Fanthropological

Fanthropological Finale: In the End

The Nickscast — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 17:37:42 +0000

Wow. This it… the end of an era. How do you summarize four years of exploring the breadth of human fandom? This week, we talk about the journey from the beginning to the end of Fanthropological, what we learned, loved, and hated… and so much more! ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/thenickscast](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) * Twitter: [@thenickscast](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * Taps is in the Public Domain

Fanthropological Finale: Fanthropological AUs (⅔)

The Nickscast — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 17:37:42 +0000

As we continue wrapping up Fanthropological, we talk about several alternate universes (AUs) of topics we could have covered. Topics we would have liked to have covered * Number 5 * Z’s Choice: Haruki Murakami, or * T’s Choice: VTubers * G’s Choice: Folk Music * Number 4 * Z’s Choice: “Concept: Are there fandom archetypes?” * T’s Choice: Dan Harmon’s Community * G’s Choice: Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure * Number 3 * Z’s Choice: Zappa * T’s Choice: Western Comics * G’s Choice: Drag * Number 2 * Z’s Choice: Cyclists * T’s Choice: Undertale * G’s Choice: Breadtube * Honorable Mention: * Z’s Choice: “Is admiration for a politician, fandom?” * T’s Choice: Archer (or possibly H. Jon Benjamin) * Number 1 * Z’s Choice: Aidyn Chronicles * T’s Choice: Classic Anime (In particular, 90s anime) * G’s Choice: Improv Comedy And more! All in about thirty minutes. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/thenickscast](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) * Twitter: [@thenickscast](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [ReMix: Final Fantasy VI "Tastes Like Victory"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02694) by [Leitbur](https://ocremix.org/artist/12943/leitbur) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ([http://fragileair.bandcamp.com](http://fragileair.bandcamp.com))

Fanthropological Finale: Cover to Coverage (⅓)

The Nickscast — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 17:37:42 +0000

If you’re joining us for the first time, sorry to say this is the beginning of the end of Fanthropological. Join us as we revisit our favourite episodes (and maybe check them out)! Our favourite episodes: * Number 5 * [Z’s Choice: Zelda](https://fanthropological.com/zelda) * [T’s Choice: Nier](https://fanthropological.com/nier) * [G’s Choice: Galaga](https://fanthropological.com/galaga) * Number 4 * [Z’s Choice: RPI](https://fanthropological.com/rpi) * [T’s Choice: Bob’s Burgers](https://fanthropological.com/bobsburgers) * [G’s Choice: Pinball](https://fanthropological.com/pinball) * Number 3 * [Z’s Choice: Breakfast Cereals](https://fanthropological.com/breakfast) * [T’s Choice: Breakfast Cereals](https://fanthropological.com/breakfast) * G’s Choice: Disney Parks ([Part 1](https://fanthropological.com/disneyparks1) and [Part 2](https://fanthropological.com/disneyparks2)) * Number 2 * [Z’s Choice: Furries](https://fanthropological.com/furries) * [T’s Choice: Fanthropological World](https://fanthropological.com/fanthropologicalworld) * [G’s Choice: Gunpla](https://fanthropological.com/gunpla) * Honourable Mentions * Z’s Choices: [Beyblade](https://fanthropological.com/beyblade), [The Office](https://fanthropological.com/theoffice) [Team ICO](https://fanthropological.com/ico) * T’s Choices: [Ghostbusters](https://fanthropological.com/ghostbusters), [SCP](https://fanthropological.com/scp), [Final Fantasy](https://fanthropological.com/finalfantasy), [Esperanto](https://fanthropological.com/esperanto), [Escape Rooms](https://fanthropological.com/escaperooms2), [Speedrunners](https://fanthropological.com/speedrunners) * G’s Choices: [Rick and Morty](https://fanthropological.com/rickandmorty), [Vampire Chronicles](https://fanthropological.com/vampirechronicles), [Pro Wrestling](https://fanthropological.com/wrestling) * Number 1 * [Z’s Choice: Galaga](https://fanthropological.com/galaga) * [T’s Choice: Star Trek](https://fanthropological.com/trekkies) * [G’s Choice: Breakfast Cereals](https://fanthropological.com/breakfast) And more! All in about thirty minutes. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/thenickscast](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) * Twitter: [@thenickscast](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [ReMix: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars "Farewell, Star Guardian"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00724) by [Russell Cox](https://ocremix.org/artist/4443/russell-cox) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Are sequels good for Fandom?

The Nickscast — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 17:37:00 +0000

Inspired by our upcoming charity marathon, the Race Against Time, we’re back to talking about sequels and how they change fandom. A fandom can live off of very little material (e.g. Reboot, Chrono Trigger) … but what happens when there is a sequel? Is that a good thing? In particular, we talk about: * How sequels allow for the creation of new communities * How sequels ‘change your investment in fandom’ * How we’re huge hypocrites And more! All in under thirty minutes. Plus, we’re on a short hiatus for the Race Against Time, so we’ll be back in September! ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Fandom exists outside of new content; people love _more_; sequels allow for new communities; sequels create connections between the past and present; sequels can make the past more relevant; sequels get you re-invested; CHRONO TRIGGER; sequels can create division; you can never go back; not everyone likes sequels and that’s fine; we’re hypocrites. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is the “Race Against Time”? The Race Against Time is an annual charity livestreaming marathon run by [the Nickscast](https://thenickscast.com) where we beat Chrono Trigger _thirteen times_ to raise money for charity; this year that charity is [Trans Lifeline](https://www.translifeline.org/)! Tune in on August 8 and 9th from noon until midnight each day. We hope to outdo all of our previous records and raise $2300 USD. For more details on the event, you can check out the main website at [raceagainsttime.io](https://raceagainsttime.io), [our Twitch page](https://twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) where we host the stream, or you can follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/raceagainstio) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/raceagainsttimeio) for news about guests, giveaways, and other special surprises! Heck, you can even [donate right now](https://tiltify.com/@theraceagainsttime/chrono-trigger-vi/donate)! ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [The Frontier](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01274) by [Jared Hudson](https://ocremix.org/artist/4388/jared-hudson) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Where does fandom end?

The Nickscast — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 17:37:00 +0000

What happens 30 years after a TV show finishes? Is the fandom … over? What is the relationship between a series ending and a fandom ending? And what happens if the creator turns out to be an _awful_ person. This week it’s all over as we talk about the role and effect of endings in fandom… and in life? In particular, we talk about: * How the peak of a fandom may have already passed by the time you get there * How fandoms connect people through time, even when they do end * How endings… really any discontinuity… is hard for humans. * ...Honestly, a lot about Twin Peaks, Lost, and Harry Potter. And more! All in under thirty minutes. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Distinction between media franchise and fandom; media is always “new to you”; fandom “peaks”; twin peaks; fandoms connecting across time; how poor endings can decimate fandoms; the allure of avoiding the ending; zombie fandoms. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is the “Race Against Time”? The Race Against Time is an annual charity livestreaming marathon run by [the Nickscast](https://thenickscast.com) where we beat Chrono Trigger _thirteen times_ to raise money for charity; this year that charity is [Trans Lifeline](https://www.translifeline.org/)! Tune in on August 8 and 9th from noon until midnight each day. We hope to outdo all of our previous records and raise $2300 USD. For more details on the event, you can check out the main website at [raceagainsttime.io](https://raceagainsttime.io), [our Twitch page](https://twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) where we host the stream, or you can follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/raceagainstio) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/raceagainsttimeio) for news about guests, giveaways, and other special surprises! Heck, you can even [donate right now](https://tiltify.com/@theraceagainsttime/chrono-trigger-vi/donate)! ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Rhodes to the Past](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01226) by [Fatty Acid](https://ocremix.org/artist/4630/fatty-acid) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Does fandom belong to the stans?

The Nickscast — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 17:37:00 +0000

It’s all coming together people: the role of the artist, problematic works / creators, media criticism, consumerism and capitalism… and at the heart of it? Stans. As far as fandom goes, is it the stans who rule the roost? And is that for the better… or for the worse?! In particular, we talk about: * Take inflation and how hyperbole often destroys opportunity for nuance * The unfortunate zero-sum game that fandom can sometimes be, in particular when consumerism is involved * The role that stans play in shaping fan culture, and the media we consume And more! All in under thirty minutes. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Blind fandom - blindly loving something without accepting any criticism of it; when you’re wearing rose colours glasses, red flags just look like flags; the backfire effect; hyperbole and nuance; consumerism and capitalism in competitive fan culture; the non-reality of ‘real’ fans; stans setting the bar for fandom, stans and curative fandom. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is the “Race Against Time”? The Race Against Time is an annual charity livestreaming marathon run by [the Nickscast](https://thenickscast.com) where we beat Chrono Trigger _thirteen times_ to raise money for charity; this year that charity is [Trans Lifeline](https://www.translifeline.org/)! Tune in on August 8 and 9th from noon until midnight each day. We hope to outdo all of our previous records and raise $2300 USD. For more details on the event, you can check out the main website at [raceagainsttime.io](https://raceagainsttime.io), [our Twitch page](https://twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) where we host the stream, or you can follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/raceagainstio) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/raceagainsttimeio) for news about guests, giveaways, and other special surprises! Heck, you can even [donate right now](https://tiltify.com/@theraceagainsttime/chrono-trigger-vi/donate)! ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Manifest Destiny](https://ocremix.org/album/7/chrono-trigger-chrono-symphonic) by [SirRus](https://www.vizzed.com/chrono/remixers.htm) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Should fandoms be political? (Yes)

The Nickscast — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 17:37:00 +0000

Everything you consume is political; 100%! _It cannot be avoided_ and, really, that point shouldn’t be avoided _anyway_! Why then do people insist that the fandoms and media that they participate in be apolitical? This week, we’ve definitely got things to say! In particular, we talk about: * How media normalizes certain behaviours and ideas, and makes them the default experience * How politics is often used as a shield to deflect from critical examination of media and fandom * The privilege of being able to treat things as though they are _not_ political And more! All in under thirty minutes. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Be critical of the media you consume; media is political (yes even feel-good media); Doctor Who is designed to be changed (and woman doctor is not political); violence is normalized in media; Undertale is great; Politics does not mean political party; politics as systems; politics via omission; systems determine behaviours and outcomes ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Calamitous Judgment](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01219) by [zircon](https://ocremix.org/artist/4628/zircon) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Can we cut it out with the remakes?!

The Nickscast — Sat, 06 Jun 2020 15:28:00 +0000

Are you ready for the next… Labyrinth? _Stripes_?! Who is coming up with these remakes, and why can’t we get new material? This week, we’re talking all about the world of fandom, adaptations, reboots, and so on! In particular, we talk about: * How money is an important contributor in the sustainability and creation of remakes (and how franchises never die as a result) * Where reboots and remakes are beneficial, especially when providing a modern take on dated material (and bringing up important issues in modern context) * How some properties… just don’t age well. And more! All in under thirty minutes. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** The risk of ‘new’; the role of money in content production; you can’t make new stuff unless you’re Christopher Nolan; the ease of rebooting old material; modern takes on old classics; franchises; the cult of ‘new’ and the zeitgeist; putting things in the modern world; if I haven’t seen it it’s new to me; video games as distinct from other remakes; properties not aging well; why aren’t classic movies like classic rock? ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Magnet Missiles](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01816) by [JJT](https://ocremix.org/artist/4540/jjt), [ptitteri](https://ocremix.org/artist/4967/ptitteri), [zykO](https://ocremix.org/artist/4558/zyko) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Do fans need to meet face-to-face?

