bad analogy. Can you imagine if your own personal livelihood, your success in your chosen career, relied on fans? Regardless if you are the most passionate, amazing, ingenious artist on the face of this good green earth – if you don’t have a good following, you’re toast.

Beetoven! He’s a good example. The man was outright mean, they say. Just a grumpy pants, and deaf to boot. But he was talented as all get out, and people respected him for it. Even now, long after he’s gone, his music lives on. What if he’d had to have a fandom based on his personal character rather than his actual talent? Isn’t that exactly what fandoms are like now?

“Fans need to be seen as collaborators and equals.”

Really? I don’t think they actually NEED to be seen as anything other than overly obsessive. I understand that the internet, it’s so easy to connect over things we love, and if we really love it we’ll support it. It’s super great, and helps people get on in the world. But we also connect over things we don’t love. And if something we don’t love is the attitude of the base player in such-n-such band then that thing we don’t love so much? It’s toast.

Maybe I don’t get it. I just see fans as invaders of personal space, and I have a very large personal space bubble that I do not want invaded.

I guess I’ll just have do my best to never become interesting. Or famous.