The Nickscast — Fri, 22 May 2020 17:37:00 +0000

With the world in the middle of a global pandemic, it’s time to try to answer the question, as fans, do we _need_ to meet face to face? While it goes without saying that we don’t _have_ to meet face to face… how does that change the wide world of fandom? In particular, we talk about: * The limitations of online communication, including the role that conventions and other events play in creating semi-private spaces? * How different forms of communication use different bandwidth, or more specifically how fan events have different levels of expectation of interaction * How the veil of anonymity changes fandom, in the online world _but_ how it also makes things more accessible And more! All in under thirty minutes. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** In-person communication not required; zines, newsgroups, and mailing lists (oh my); the multitude of tools available for online communication; how we identify other fans and how that changes in the online world; how meeting in person makes fandom experiences more real; how online / offline events and the distinction between public and private spaces; online spaces and accessibility; anonymity and the internet; in-person events and vulnerability. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## Special Announcement: Livestream for the Cure 4 The 4th Annual Livestream for the Cure (or the Livestream 4 the Cure?) has been scheduled for FORTY-EIGHT HOURS from May 28th thru the 31st, with a small four hour kick-off event scheduled for the evening before to do final tests (and hopefully wrangle in some amazing guests). This year we’ll be pushing to raise $10,000 for the Cancer Research Institute, and if all of that gets doubled, we stand a very good chance of raising over $20,000 for cancer research. Hitting last year’s goal on day TWO meant that, unfortunately, donations slowed to a trickle for the entirety of day three, so if we happen to hit our goal before the end this year, we’ll be raising the bar by $1,000 every time we hit it and offering additional prizes for people won donate to these flex goals! As in years past, the event will be LIVE on Twitch, so be sure to head to [http://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys](http://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys) and give us a follow! We’ll be going live with streams and other events where we’ll be mentioning L4TC all the way up until the event begins the evening of May 27th. More details available at [http://www.livestreamforthecure.com/](http://www.livestreamforthecure.com/) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Brainshock](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01541) by [aluminum](https://ocremix.org/artist/4582/aluminum) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Should we cry over anime boys?

The Nickscast — Fri, 08 May 2020 17:37:00 +0000

Should we get emotionally attached to fictional characters? Of course we do, intentionally or not… but _should_ we? No guarantees that we get anywhere near addressing that, but we definitely dig into how and why people get attached to characters (for good reasons… and for reasons)! In particular, we talk about: * The (non-)distinction between fictional and real characters… and real people? * How writing has gotten better, and how people can relate to even villains * How people can exert agency over fictional character in fanworks and how that promotes attachment And more! All in under thirty minutes. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** We do get attached, fictional vs real characters, beyond the emotional journey of a story, uncritical character love, villains and relatability, queer coding villains, characters as proxies, rewriting characters’ destinies, beyond physical attraction, reinforcement learning in a nutshell, the randomness of initial selections, a bad sports fan fandom analogy, cosplay and fictional characters. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## Special Announcement: Livestream for the Cure 4 The 4th Annual Livestream for the Cure (or the Livestream 4 the Cure?) has been scheduled for FORTY-EIGHT HOURS from May 28th thru the 31st, with a small four hour kick-off event scheduled for the evening before to do final tests (and hopefully wrangle in some amazing guests). This year we’ll be pushing to raise $10,000 for the Cancer Research Institute, and if all of that gets doubled, we stand a very good chance of raising over $20,000 for cancer research. Hitting last year’s goal on day TWO meant that, unfortunately, donations slowed to a trickle for the entirety of day three, so if we happen to hit our goal before the end this year, we’ll be raising the bar by $1,000 every time we hit it and offering additional prizes for people won donate to these flex goals! As in years past, the event will be LIVE on Twitch, so be sure to head to [http://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys](http://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys) and give us a follow! We’ll be going live with streams and other events where we’ll be mentioning L4TC all the way up until the event begins the evening of May 27th. More details available at [http://www.livestreamforthecure.com/](http://www.livestreamforthecure.com/) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Choose Your Destiny](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03743) by [DaMonz](https://ocremix.org/artist/11940/damonz) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

SPOILER ALERT

The Nickscast — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 17:35:08 +0000

Spoiler alert: You’ve been warned! We could spoil literally anything! That actor you like? They’re in this! That plot twist? Revealed! Deep lore?! … Probably? In all seriousness, we’re talking about what exactly _are_ spoilers, and how they impact people’s experience with the media that they consume (and, in general, how people perceive media). In particular, we talk about: * The (non-)importance of _the twist_ in modern storytelling * You can only experience something once… or can you? * How can we “inoculate” ourselves against spoilers in this world of modern media consumption (i.e. binging, near-instant relay of information)? And more! All in under thirty minutes. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Just… give people a spoiler alert when talking about any media; we definitely spoil some key points in Star Wars, Harry Potter, and other franchises; Everything is new to someone; how long should you wait to accidentally spoil something? The levels of spoilers, preserving new experiences, the thrill of _new_, plot versus meta, inoculation against spoilers, using spoilers to catch up, consuming media for feelings versus plot, the reliance on _the twist_, false action, rewatches, spoilers versus story quality, you only get one first impression, spoilers as liberation. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## Special Announcement: Livestream for the Cure 4 The 4th Annual Livestream for the Cure (or the Livestream 4 the Cure?) has been scheduled for FORTY-EIGHT HOURS from May 28th thru the 31st, with a small four hour kick-off event scheduled for the evening before to do final tests (and hopefully wrangle in some amazing guests). This year we’ll be pushing to raise $10,000 for the Cancer Research Institute, and if all of that gets doubled, we stand a very good chance of raising over $20,000 for cancer research. Hitting last year’s goal on day TWO meant that, unfortunately, donations slowed to a trickle for the entirety of day three, so if we happen to hit our goal before the end this year, we’ll be raising the bar by $1,000 every time we hit it and offering additional prizes for people won donate to these flex goals! As in years past, the event will be LIVE on Twitch, so be sure to head to [http://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys](http://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys) and give us a follow! We’ll be going live with streams and other events where we’ll be mentioning L4TC all the way up until the event begins the evening of May 27th. More details available at [http://www.livestreamforthecure.com/](http://www.livestreamforthecure.com/) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Dirty Secret](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR04050) by [mv](https://ocremix.org/artist/4547/mv) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Is fandom a religion?

The Nickscast — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 17:35:39 +0000

The signs are all there, people! Have you heard the good word (of Firefly)? May the force be with you (and also with you)! Though there’re lots of superficial connections between fandom and religion, could there be a stronger link? Some sort of… divine connection? In this episode, we’re all over the place, including: * The appropriation of language from other sources (e.g. canonization) * Fandom filing the role of community and providing hope and meaning * Tons of superficial (?) connections between fandom and religion And more! All in under thirty minutes. ## Episode Outline **Topics: **What is a religion, what is religion legally, books of worship for fandom, the sacred texts, forums as interpretive guides, codes of fandom, proselytization, rites of passage, anne rice, blasphemy, star wars, zelda, doctor who, decline of organized religion, conventions, fandom as community. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## Special Announcement: Livestream for the Cure 4 The 4th Annual Livestream for the Cure (or the Livestream 4 the Cure?) has been scheduled for FORTY-EIGHT HOURS from May 28th thru the 31st, with a small four hour kick-off event scheduled for the evening before to do final tests (and hopefully wrangle in some amazing guests). This year we’ll be pushing to raise $10,000 for the Cancer Research Institute, and if all of that gets doubled, we stand a very good chance of raising over $20,000 for cancer research. Hitting last year’s goal on day TWO meant that, unfortunately, donations slowed to a trickle for the entirety of day three, so if we happen to hit our goal before the end this year, we’ll be raising the bar by $1,000 every time we hit it and offering additional prizes for people won donate to these flex goals! As in years past, the event will be LIVE on Twitch, so be sure to head to [http://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys](http://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys) and give us a follow! We’ll be going live with streams and other events where we’ll be mentioning L4TC all the way up until the event begins the evening of May 27th. More details available at [http://www.livestreamforthecure.com/](http://www.livestreamforthecure.com/) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [The Goddess Appears (Trinity)](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00454) by [Jayson Litrio](https://ocremix.org/artist/4409/jayson-litrio) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Fanthropological World - Philatelists’ Stamp of Approval!

The Nickscast — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 15:10:17 +0000

Tune in to our totally real television show! On this week’s episode, Shakespeare and Nick Frye (the fandom guy) really dig into fans of stamp collecting, and the fascinating history of the hobby and unique origins of its name (philately). Oh drat, looks like Shakespeare is going back to jail again

Is fandom a key part of our identity?

The Nickscast — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 17:35:47 +0000

Fandom has changed a lot, and over time has gone from something on the fringe of society to the forefront. Does that also mean that fandom has moved towards a key part, an integral piece of people’s personal identity? In this episode, we dig a bit about representation and self-identification as well as: * What does being a fan of something even mean?! * The (non) importance of level of participation in (self) identification * Conversations that are strangely lacking self-awareness about the parallels of fan self-identification as compared to other areas of self-identification, closeting… etc. And more! All in under thirty minutes. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** How do people identify themselves, the meaninglessness of the word fan, the difference between interests and fandoms… sort of, the difference between liking something and having it be a part of your identity, interests between people don’t inherently mean connections, how community contribution or participation impact perceptions of identity, the importance of self-identification and self-labelling, the desire to put things (and people) in boxes, labels as shorthand for characteristics, stereotypes, feeling closeted in your hobbies, aspirational vs actual identities ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## Special Announcement: Livestream for the Cure 4 The 4th Annual Livestream for the Cure (or the Livestream 4 the Cure?) has been scheduled for FORTY-EIGHT HOURS from May 28th thru the 31st, with a small four hour kick-off event scheduled for the evening before to do final tests (and hopefully wrangle in some amazing guests). This year we’ll be pushing to raise $10,000 for the Cancer Research Institute, and if all of that gets doubled, we stand a very good chance of raising over $20,000 for cancer research. Hitting last year’s goal on day TWO meant that, unfortunately, donations slowed to a trickle for the entirety of day three, so if we happen to hit our goal before the end this year, we’ll be raising the bar by $1,000 every time we hit it and offering additional prizes for people won donate to these flex goals! As in years past, the event will be LIVE on Twitch, so be sure to head to [http://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys](http://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys) and give us a follow! We’ll be going live with streams and other events where we’ll be mentioning L4TC all the way up until the event begins the evening of May 27th. More details available at [http://www.livestreamforthecure.com/](http://www.livestreamforthecure.com/) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Nostalgy Dimension](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01054) by [Shion Tanaka](https://ocremix.org/artist/4572/shion-tanaka) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Who needs canon, anyway?

The Nickscast — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 17:35:14 +0000

It’s fair to say that fans can take things too far, right? To the point of taking certain facts of a series and canonizing (a _biblical_ term) them, deciding which elements are ‘right’ and ‘wrong’? Or even mixing up canon and tradition and requiring long-running media to follow old rules because that’s the way it’s always been! In this episode, we dig a bit into what canon means, in fandom, and try to answer the question… as fans, who needs canon, anyway? Also covering topics as: * Curative fandom, and the appeal of consistency and meaning * How canon justifies fan investment * A bunch of nonsense about intertextuality, worldbuilding, mythology, prescriptivism and descriptivism And more! All in under thirty minutes. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Avoiding chaos via canon, consistency and rules in stories, the reality of multiple truths and perspectives, a brief tangent on the origins of the word canon, canon as ‘integrity’ of media, how canon imbues meaning, curative fandom, canon as constraints, being beholden to canon, canon as justification for fan investment, descriptivism vs prescriptivism, worldbuilding vs mythology vs canon, and tirades about Doctor Who and the Legend of Zelda_._ ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Pachabel’s Ganon](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00753) by [djpretzel](https://ocremix.org/artist/4279/djpretzel) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

What makes a good tabletop experience?

The Nickscast — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 18:35:44 +0000

Combined, we’ve been playing tabletop games (let’s admit it, mostly Dungeons and Dragons) for decades, but what is it about a game that takes it from a good one, to a great one? We try to answer the question “what makes a great tabletop experience?” (And the answer _isn’t_ everyone starting on time… though it should be!). We cover… * The lack of importance of verisimilitude * The importance of not know what to expect * The importance of exploration ...And more! ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Min-maxed characters don’t matter, verisimilitude doesn’t matter, the importance of not knowing what to expect, improv, subverting tropes, making the game your own, plot and narrative, exploration, creating a shared experience, wonderm supporting each other, creating opportunities to grow, not (always) winning… and consequences! ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Secret Seashells](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01086) by [Miku](https://ocremix.org/artist/4583/miku) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Are you too old for this?

The Nickscast — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 18:35:55 +0000

Hopefully, the phrase “Aren’t you too old for this?” has come up less and less as time goes on… but it still comes up! We dig into what it even means to be too old for fandom! * Why do people try to relive their childhood (and is it just nostalgia)? * Is it even a bad thing to be a fan of things as an adult? * Why is it a problem to have fun as an adult? And a lot more! All in under 30 minutes! ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [ReMix: Katamari Damacy "Love Everlasting"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02956) by [DDRKirby(ISQ)](https://ocremix.org/artist/11963/ddrkirbyisq) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Is it ok to be a fan of bad things?

The Nickscast — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 00:08:47 +0000

New year, new format, new episode! This week, we ask the question “Is it ok to be a fan of bad things?”. Disregarding what _bad_ means, we dig into: * Solidarity in fans of bad media * Bad media as a metaphor for life * Bad media as a references for good media And a lot more! All in under 30 minutes! ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Trouble in Watertown](https://sonic25.ocremix.org/) by [YamaYama](https://vgmdb.net/artist/17141) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Marvel Cinematic Universe - The Endgame of Fandoms?

The Nickscast — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 15:58:30 +0000

How the heck do you summarize a fandom about eleven years of films… themselves spanning twenty-three movies so far?! We’ve reached the endgame of this infinity war of fandoms, folks… and it’s time to put everything in perfect balance. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Representation in media, fan entitlement, discrimination in fandom, death of the author, authorial intent, the role of fandom in creative works, cinema as a story vs cinema as an experience. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * ["SNAP (Future's Avengers: Infinity War Credits Song)"](https://electrolemon.bandcamp.com/album/snap-futures-avengers-infinity-war-credits-song) by [demi adejuyigbe](https://electrolemon.bandcamp.com/) used under [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) * [Spekkio the Brave](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00889) by [Steffan Andrews](https://ocremix.org/artist/4381/steffan-andrews) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Steven Universe - They’re … Space Rocks!

The Nickscast — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 01:03:27 +0000

Here we are in the future... and talking about the lessons, culture, and fandom of Steven and the Crystal Gems! Why is it so popular, especially among other contemporary animations? _“Steven Universe is an American animated television series created by Rebecca Sugar for Cartoon Network. It is Cartoon Network's first animated series to be created solely by a woman. It is the coming-of-age story of a young boy, Steven Universe (voiced by Zach Callison), who lives with the Crystal Gems—magical, humanoid aliens named Garnet (Estelle), Amethyst (Michaela Dietz), and Pearl (Deedee Magno Hall)—in the fictional town of Beach City. Steven, who is half-Gem, has adventures with his friends and helps the Gems protect the world from their own kind. The themes of the series include love, family, and the importance of healthy interpersonal relationships.”_ [—Steven Universe - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_Universe) ## Episode Outline **Topics:** _Animation in the 90s, Animation in the 00s, Representation in Media, LGBTQ+, Toxic Masculinity, Secondary Audiences, Media Criticism_ ### Fandom Facts * From the [2017 r/stevenuniverse survey](https://www.reddit.com/r/stevenuniverse/comments/78fe1f/the_2017_rstevenuniverse_survey_final_results/) (again, skewed by reddit’s demographics): * 60.7% identify as male, 33.8% as female, 3.4% as non-binary * Only 50.9% identify as heterosexual; 23.7% identify as bi/pansexual, 13.7% as homosexual, and 6.1% asexual * 54.9% are 20 or younger, 15.6% are older than 25 (or just 5% over 30) * Top 3 Songs: It’s Over Isn’t It (19.7%), Here Comes a Thought (16.8%), and Love Like You (12.3%) * Interest in Steven Universe is pretty spikey; plotting it against Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, and Regular show in [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=%2Fm%2F0r3t_0y,%2Fm%2F0807c5r,Adventure%20Time,Gravity%20Falls) over the past 5 years reveals some interesting notes: * Interest is relatively flat, and obviously spikes when a new season is out. * Top 5 countries: Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, Nicauragua, Honduras (USA is 11 and Canada 22nd) ### First Impressions #### T: I first watched Steven Universe while I was going through a hard time at the beginning of a divorce, and was watching with my ex-wife. Even though I wasn’t the primary audience, I definitely learned some important lessons and came back to Steven Universe recently on the advice of multiple friends. #### Z: I’ve been following the show since it started thanks to Soph’s interest in it and Adventure Time. I remember taking it in at first and thinking that it was a neat show that had the same surreality as Adventure Time but combined it with a much more banal setting of Beach City and a little more direct heart. ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * [Preluematsude](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03146) by [Jeff Ball](https://ocremix.org/artist/10683/jeff-ball) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * Chords for Happily Ever After provided by [ukulele-tabs.com](https://www.ukulele-tabs.com/uke-songs/rebecca-sugar/happily-ever-after-uke-tab-67078.html) and originally by Rebecca Sugar, performed by Nick T * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Critical Role - When People Cosplay Your OC

The Nickscast — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 03:51:24 +0000

“Critical Role is an American web series in which a group of professional voice actors play Dungeons & Dragons. The show started streaming in March 2015, partway through the cast's first campaign” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Role](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Role) \ \ Fandom Facts * Holy **crap** Critical Role is popular: is is the most popular it has ever been (aside from March 2019), but also, its popularity coincides with a [massive increase in popularity in Dungeons and Dragons](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fg%2F11clghjr0y,%2Fm%2F026q9,%2Fm%2F04dzk1_) (but _not _Pathfinder) * There is a site entirely devoted to [stats about the critical role game](https://www.critrolestats.com): d20 rolls, puns, lore, you name it! * “After the split from Geek and Sundry, the cast announced a fundraiser for an animation of the popular Whitebriar arc. The campaign asked for $750,000 but reached $1 million within an hour, ending with a record-breaking $11.3 million in donations.” ### First Impressions **T:** I honestly had very little impression of what CR actually was. My only exposure was through following ItsGinnyDi on Twitter and seeing various Jester-related cosplay (I actually forgot that the show’s premise was voice-actors playing Dungeons and Dragons)! I might have seen some humourous animatics with Jester too… but when G said that the episodes are like three hours long and unedited, I was skeptical. **Z:** I think I first heard about this from G, and I thought it sounded kind of like The Adventure Zone. And that was kind of it. Not because I don’t find D&D interesting, but instead because I felt like I’d heard The Adventure Zone and I was good on the recorded tabletop RPG playing front. Aside from that, though, it seemed to me like it was kind of like the Game Grumps when they’d first started: The first big thing of its kind to really make headway into the mainstream. ### Observations _What we thought about the thing / fandom after reviewing it. Try to make this more of a review style._ ### Conclusions _Any concluding thoughts on the fandom._ _Z: _After reading about the phenomenon that is Critical Role and listening to the first episode of the second campaign, I feel pretty comfortable saying that it’s just not for me. The episode that I listened to had a good variety of metagame chatter, general in-character conversation and exploration, and even a bit of combat, but trying to listen to what seemed like at least 7 players and one DM was just too much for me to do passively. And, to be honest, it seemed kind of slow, at least in comparison to The Adventure Zone. But I think that comparing the two is like comparing a svelte young elf who stumbles across the recipe for a Tex-Mex delicacy and an energetic tiefling with a penchant for mischief. One interests me enough to pull me through over 100 hours of recorded D&D and the other makes it fairly easy to understand why people enjoy them and the game they’re a part of, but not to listen in to the show they’re a part of. Links: [How Do I Beat the Matt Mercer Effect?](http://www.reddit.com/r/DMAcademy/comments/a999sd/how_do_i_beat_the_matt_mercer_effect/) [Ginny Di's Guide to Catching Up on Critical Role](http://twitter.com/itsginnydi/status/1113475920637992960) [Google Trends Data](http://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=%2Fg%2F11clghjr0y,%2Fm%2F026q9,%2Fm%2F04dzk1_) [CritRoleStats](http://www.critrolestats.com) [Critical Role on Fanlore](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Critical_Role) [Thoughts on Critical Role vs The Adventure Zone?](http://www.reddit.com/r/DnD/comments/9f3fv4/thoughts_on_critical_role_vs_the_adventure_zone/) [The rise of D&D liveplay is changing how fans approach roleplaying](http://www.theverge.com/2017/11/16/16666344/dungeons-and-dragons-twitch-roleplay-rpgs-critical-role-streaming-gaming) ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * All music for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Minisode: Are You A Good Fan?

The Nickscast — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 04:00:00 +0000

This subject of this week's minisode turns inwards as the Nicks ask themselves if they consider themselves a good fan and break down what being a good fan even means ## What is the Race Against Time? The Race Against Time is our annual charity livestreaming marathon where we get as many endings as possible in Chrono Trigger to raise money [for the Alzheimer Society of Canada](https://alzheimer.ca/)! This year’s event will be August 10 and 11th from noon until midnight each day. This year, we hope to outdo all of our previous records and raise $1500 CAD. For more details on the event, you can check out the main website at [raceagainsttime.io](https://raceagainsttime.io), [our Twitch page](https://twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) where we host the stream, or you can follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/raceagainstio) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/raceagainsttimeio) for news about guests, giveaways, and other special surprises! Heck, you can even [donate right now](https://raceagainsttime.io/donate)! ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * Race Against Time Promo Music: "[Temporal Distortion](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00789)" by [Star Salzman](https://ocremix.org/artist/4403/star-salzman) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * Ending Music: "[Green Ice Exposed](https://soundcloud.com/fragileair/green-ice-exposed)" by [Fragile Air](https://fragileair.bandcamp.com)

Minisode: Are Retrogamers missing out?

The Nickscast — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 01:00:36 +0000

Are retro gamers missing out on the newest, hippest games or are they right to dig deep into the style that they love? The Nicks dive into the breadth, depth and philosophy of getting into a niche! ## What is the Race Against Time? The Race Against Time is our annual charity livestreaming marathon where we get as many endings as possible in Chrono Trigger to raise money [for the Alzheimer Society of Canada](https://alzheimer.ca/)! This year’s event will be August 10 and 11th from noon until midnight each day. This year, we hope to outdo all of our previous records and raise $1500 CAD. For more details on the event, you can check out the main website at [raceagainsttime.io](https://raceagainsttime.io), [our Twitch page](https://twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) where we host the stream, or you can follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/raceagainstio) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/raceagainsttimeio) for news about guests, giveaways, and other special surprises! Heck, you can even [donate right now](https://raceagainsttime.io/donate)! ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * Race Against Time Promo Music: "[Temporal Distortion](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00789)" by [Star Salzman](https://ocremix.org/artist/4403/star-salzman) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * Ending Music: "[Green Ice Exposed](https://soundcloud.com/fragileair/green-ice-exposed)" by [Fragile Air](https://fragileair.bandcamp.com)

Minisode: What are cons missing?

The Nickscast — Fri, 31 May 2019 17:35:59 +0000

After nearly 20 years of con-going, and collectively well over 40 different conventions been attended, what kinds of things are missing from conventions (anime, sci-fi, comic, or otherwise), anyway? ## What is the Race Against Time? The Race Against Time is our annual charity livestreaming marathon where we get as many endings as possible in Chrono Trigger to raise money [for the Alzheimer Society of Canada](https://alzheimer.ca/)! This year’s event will be August 10 and 11th from noon until midnight each day. This year, we hope to outdo all of our previous records and raise $1500 CAD. For more details on the event, you can check out the main website at [raceagainsttime.io](https://raceagainsttime.io), [our Twitch page](https://twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) where we host the stream, or you can follow us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/raceagainstio) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/raceagainsttimeio) for news about guests, giveaways, and other special surprises! Heck, you can even [donate right now](https://raceagainsttime.io/donate)! ## Where can I get updates? If you want to follow us on social media, we’ve got you covered: * Facebook: [facebook.com/fanthropological](https://facebook.com/fanthropological) * Twitter: [@fanthropologic](https://twitter.com/fanthropologic) And of course, we can be found where all fine podcasts are found (e.g. [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s)). Oh, and here at [fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) ## What is Fanthropological? Every week, our podcast, Fanthropological, delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Who are you? We are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans. If you want to learn more about us, you can follow us on most social media @thenickscast ([Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast)), see all of our projects on [thenickscast.com](https://thenickscast.com), or [email us](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com). ## Credits * Race Against Time Promo Music: "[Temporal Distortion](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00789)" by [Star Salzman](https://ocremix.org/artist/4403/star-salzman) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Beyblade - A New Spin on an Old Top

The Nickscast — Fri, 24 May 2019 19:30:35 +0000

Who would’ve thought that spinning battle tops could enchant kids and adults alike? And that the franchise has more in common with Transformers than meets the eye? Definitely not us -- listen along as we learn about the fandom that shouts “Let it Rip!” with glee. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Beyblade as the first anime series that ran up against our budding cynicism, the complexity of the toys, the complexity of the battles, the reality of the tournament scene, Beyblade World Championships, the World Beyblade Organization, adults are fans?, the physical appeal of Beyblades, why does [this guy](https://knowtechie.com/5-tips-and-tricks-that-every-beyblade-player-must-know/) have four apple watches?, Beyblades and bathtubs don’t mix ### Fandom Facts “Beyblade, known in Japan as Explosive Shoot Beyblade, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takao Aoki to promote sales of spinning tops called "Beyblades" developed by Takara Tomy. ... The series focuses on a group of kids who form teams with which they battle one another using Beyblades. … An anime adaptation, also titled Beyblade and spanning 51 episodes, aired in Japan on TV Tokyo from January 8, 2001, to December 24, 2001. The second, Beyblade V-Force, ran for another 51 episodes from January 7, 2002, until December 30, 2002. Beyblade G-Revolution, the third and final adaptation, also spanned 52 episodes (the last two episodes were released together as a double-length special in Japan) and aired from January 6, 2003, until its conclusion on December 29, 2003.” —[Wikipedia - Beyblade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyblade_Burst) * Even though the original series only aired between 2001 to 2003, a sequel, [Beyblade: Metal Fusion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyblade:_Metal_Fusion) premiered in 2008 and ran until 2012, a Japanese-Canadian spin-off, [BeyWheelz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeyWheelz), which aired in 2012, and another sequel, [Beyblade Burst](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyblade_Burst), which ran from 2016-2017 (though the manga is still ongoing) * “Beyblade, Let It Rip! The Official Album was released in the UK to coincide with the show's popularity. It featured the anime's opening theme, as well as songs by artists including Nickelback and Busted.” ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beyblade)) * Interest in Beyblade is… a little down since 2004 according to Google Trends ([but is really, really variable](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F03hsp2)). There was a huge spike in interest around late 2010 (Release of Metal Fusion in North America, perhaps?), and has since dropped but is on the rise again. * [The Beyblade subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Beyblade/) only has about 2400 subscribers, and, bizarrely, explicitly prohibits “roleplay, fanfiction, or memes, all of which deserve their own subreddits.” ### First Impressions #### G It was the first series I remember being like “oh they’re still doing this thing?” about. Just another physical thing to collect and fight, and one that wasn’t part of my growing up at all. #### T Going to be honest; as a kid, even though I loved anime, I thought it was super dumb (and, given timing, I might have just been outside of the age demographics for it)... and I liked Yu-Gi-Oh (although I also had stopped watching that). Fighting magic tops sounded… stupid, and I don’t think I ever got over that. I am excited to see if my impressions have changed though. #### Z Before starting the research for this one, my strongest memory of Beyblade was that it was one of what seemed like many shows trying to channel some of the hype around Pokemon -- one of those shows about something collectible that battles and has its own personality (or “heart” in the case of Yu-Gi-Oh). In particular, I remember my younger brother being really into the show, though I don’t think he ever got into collecting the tops themselves. I wouldn’t say that I thought it was a pale imitation of Pokemon (kind of like Digimon…), but that it was more a part of the second (third?) wave of that kind of shonen show. ### Observations This fandom seems to draw mostly on the physicality of the actual toys and battling them, and the lengths to which fans can customize their beyblades and (at least appear to) use potentially complex strategies to try to overcome their rivals. However, given that this franchise is second only to Transformers in generating income for Hasbro, the apparently miniscule fandom in the English-speaking world doesn’t quite account for what must be a larger fandom. Though we didn’t dig too deeply into it, it seems that the bulk of the fandom is likely in regions where English is not a major language, and so information, opinions, and potential data are hidden from us behind a language barrier. ### Conclusions In a world where so many of our pastimes are found on screens and in virtual worlds of one sort or another, the physicality of a Beyblade battle is incredibly appealing. If any of us come across an open play event, we’ll be stopping in to let it rip right alongside long-time fans. ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

RWBY - Questionably Animated Authorial Intent

The Nickscast — Fri, 17 May 2019 15:35:13 +0000

We dig into authorial intent, the challenges of animation, and fan work (and entitlement) as we talk about Rooster Teeth’s RWBY and its fans! ## Episode Outline **Topics:** RWBY (obviously), Anime, Linguistics, the _Tales of_ series, authorial intent, dudebros, expectations and fan work ### Fandom Facts “RWBY (pronounced "ruby") is an American anime-style web series and media franchise created by Monty Oum for Rooster Teeth. The show is set in the fictional world of Remnant, where young people train to become warriors (called "Huntsmen" and "Huntresses") to protect their world from monsters called Grimm. The name RWBY is derived from the four main characters' forenames: Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang, as well as their associated theme colors; Red, White, Black, and Yellow. Following several promotional trailers, the first episode was screened at the Rooster Teeth convention event RTX and then released on their website in July 2013.” ‒ [Wikipedia - RWBY](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RWBY) * A fan survey from about a year ago gives us [some idea of the demographics](https://www.reddit.com/r/RWBY/comments/6ckube/rrwby_user_survey_results/) (and other interesting tidbits about the fandom) with over 700 respondents: * 86% of respondents identified as male (and a non-zero percentage as assholes: Attack Helicopter) * Almost 86% are under age 24 (67% are between 18 and 24); if we do some math, its reasonable to assume that means that folks probably started watching between ages 13-19 (i.e. five years ago) * Just over half (55%) watch Rooster Teeth’s podcast ### First Impressions #### Z: I knew absolutely nothing about RWBY before starting the research for this episode. I’d seen some cosplayers and had no idea who they were until someone told me, but had no idea that it was a web series or “anime” or whatever. Also, had no idea that it was something Rooster Teeth did - and had no idea how big Rooster Teeth is until digging into the research for this episode. #### T: I couldn’t even tell you what my first impressions of RWBY were, not because it was so long ago, but because a lot of life happened between now and then. I was following along pretty closely for a period, though digging into the research, that was probably only the second season. I … definitely was watching for the Anime-ness of it all. ### Famous Last Words What did we have to say about next week’s topic, _Beyblade_ with only our first impressions? **G:** How much is focussed on the battle tops in the anime? 50/50? 90/10? **T:** Is Beyblade still running? If so, what innovations have there been in battle tops? **Z:** Is there a world championship tournament? If so, who is the world champion Beyblader? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## What is Livestream for the Cure? Since 2017, Nick and Justin of the [Epic Film Guys](http://www.epicfilmguys.com/) have dedicated a block of time each year to livestream their podcast and other content in order to raise funds for the Cancer Research Institute. This organization researches immunotherapy with the goal of curing all forms of cancer. They are among some of the most reputable charities out there with a rating of 92% on [CharityNavigator.org](https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3417). Last year's Livestream for the Cure 2.0 (**check it out [here](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1583313)**) was a resounding success. In 30 hours live on the air, the Epic Film Guys raised over $5,000 for cancer research and an additional $780 for Perry Johnson, a fellow podcaster who guested on the event and was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer shortly before it began. Because they smashed their goal and because of their amazing community of peers and fellow podcasters, they decided this year’s event should be even bigger and better. The 3rd Annual Livestream for the Cure will be held from May 17th through the 19th, and the Epic Film Guys will be live for FORTY hours as they try to hit their biggest goal yet and raise $7,500. The event will be held live at[ https://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys](https://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys) and will include dozens of fellow content creators and podcasters who are joining them to reach this common goal. They will be live for 40 hours from the following times (all are EST): **May 17th: 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM** **May 18th: 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM** **May 19th: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM** Follow the event on[ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/events/1303610656446934/) or follow[ @livestream4cure](https://www.twitter.com/livestream4cure) on Twitter for updates and guest information. Links for merchandise (all proceeds go toward the total) and other information will be coming in the near future. To make a donation before and during the event, visit [LivestreamfortheCure.com](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1947095). Let's make this the biggest year for the Livestream for the Cure yet! Together, we can make a difference! ## Credits * ["The Metal Emperor"](https://ocremix.org/album/72/badass-boss-themes-volume-iii) by [Chernabogue](https://ocremix.org/artist/12540/chernabogue), [AngelCityOutlaw](https://ocremix.org/artist/13851/angelcityoutlaw), and [Furilas](https://ocremix.org/artist/14980/furilas) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Star Wars - It's Been a Minute

The Nickscast — Sat, 11 May 2019 01:50:32 +0000

# Description We hopped back into the Millenium Falcon with Alex Robinson of The Star Wars Minute podcast to get an inside look at Star Wars fandom (and to try to figure out how anyone could watch the prequels a minute at a time)! ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Phantom Menace Number, Barnacle Facts, Spaceballs, Star Wars: The Fandom people love to hate?, Star Wars the new Geek Stereotype, Online Fandom Divisive, In-Person Fandom Down to Earth, How a Summer of Star Wars was Possible During the ‘70s, Richard Nixon, A Special Message for Star Wars Fans Everywhere ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - We All Sound Like Teenagers From the 90s

The Nickscast — Fri, 03 May 2019 22:08:52 +0000

This week, the Nicks tackle iconic 90s nerdy show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. They'll talk about the emergence of genre television, what Buffy means as a Strong Female Characters & how the whole world now sounds like 90s teens! Here are some of the sources we used for the episode: [The Importance of Being the Zeppo: Xander, Gender Identity and Hybridity in Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Mark Camron](http://www.whedonstudies.tv/uploads/2/6/2/8/26288593/camron.pdf) [Buffy Summers: Third-Wave Feminist Icon](https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/07/how-buffy-became-a-third-wave-feminist-icon/493154/) [The Complex Feminist Legacy Of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’](https://decider.com/2017/03/09/the-complex-feminist-legacy-of-buffy-the-vampire-slayer/) [How Buffy the Vampire Slayer transformed TV as we know it](https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/3/10/14857542/buffy-the-vampire-slayer-explained-tv-influence) [10 Ways Buffy The Vampire Slayer Changed the World](https://www.denofgeek.com/us/tv/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/262778/10-ways-buffy-the-vampire-slayer-changed-the-world) More information about Epic Film Guys' Livestream for the Cure can be found [here](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1947095)! Z's Beowulf blog can be found [here](https://bloggersbeowulf.com/)! G's Bandcamp page is [here](https://fragileair.bandcamp.com/)! ### Fandom Facts “The series narrative follows Buffy Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), the latest in a line of young women known as "Vampire Slayers", or simply "Slayers". In the story, Slayers or the 'Chosen Ones' are "called" (chosen by fate) to battle against vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness. Buffy wants to live a normal life, but as the series progresses, she learns to embrace her destiny. Like previous Slayers, Buffy is aided by a Watcher, who guides, teaches, and trains her. Unlike her predecessors, Buffy surrounds herself with a circle of loyal friends who become known as the "Scooby Gang".”

–Wikipedia - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

* The Buffy subreddit has us covered this week for fan data; [in a survey conducted in 2017](https://www.reddit.com/r/buffy/comments/7eipxc/rbuffy_2017_survey_results/) (you can also check out [one from 2013 to compare](https://www.reddit.com/r/buffy/comments/1i9pwc/official_rbuffy_survey_results/)), here is some interesting tidbits: * Gender: _Unlike_ much reddit data we see, the results are pretty evenly split with about 51% female, 47% male, and 1% as non-binary, intersex, agender, or genderqueer. * Age: Most fans are 25-34 (i.e. grew up with the show; 44%) and there are more fans younger than 25 (36%) than there are over 34 (19%) * Least favourite season: #1 (38%) * Most favourite season: #5 (30%; Introduction of Buffy’s sister, Dawn) * Most folks [watched the show from the beginning](https://i.imgur.com/BJWKdiu.png). * If you look through the tag cloud of non-Whedon shows that people also like, [huge amount of diversity](https://i.imgur.com/gz7NSW1.png) (anything from Desperate Housewives to Evangelion, Band of Brothers to Critical Role) * Google trends data only goes back to 2004, which is not too long after the show ended in Spring 2003. [Interest in the show has gone downhill pretty linearly from 2004 to 2007, and much more slowly from then until now](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=Buffy%20the%20Vampire%20Slayer). Surprisingly, a lot of interest from Canada, UK, Ireland, and Australia (in that order)... and then the United States. * It was one of the first shows on the WB network ### First Impressions #### T: I remember watching Buffy in late elementary school (middle school, if I had one). I think I followed the show pretty steadily until some point probably mid-way into high school when Buffy went to college. It was… pretty popular, or at least it felt that way because I remember one of my teachers, admittedly, a fairly young teacher, was also a big fan of the show (and she really latched on to the female empowerment part of the show). I think for me, it was the cast of characters that really got me interested, and how the story rolled out. Yes, I probably had a crush on Buffy, Cordelia, and Willow, but at the same time, Giles and his dry humour were great, as was Xander’s goofiness (and I think the Scooby-do-esque monster of the week thing kept me interested too). #### Z: I never watched Buffy while it was airing. Probably too busy with video games (discovering emulation, later getting deep into RPG Maker 2000). But, I heard about it all the time in university at Artz Haus -- about the musical episode, about how the show was so awesome, I’m sure I heard the names Willow and Tara a few times, and yet I never actually saw any of the show then either. It wasn’t until I was commissioned to write a review for an episode for a collection in the “Outside In” series Robert Smith? Is behind in 2018 that I finally sat down and watched the episode “Smashed”. Though I did see the movie when it came to VHS...and as a ~7 year old not at all a fan of horror I remember it being one of those movies meant to be funny and turn tropes on its head, but not knowing those tropes (just that zombies and vampires were scary), I’m pretty sure I found it scary and therefore bad. ### Observations _What we thought about the thing / fandom after reviewing it. Try to make this more of a review style._ ### Conclusions _Any concluding thoughts on the fandom._ ### Famous Last Words What did we have to say about next week’s topic, RWBY, with only our first impressions? \ **G: **Does the fandom care that its a web series and not a television show?_ \ _ **T: **How influential is the art style in drawing people in? Are there folks who still watch it despite the animation style?_ \ _ **Z: **It looks like an anime… but is Western produced … are there fans who prefer the Japanese dub? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Transformers - Trukk not Munky and other things Ruined Forever

The Nickscast — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 17:35:53 +0000

Anthony of the [Transformers University podcast](http://tfu.info) joins us to clear the air about what Transformers fandom is actually like… and about how the fandom may be held together with duct tape. You can here our original take here: [https://fanthropological.com/transformers](https://fanthropological.com/transformers) ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## What is Livestream for the Cure? Since 2017, Nick and Justin of the [Epic Film Guys](http://www.epicfilmguys.com/) have dedicated a block of time each year to livestream their podcast and other content in order to raise funds for the Cancer Research Institute. This organization researches immunotherapy with the goal of curing all forms of cancer. They are among some of the most reputable charities out there with a rating of 92% on [CharityNavigator.org](https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3417). Last year's Livestream for the Cure 2.0 (**check it out [here](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1583313)**) was a resounding success. In 30 hours live on the air, the Epic Film Guys raised over $5,000 for cancer research and an additional $780 for Perry Johnson, a fellow podcaster who guested on the event and was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer shortly before it began. Because they smashed their goal and because of their amazing community of peers and fellow podcasters, they decided this year’s event should be even bigger and better. The 3rd Annual Livestream for the Cure will be held from May 17th through the 19th, and the Epic Film Guys will be live for FORTY hours as they try to hit their biggest goal yet and raise $7,500. The event will be held live at[ https://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys](https://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys) and will include dozens of fellow content creators and podcasters who are joining them to reach this common goal. They will be live for 40 hours from the following times (all are EST): **May 17th: 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM** **May 18th: 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM** **May 19th: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM** Follow the event on[ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/events/1303610656446934/) or follow[ @livestream4cure](https://www.twitter.com/livestream4cure) on Twitter for updates and guest information. Links for merchandise (all proceeds go toward the total) and other information will be coming in the near future. To make a donation before and during the event, visit [LivestreamfortheCure.com](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1947095). Let's make this the biggest year for the Livestream for the Cure yet! Together, we can make a difference! ## Credits * This is the part in the credits where we respectfully thank [Starbomb](https://starbomb.com/albums) for not suing us: ending track, “Robots in Need of Disguise” from “Player Select” used under [“Hey streamers! You have our permission to use our music while you stream.

The X-Files - When the Internet Wanted to Believe

The Nickscast — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 01:50:06 +0000

# Description In 1993, special agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder began their quest for irrefutable proof of the existence of the paranormal and popular culture has never been the same. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** the importance of fan-fiction to the X-Philes community, the strength of the community over the decades it has existed, creators’ interactions with the 90s fandom, fans’ reactions to the recent reboots, can a fandom survive without new content? ### Fandom Facts * “The series revolves around Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny), and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) who investigate X-Files: Marginalized, unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. Mulder believes in the existence of aliens and the paranormal, while Scully, a medical doctor and a skeptic, is assigned to make scientific analyses of Mulder's discoveries to debunk his work and thus return him to mainstream cases.” -[Wikipedia - The X-Files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_X-Files) * Unfortunately, [Google Trends data only goes back to 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F07g9f), and season 9, the last season to air before a long break, ended in 2002. From that data, it looks like interest has been on the decline, but spiked in 2008 (_The X-Files: I Want To Believe_), 2016 (Season 10), and a much smaller spike than either in 2018 (Season 11). * Couldn’t find data, but from this note from Fanlore (originally a Tumblr post, [A Note about the X-Files Fandom](https://fanlore.org/wiki/A_Note_about_the_X-Files_Fandom)): * “The X-Files' prime Nielsen demographic targets were 18-49. That was the most popular viewing age for the show. … The average viewer was in their mid- to late-20s. They had jobs and families that came home to watch TV together at the end of the day. The people who wrote most of the classic fan fiction we have today were in their 20s at the time, or 30s.” ### First Impressions **G:** Never something that he got into, G regarded *The X-Files* as simply that show that came on after *The Simpsons*. Really aware of it primarily through other bits of pop culture that reference it. **T:** He watched a little bit of the later seasons of the series’ first run when the episodes were fun (e.g.: the gang finds a genie and has various wishes granted), but never really became invested in it. **Z:** It was something that he was only ever really aware of through other bits of pop culture. In more recent years, it’s seemed a little interesting to him, but not enough for him to seek any of it out. ### Observations Overall, the fandom seems to be as strong as ever, if perhaps shrinking. But, as Z observed, as long as the show is on services like Netflix, it will probably find an audience among those who are interested in shows that blend soap opera and (paranormal) conspiratorial mystery elements. Fan fiction still seems to be very important to the community, perhaps because the series’ continuity is lacking in some areas or because, as of this recording Mulder and Scully have yet to be in an explicit romantic relationship. Also, in the current culture of binge-watching, the series’ general “monster-of-the-week” format helps it to fit right in. ### Conclusions **G:** There’s simply too much of it to catch up on, and, because it’s mostly a “monster-of-the-week” kind of show, he wasn’t convinced it would catch and keep his interest. **T:** He had watched a few episodes of the series recently and found himself entertained. If he can make the time to do so, he’ll probably watch more of it, maybe some of the earlier seasons. **Z:** Admittedly, it might scratch the same itch his near annual *Twin Peaks* rewatches do. But, he was not convinced that it would be quite as good as *Peaks* because it was too much of a mainstream success (yep, Z played the hipster card). Though, at some point, he said that he would maybe see if it could prove him wrong. ### Famous Last Words What did we have to say about next week’s topic, *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, with only our first impressions? **G:** Lot of fans of Joss Whedon… did Buffy lay the groundwork for any other of his works? Or do the fans consider it set apart? Why? **T:** How did the Buffy fandom change after the whole Joss Whedon controversy (especially as he’s helming the reboot, I believe)? **Z:** Aside from whatever controversy there might be around the show’s creative head, is Buffy something that fans regard as easy to go back and watch? OR is it horribly date? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

My Hero Academia: Avengers Ensemble!

The Nickscast — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 16:00:27 +0000

This week, this Nicks have a look at the hot new (3-year old) shounen anime that's sweeping the world - Boku no Hero Academia! They'll talk about the strengths and weaknesses of ensemble shows, what the superhero craze looks like reflected through and Japanese mirror and whether or not anyone axtually likes Mineta! [Click here](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1947095) for more information on the Livestream for the Cure! ### Fandom Facts “My Hero Academia … follows Izuku Midoriya, a boy born without superpowers (called quirks) in a world where they have become commonplace, but who still dreams of becoming a hero himself. He is scouted by the world's greatest hero, who shares his quirk with Izuku after recognizing his potential, and later enrolls him in a high school for heroes in training.” * The BNHA subreddit is pretty popular: Within the first three months of the subreddit’s creation, it went from almost 300 000th to somewhere in the 15 000’s ([and is now ~1400th most popular subreddit)](http://redditmetrics.com/r/BokuNoHeroAcademia). * Someone did a fan survey with general interests in the anime [on the subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/BokuNoHeroAcademia/comments/6uqpvz/results_of_the_my_hero_academia_anime_demographic/) (circa 2018). Of the over 400 responses, here are some interesting bits: * Best aspect of BNHA: The characters (53%), the overall concept (28%) * 11% dislike generally shonen (the remainder are either indifferent or like shonen) * 47% have read the manga in its entirety * 7% dropped the show completely; 5.8% strongly disliked it or hated it * There was also this fan survey which was more about the characters [which had some demographics](https://www.reddit.com/r/BokuNoHeroAcademia/comments/6655jk/bnha_sub_survey_final_results_highly_indeep/) (and a thousand responses)! * Predominantly male (76.4%), with some female representation (20.6%) * Overwhelmingly young: 85%+ under 24 (20-24: 42.7%; 17-19: 33.2%) * Favourite character: Izuku Midoriya (39.2%), Katsuki Bakugou (21.5%), Toshinori Yagi (18.8%) * Main weakness of the show: Too many characters (46.5%), some characters have limited development (33.6%) * Interest in BNHA is definitely on the rise, and [it’s the most popular it’s been … ever](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F012ccg16,%2Fm%2F0g27s9,%2Fm%2F030l0z,%2Fm%2F01_f03) (which isn’t surprising, since it’s still coming out). * BUT while it is popular, it hasn’t surpassed Naruto (too big to show) or One Piece (on the decline), even if it is overcoming series like Bleach and Fairy Tale. * According to Fandometrics, BNHA was the #1 Anime and Manga fandom, and #5 fandom overall for 2018. ### First Impressions #### Z: Before I started watching the series I figured that it was just another shonen series that G was really into because he’s a fan of superhero stuff. Admittedly, even watching through the first episode or two I wasn’t quite convinced that it was anything more than just another Dragon Ball, another sprawling shonen series poised to seize the world’s imagination the way that Naruto or One Piece did. But then, I think it was something said during Deku’s initial training (or maybe just the quirkiness of seeing all the Star Wars references in place names -- neat, but...why!?) or maybe his heroism in trying to save Bakugo from the sludge villain, after that bit of the show demonstrated its heart I was in for the long haul. #### T: Beyond know that it is popular, and seeing it crop up in spots like the Anime Feminist, I didn’t think much of it other than that it might be the next Fairy Tale / Bleach / Naruto / Dragonball Z / Shonen show. G heavily recommended it and I watched the first season, and while there were still heavy shonen tones, I got a better appreciation of it, and liked the vibe (X-men, but anime) and that it wasn’t all focussed on just the protagonist. ### Observations _What we thought about the thing / fandom after reviewing it. Try to make this more of a review style._ ### Conclusions _Any concluding thoughts on the fandom._ ### Famous Last Words What did we have to say about next week’s topic, The X-Files, with only our first impressions? \ **G:** Is The X-Files about the characters or the concepts?_ \ _ **T: **What was the impact of Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) on the show?_ \ _ **Z:** After his appearance in Twin Peaks… was anybody looking forward to seeing David Duchovny dressed as a woman on the X-Files? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * ["Music"](http://google.ca) by [X](http://google.ca) used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Power Rangers - Yo evil. I'm a Power Ranger. BIZAM!

The Nickscast — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 16:00:56 +0000

What is it about the show that has managed to keep it relevant for over thirty years, even far from its home? And what exactly is the appeal of the show? Is it the lo-fi, retro-ness of it through a nostalgia filter? All this and more on this week's episode! ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts * It is currently in its 26th (ish) season with almost 900 episodes since 1993. It is based on the Super Sentai meta-series in Japan that started in 1975 and has been running over the same timespan. * Interest in the various Power Rangers series has been [relatively constant since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F017dbx) though it has had some ups and downs and is on a bit of a downward trend right now. * There are almost 6000 fan works related to Power Rangers [on Archive Of Our Own](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Power%20Rangers/works) (about ⅓ Gen, ¼ F/F, and ¼ M/M) * The Power Rangers subreddit [has about 20k followers](https://www.reddit.com/r/powerrangers/). ### First Impressions #### T: I couldn't tell you exactly when I started watching the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers… and I also couldn't tell you exactly when I stopped (though I feel like it was just before Zeo… so not long). I loved it; I think my parents still have a VHS of the first episode that was purchased from somewhere (that's right, legit, and occupying the WHOLE VHS). I imagine it had a lot to do with the general interest in karate, ninjas, martial arts, giant robots, and underneath it all… Japan? Plus, it didn't hurt that I felt I could relate to the Blue ranger, and that the show aired just before (and just after school) at an influential time in my life (middle school). I remember going to the movie (with Ivan Ooze) and enjoying it… but I don't know why I stopped watching it either. #### Z: I remember Power Rangers hitting the small screen at the time in my life when I still only had 4 channels at home. As a result, I never really got into it. But, my slightly younger cousins living in the city with their whopping tens of channels were all about the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers. I remember seeing a few episodes with them, but even as a child of 8, something about the aesthetic pushed me away from the show rather than bringing me into it. The Super Mario Super Show with its Legend of Zelda cartoon (another piece of media exclusive to visits to my city-dwelling relatives) was way more interesting to me then. ### Famous Last Words What did we have to say about next week's topic, Boku No Hero Academia / My Hero Academia with only our first impressions? #### **G:** Is it the new DBZ? Is that ok? #### **T:** Are there fans working on the in-universe science of the show? #### **Z:** Does anyone like Mineta? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Minisode: A Premonition

The Nickscast — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 17:35:15 +0000

This week, we take a departure from our regular fandom discovery and examination, and instead, travel to a bold, familiar new (old?) world. More importantly, we give a small taste of an exciting new podcast we'll be launching in May! ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## What is Livestream for the Cure? Since 2017, Nick and Justin of the [Epic Film Guys](http://www.epicfilmguys.com/) have dedicated a block of time each year to livestream their podcast and other content in order to raise funds for the Cancer Research Institute. This organization researches immunotherapy with the goal of curing all forms of cancer. They are among some of the most reputable charities out there with a rating of 92% on [CharityNavigator.org](https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3417). Last year's Livestream for the Cure 2.0 (**check it out [here](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1583313)**) was a resounding success. In 30 hours live on the air, the Epic Film Guys raised over $5,000 for cancer research and an additional $780 for Perry Johnson, a fellow podcaster who guested on the event and was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer shortly before it began. Because they smashed their goal and because of their amazing community of peers and fellow podcasters, they decided this year's event should be even bigger and better. The 3rd Annual Livestream for the Cure will be held from May 17th through the 19th, and the Epic Film Guys will be live for FORTY hours as they try to hit their biggest goal yet and raise $7,500. The event will be held live at[ https://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys](https://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys) and will include dozens of fellow content creators and podcasters who are joining them to reach this common goal. They will be live for 40 hours from the following times (all are EST): **May 17th: 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM** **May 18th: 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM** **May 19th: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM** Follow the event on[ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/events/1303610656446934/) or follow[ @livestream4cure](https://www.twitter.com/livestream4cure) on Twitter for updates and guest information. Links for merchandise (all proceeds go toward the total) and other information will be coming in the near future. To make a donation before and during the event, visit [LivestreamfortheCure.com](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1947095). Let's make this the biggest year for the Livestream for the Cure yet! Together, we can make a difference! ## Credits * [ReMix: Chrono Trigger "Door to the End of Time"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01442) by [Blake Perdue](https://ocremix.org/artist/4642/blake-perdue) and [ReMix: Chrono Trigger "Temporal Distortion"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00789) by [Star Salzman](https://ocremix.org/artist/4403/star-salzman) are from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) and used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6)

Minisode: 20+ Years of Conventions with Sid

The Nickscast — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 17:35:53 +0000

We chat with special guest friend Sid about his over twenty years of convention experience, including how conventions have changed, positive experiences, and dealing with WTFery. If you want to learn more about Victim Services of Waterloo Region, check out [https://vswr.ca/](https://vswr.ca/), or [donate now](https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/victim-services-of-waterloo-region/). ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * [ReMix: Chrono Trigger "Door to the End of Time"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01442) by [Blake Perdue](https://ocremix.org/artist/4642/blake-perdue) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Vaporwave - The Internet’s Muzak

The Nickscast — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 15:48:56 +0000

# Description In 2013, two short years after it first appeared on the internet, Vaporwave was declared "dead". And yet, it still lives and has spawned a brood of micro-genres (Simpsonwave, Zeldawave, Glo-Fi, Mallsoft) in 2019. And what about the fans? Somehow, we try to tackle what this music is and figure out the people behind it. ## Episode Outline **Topics:** What is Vaporwave?, Is it a joke?, An internet micro-genre that seems to be constantly changing, Earnestness versus irony, pretentious art ideals versus memes ### First Impressions #### Z: When I first stumbled across Vaporwave, I was shocked by how evocative of some sort of nostalgia it was. Which is strange because I never was much of a mall rat, or spent a lot of time in places that played heavy muzak. And yet, there's a strange atmospheric quality to the music that reminds me of listening to a warbly radio from the bottom of a swimming pool -- which is still weird because I have never done that before in my life. #### T: I know next to nothing on this. I assumed that Vaporwave was some obscure genre of music that was facet of a facet of some genre I still couldn't pin down. #### G: I thought it was a fun meme thing where everything looks bad intentionally. ### Observations We really got caught up on the question of whether any of this stuff was earnest or just an enormous joke. Z especially took up the former position, saying (perhaps a little tongue in cheek) that Vaporwave is all about being a postmodern look at postmodern irony. G and T, on the other hand, kept pretty firmly in the "nah, in 2019 this is more of a meme" camp. ### Conclusions In the end, all three of us admitted to enjoying Vaporwave of some form or other (future funk, the first few albums, Hong Kong Express). T and Z in particular noted how they found the genre much more immediately emotionally evocative than a lot of other music, while G admitted to really getting into the philosophy, narrative and symbolism that can be found in the genre. But, none of us became hardcore Vaporwave fans after our limited exposure to the genre -- so go ahead and give the Macintosh Plus (aka Vektroid) album "Floral Shoppe" a listen! ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## What is Livestream for the Cure? Since 2017, Nick and Justin of the [Epic Film Guys](http://www.epicfilmguys.com/) have dedicated a block of time each year to livestream their podcast and other content in order to raise funds for the Cancer Research Institute. This organization researches immunotherapy with the goal of curing all forms of cancer. They are among some of the most reputable charities out there with a rating of 92% on [CharityNavigator.org](https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3417). Last year's Livestream for the Cure 2.0 (**check it out [here](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1583313)**) was a resounding success. In 30 hours live on the air, the Epic Film Guys raised over $5,000 for cancer research and an additional $780 for Perry Johnson, a fellow podcaster who guested on the event and was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer shortly before it began. Because they smashed their goal and because of their amazing community of peers and fellow podcasters, they decided this year's event should be even bigger and better. The 3rd Annual Livestream for the Cure will be held from May 17th through the 19th, and the Epic Film Guys will be live for FORTY hours as they try to hit their biggest goal yet and raise $7,500. The event will be held live at[ https://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys](https://twitch.tv/epicfilmguys) and will include dozens of fellow content creators and podcasters who are joining them to reach this common goal. They will be live for 40 hours from the following times (all are EST): **May 17th: 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM ** **May 18th: 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM** **May 19th: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM** Follow the event on[ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/events/1303610656446934/) or follow[ @livestream4cure](https://www.twitter.com/livestream4cure) on Twitter for updates and guest information. Links for merchandise (all proceeds go toward the total) and other information will be coming in the near future. To make a donation before and during the event, visit [LivestreamfortheCure.com](https://fundraise.cancerresearch.org/fundraiser/1947095). Let's make this the biggest year for the Livestream for the Cure yet! Together, we can make a difference! ## Credits * [ReMix: EarthBound "Battle Against a Malignant & Repugnant Opponent"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03436) by [nelward](https://ocremix.org/artist/15315/nelward) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Pathfinder - Further Listening with Caleb & Christian from Pathfinder Academy

The Nickscast — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 00:10:48 +0000

# Description To expand on our episode on Tabletop Gaming, G & Z sit down with Caleb & Christian from the Trailblazer Network (home of Pathfinder Academy and Trailblazers) to talk about how they got started with Pathfinder over D&D, their experiences as both players and GMs and some of the controversies that tear the community asunder. Their podcasts can be found over at [https://www.tblazer.net/](https://www.tblazer.net/) and wherever fine podcasts are heard! ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * All music and sound for this week's episode was provided by Nick Green!

Digimon - Digital Marketing

The Nickscast — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 22:33:05 +0000

This week on the show, the Nicks take a look at the fate that's befallen Digimon & its fans! Is it always doomed to trail in the shadow of Pokemon or is it underappreciate genius ahead of its time?? ### Fandom Facts * Digimon has spawned 7 anime series, 16 movies, 8 manga series, 43 video games, and a collectible card game. * There was a point in history where Digimon was more popular that Pokemon… [in North America at least](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-02-19/fox-kids-wins-broadcast-ratings). In February of 2001, it took the number two rating slot among kids 6-11 (Pokemon was third). Similar, but unconfirmed: Digimon was Fox's most popular kids show (even more than Power Rangers) * The series was only expected to last 13 episodes: "Digimon was just supposed to be a series of half-hour commercials for the toys. Specifically, the Digimon cartoon was to be released in tandem with the PlayStation game Digimon World. But when the show became unexpectedly and wildly popular on its own, more episodes were quickly ordered. In a twist, the Digimon device faded into history, the games did okay, and the show ended up [being the franchise's legacy](https://www.thegamer.com/25-crazy-things-you-never-knew-about-digimon/)." ### First Impressions #### Z: I remember watching a bit of the initial Digimon anime alongside Pokemon and Monster Rancher. I got into Pokemon because of the games, I enjoyed Monster Rancher because of how the story seemed to resemble a lot of what I'd seen of that era's JRPGs' stories. But Digimon always struck me as being somehow more episodic than either of those shows, despite having episodes-long, standalone arcs. I think I just didn't appreciate the ensemble-style show that Digimon was. What little I saw of the games I inevitably compared to Pokemon. Which was pretty much all I could do since I never had a Playstation back in the day, and so never could play the Digimon games to begin with. Overall, my impression then (and now) is that Digimon was the result of a rival company seeing Pokemon's success and wanting to copy it. #### T: I don't think that I'd thought that Digimon was a knock-off until I got older, and even then, it was mostly ironically. I remember watching the first season or two when it aired, and even coming home on a Friday after school to see it and other anime premiere on YTV's "The Zone". I definitely saw some of the third season and of Digimon Frontier, but at that point I wasn't watching the show with any regularity so I couldn't follow it at all: It was a lot harder to follow than Pokemon,especially if you didn't catch the episodes in order. I don't think I was as attached to the franchise because all of the monsters were so different, and there wasn't anything to latch on to (no types, no memorable names with lots of Japanese references, no stats)... the characters I could get a lot more, and I definitely remember having a crush on Mimi, Sora, and Kari (Season 2… actually, most of their Season 2 incarnations). I want to say that I felt like I could relate to Tai and Matt's relationship (reminded me of a friend and I's)… but I think more realistically I could relate to Izzy. I might have had a friend that had a digimon in elementary school at the end of the Tamagotchi craze. ### Famous Last Words What did we have to say about an upcoming episode's topic, Vaporwave with only our first impressions? \ **G: **Is vaporwave a joke?_ \ _ **T: **What is vaporwave, and why do any of us know about it?_ \ _ **Z: **Are there currently any artists working in the vaporwave space that explicitly state that? Many subgenres exist around it, and I'm curious if anyone specifically calls out the association. ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * ["](http://google.ca)The Metal Emperor" by Chernabogue, AngelCityOutlaw & Furilas [OCRemix] used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - http://ocremix.org/album/72/badass-boss-themes-volume-iii * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Harry Potter - Back to Hogwarts with the Real Weird Sisters

The Nickscast — Fri, 22 Feb 2019 19:30:53 +0000

# Description We return to Hogwarts to chat with the Real Weird Sisters about why *Harry Potter* is so important to fandom in general and **still** so popular. This episode is a follow up to our (very) early episode about the series [here](https://fanthropological.com/e/3632cca54d92c4/). And who are The Real Weird Sisters? Hailing from Bozeman, Montana, Alice and Martha, grew up reading, rereading, and re-re-reading the *Harry Potter* series. **Alice**, who was seven when Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was published,** estimates that she has read the series' first book over 75 times**! Although Martha's tally isn't quite as high, she would like to clarify that she was a mere toddler when Alice first started reading the books, so she was doomed to forever be six years behind. Both sisters have made local news for their *Harry Potter* fandom. Alice was interviewed for a newspaper in 2005 after she read *Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince* overnight, and Martha and her friends were on TV in 2011 while in line for the midnight premiere of *Deathly Hallows Part 2*. Throughout their lives, Alice and Martha have shared a close and common bond in *Harry Potter*. Now that they are adults and living in two different parts of the country (Chicago and Montana), they have decided to broadcast their love for *Harry Potter* to the world in weekly podcasts about what they see as the greatest literary masterpiece of our time. ## Episode Outline This week on the show we talk about... * the importance of the series growing up with the fans; * fans' feelings about post-*Harry Potter* releases; * the importance of the series' characters; * divisions in modern *Harry Potter* fandom; * if and how the fandom continues to grow; and * the influence of *Harry Potter* on YA and on the Sisters themselves ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * [ReMix: Mega Man 2 "Flash Man and the Sorcerer's Stone Man"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03125) by [Deedubs](https://ocremix.org/artist/14357/deedubs) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sounds in this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Mycology - Psilocybin There Done That

The Nickscast — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 21:10:00 +0000

### Fandom Facts * Relative to Mushrooms (general), not a lot of folks are looking up information on magic mushrooms (Psilocybin), [or even mycology](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F052sf,%2Fm%2F057v5,%2Fm%2F09l4w) and are getting more interested in mushrooms over time * There are at least five different subreddits on mushrooms, all tackling a different aspect of mushrooms ([identifying mushrooms](https://www.reddit.com/r/ShroomID/), [psilocybin](https://www.reddit.com/r/PsilocybinMushrooms/), [anything mushrooms](https://www.reddit.com/r/shrooms/), etc.), the largest being [r/mycology](https://www.reddit.com/r/mycology/) (but just by a few thousand) * In _Star Trek: Discovery_ there is a character, Lieutenant Paul Stamets, who is an astromycologist and is named after a real U.S. scientist of the same name who is investigating how mushrooms might be able to [save the world in different ways](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/paul-stamets-star-trek-mushroom-expert-mycology-1.4454204) (e.g. treating disease, cleaning up oil spills) * ...His obsession with mushrooms started at age 19 where he ate an entire bag of magic mushrooms. * Only about 5% of the world's fungi are thought to be identified ### First Impressions #### Z: Ever since I had a mushroom dipped in ranch dressing at some sort of party when I was a kid, I've enjoyed their texture. And, as I tried things like portabellas, and shitake, and cremini, and beech mushrooms, I found that there was a whole world of mushrooms out there. So, when it came to mycology, my impression was that people interested in it were either foodies looking to explore perhaps the most varied, unprocessed, vegetarian/vegan(?) food, or scientists classifying them. #### T: I put mycology up there with philatelists and numismatists; something that you can go quite deep into, but that I know nothing about. I've heard bits and pieces about it (pressings, how the mushroom responds to metal, etc.) and I know friends with an interest in wild mushrooms (not for use as a drug, but as general survivalist interest)... but beyond that, it's mostly been an unknown (popularity-wise) known unknown. ### Famous Last Words What did we have to say about an upcoming topic, _Digimon_, with only our first impressions? \ **G:** How do fans of Digimon feel about it being diet Pokemon?_ \ _ **T:** What is it about Digimon that helped it stand above some of its contemporaries?_ \ _ **Z:** Do fans of Digimon hold any sort of grudge against fans of Pokemon? Have any Digimon fans proposed a blending of the two? Is there a fan-approved crossover? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers about an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * All music and sound for this week's episode was provided by Nick Green!

Escape Rooms - Behind the Fandom with Errol (Room Escape Divas)

The Nickscast — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 02:39:24 +0000

We're locked in again for another 60ish minutes to better understand fans of escape rooms, this time with escape room enthusiast Errol ([Room Escape Divas](http://www.inversegenius.com/roomescapedivas/)). A follow-up to [our previous episode on Escape Rooms](https://fanthropological.com/escaperooms). ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Escape Rooms, Puzzles, Escape Room Industry, Social Gaming, the future of Escape Games, Puzzle Solving Strategies ## Where can you find Errol? He can be heard on [Room Escape Divas](http://www.inversegenius.com/roomescapedivas/) as well as producing a multitude of articles & information at [The Codex](https://thecodex.ca/)! ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Rush - The Geddy Lee Division

The Nickscast — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 19:35:35 +0000

After more than 40 years, what keeps fans interested in the band (and why on earth is there convention for them)? ## Episode Outline **Topics:** RushCon, Female fans in Progressive Rock, Ayn Rand, Fan Loyalty, Geddy Lee, Lyricism ### First Impressions #### Z: This is difficult for me to really pin down. I've been a Rush fan since high school, maybe since I had an internet connection at home. My earliest memory of encountering the band was downloading their stuff song by song from early music sharing websites and things like Limewire and Kazaa. I also remember making a website all about the band in a high school computers class and getting 100% on it. But, at least speaking to the topics we tried to focus on in this episode, I never knew the band had a convention, and I always figured that the fandom wasn't any more heavily male than any other band; I remember talking to someone on the Carousel magazine staff at the university of Guelph about Rush and hearing her talk about getting high with her high school math teacher at a concert. Rush is for everyone, man! #### T: I actually have very little to say about RUSH. I know that Geddy Lee REALLY hits the high notes, they sing about Tom Sawyer, and something about Trees? Also, Z really loves them. ### Observations ### Conclusions ### Famous Last Words What did we have to say about an upcoming episode's topic, mycology, with only our first impressions? \ **G:** Is the danger aspect a deterrent or an attraction? **T:** What does stanning look like in mycology fandom? **Z:** In this day and age, is mycology more or less exclusively something run by hipsters? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * [ReMix: Mega Man X "The Zero Sacrifice"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00931) by [Vig](https://ocremix.org/artist/4524/vig) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29%E2%80%A6) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

The Office - Peak White Guy Butthurt Feelings

The Nickscast — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 19:26:10 +0000

The Office is a phenomenally popular show and fans can't seem to get enough, even after its 9 seasons ended in 2012. Is it the best show ever made or a moment in time that's shown itself to be problematic? ## Episode Outline **Topics:** The Office, Sitcoms, Long-Running Shows, Problematic Characters, Feel-Good Shows, Cringe Comedy ### First Impressions #### Z: Honestly, this wasn't a show that I thought about much when it was first airing and I'd hear people talking about it. I'd watched the UK version of Life on Mars around that time, and after hearing about how it had been butchered in its American adaptation, I was skeptical about the US The Office's quality. This impression only strengthened after I binged my way through the UK version of the show, and was completely and utterly impressed by just how hilarious it was while centring on Ricky Gervais' utterly despicable and inept David Brent. There was no way an American adaptation could take this witty and dry show and make something good -- plus there was no way that American audiences would have the patience to make it through the lead's eventual, though rocky, transformation into a caring, compassionate human being. But, here we are, covering this ongoing fandom on the show, so I must've been wrong about some aspect of the show... #### T: I mostly have seen the Office in gifs and memes (either referencing the show or involving the show), so I got the impression that the Office is kind of like the Simpsons or flossing in that it's just something that people have experienced and use a shared cultural reference. I don't know of any die-hard fans, and it doesn't seem like the sort of thing that folks are super passionate about, but sort of passively love? Also, it seems pretty cringey and I'm not super a fan of that style of humour. #### G: The cringiest thing on TV, where everything being a bummer and having awkward resolutions was the order of the day. Didn't really ever see where the 'heart' came from, let alone people watching it multiple times. ### Some Observations - The show's setting is psychologically comforting and neutral and the way that it finds humour in mundane situations leads people to watch and feel calmed/destressed - According to [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=%2Fm%2F08jgk1,%2Fm%2F07zhjj,%2Fm%2F0557yqh) the show's popularity has beaten out rival shows (Parks and Recreation, How I Met Your Mother) in recent years - Dwight Schrute's character arc could be the best in American TV - People who like the office are likely to be those who want to have control over others ### Conclusions - Z is going to watch the whole dang series - T might watch another episode or two, but the show didn't really get its hooks into him - G has already watched the series once, and would rather just go back and re-watch Parks and Rec ### Famous Last Words What did we have to say about next week's topic, Rush, with only our first impressions? **Z:** In fans' opinion… how does Clockwork Angels stack up to 2112? **T:** How much of Rush fandom is about Rush vs Prog Rock? **G:** I know a lot about the band… they seem to have a lot of fans… have they continually collected fans, or did everyone just show up around Tom Sawyer and aged? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but specifically... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * ["Bass Meant Jazz"](https://freepd.com/music/Bass%20Meant%20Jazz.mp3) by [Kevin MacLeod](https://freepd.com/artists.php), which he donated to the [Public Domain](https://freepd.com) * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ## Top Links [r/DunderMifflin - Theory on Why The Office is so Appealing](https://www.reddit.com/r/DunderMifflin/comments/a95acz/theory_on_why_the_office_is_so_appealing/) [Collider - Michael Schur Explains Why "The Office" Survived Past Season 1 Against All Odds](http://collider.com/why-the-office-survived-past-season-1/#steve-carell) [Bustle - Can You Be Addicted to Watching "The Office"? Here's Why You Actually Can't Ge Enough](https://www.bustle.com/p/can-you-be-addicted-to-watching-the-office-heres-why-you-actually-cant-get-enough-8073956)

Fortnite - Flossing as a Third Space

The Nickscast — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 18:35:07 +0000

The explosive growth of fortnite is undeniable, but is it because it's the latest battle royale / minecraft mashup, or because it is a place where folks (especially kids) can actually hang out? ## Episode Outline **Topics:** Fortnite, Video Games, Youth Culture, Growing Up, Battle Royale Games, Sandbox Games, Third Space, Society ### First Impressions #### Z: I first encountered Fortnite in some graffiti on a telephone pole outside of a local high school. It simply read "Fortnite Forever," and my first thought was "either that's a new game, or a terrible speller really loves talking about two week spans of time." So my first impression of the fandom was that it's mostly younger people (mostly high school-aged). Also, after running across some youtube videos about the game in my day-to-day, I guessed that It's probably the 2^nd big gaming trend to hit the generation that went through elementary school with Minecraft (which was released in 2009,[ popularity peaked July 2013](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=%2Fm%2F09v6kpg) (at which point someone in grade 9 in 2018 would've been in grade 4, which, from my impressions of Minecraft's audience, would be, though maybe on the younger end, within its range)). As per the game itself, my impression is that it's basically PUBG plus building mechanics with a friendly and approachable cartoony style and sense of humour. #### T: To be honest, I didn't think much of it. I'd heard about kids getting addicted to it in schools (and it being highly disruptive in classrooms), and that it was the latest Battle Royale game du jour, and had assumed it was full of a bunch of tweens and teens screaming over voice chat. I was intrigued when I would hear about things like Thanos and "the Meteor" in game… but it all just seemed like a sort of cash-cow milking gamers sort of technique. Especially given that it and PUBG weren't that far apart (and there were lots of games of that ilk showing up around the same time). ### Famous Last Words **G:** People watch The office endlessly in the background; why not Parks and Rec (aka a better show)? **Z:** Is there any 'the office' cosplay? **T:** Like MASH… will the Office stand the test of time? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... * If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! * Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` * We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) * We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) * If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits * All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Fanthropological - Episode 100 Spectacular

The Nickscast — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 18:35:41 +0000

It's season 10 and well past our 100th episode! Why not celebrate by looking at fans... of Fanthropological? We cover trivia of all 99+ episodes in an all-out battle to knock-the-other-Nick-out... or at least see who is the biggest Fan in Fanthropological. **Sources** - [ReMix: Sonic the Hedgehog "Gotta Start from Somewhere"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03573) by [Jorito](https://ocremix.org/artist/14461/jorito), [Hank "The Spank Tank" Jankerson](https://ocremix.org/artist/15618/hank-the-spank-tank-jankerson), [Trev Wignall](https://ocremix.org/artist/15682/trev-wignall), [The Nikanoru](https://ocremix.org/artist/15840/the-nikanoru) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org/) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - [ReMix: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening "OMG Mr. Write"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03479) by [nelward](https://ocremix.org/artist/15315/nelward) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org/) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - [ReMix: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time "Subterranean Kamikaze"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00530) by [Juan Medrano](https://ocremix.org/artist/4685/juan-medrano), [zircon](https://ocremix.org/artist/4628/zircon) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org/) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - [ReMix: EarthBound "Bus!"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00984) by [Shadow](https://ocremix.org/artist/4546/shadow) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org/) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - [ReMix: Street Fighter II: The World Warrior "Go Home and Be a Family Man"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01194) by [Norrin_Radd](https://ocremix.org/artist/4453/norrin-radd) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org/) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - [ReMix: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 "Tight Finale"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00530) by [Jivemaster](https://ocremix.org/artist/4287/jivemaster) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org/) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...)

Minisode: Do Creators Matter?

The Nickscast — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 18:35:05 +0000

What do you do... when the work you love is created by a racist? Or when a work is misogynistic? We dip our toe into the new criticism to talk about the role between creative works, their creators, and fans in fandom... and hopefully aren't problematic ourselves along the way! It's the holidays, which means we are taking a break, AND making time to plan for a great new season! Next season starts next week with a 100th episode extravaganza! All this in 20 minutes or less! **Sources** - Opening music, ["Diggin' til the Very End"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Minisode: Should Fans Be Critical?

The Nickscast — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 18:35:29 +0000

Do fans really vote with their dollars, in terms of endorsing creator behaviour? And can fans just enjoy a thing without projecting criticism (positive or negative) onto it? We're going to try to argue one way or the other (well, we'll definitely succeed at the arguing part). It's the holidays, which means we are taking a break, AND making time to plan for a great new season! All this in 20 minutes or less! **Sources** - Opening music, ["Diggin' til the Very End"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

MAS*H - Time Capsule of a Mainstream Fandom

The Nickscast — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 18:35:37 +0000

Where is the fandom today, and would they even want a M*A*S*H reboot? What would that even look like? We're giving you the best care anywhere* (as far as a podcast goes) on this week's episode! *Please consult with your physician for any actual medical care you may need. We are not doctors. ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > M*A*S*H is an American war comedy-drama television series that aired on CBS from 1972 to 1983. It was developed by Larry Gelbart, adapted from the 1970 feature film M*A*S*H, which, in turn, was based on Richard Hooker's 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. The series, which was produced with 20th Century Fox Television for CBS, follows a team of doctors and support staff stationed at the "4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" in Uijeongbu, South Korea, during the Korean War (1950–53). The show's title sequence features an instrumental-only version of "Suicide Is Painless", the original film's theme song which was popular enough to become the UK's best selling song hitting number 1and staying for 3 weeks in May/June of 1980. The show was created after an attempt to film the original book's sequel, M*A*S*H Goes to Maine, failed. The television series is the best-known of the M*A*S*H works, and one of the highest-rated shows in US television history. > — [Wikipedia - M*A*S*H (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M*A*S*H_(TV_series)) **Search Data:** While it is unclear how popular MASH has been since its initial release in the 1970s, we do have some data from [Google Trends as far back as 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F014gjp). Surprisingly, while interest in the show was on a downturn until December 2014, the show has recently enjoyed a slight upward trend in interest, with some notable spikes in February 2015 (Release on Netflix), January 2017 (Release on Hulu), and March 2018 (More episodes released on Hulu). The top ten countries for MASH, by search volume, are as follows: Albania (By a _large_ margin), Czechia, Slovakia, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Romania, Norway, and Sweeden. [// Could be unrelated: MASH = Ministry of Science and Education]: # **Fan Demographics:** From a very rough self-selecting sample of folks on reddit, we were able to get some data on what today's fans of MASH look like... in terms of age at least. Through some quick javascript math on the thread ["What is the average age of the MASH viewer?](https://www.reddit.com/r/mash/comments/51cvx4/what_is_the_average_age_of_the_mash_viewer_how/), we get the following data of the approximately 100 data points: - Max age: 54 - Mean age: 28.2 - Median age: 27 - Mode age: 30 - Min age: 10 Other than that, data is scarce... other than this tidbit from Mental Floss: > Seventy-seven percent of the people watching television in the United States on the night of Monday, February 28, 1983 were watching the two-and-a-half-hour series finale, “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen.” That was 121.6 million people. A company only had to pay $30,000 to run a 30-second commercial when M*A*S*H got started in 1972. For the series finale, a 30-second spot cost $450,000. > — [Mental Floss - 17 Things You Might Not Know About M*A*S*H](http://mentalfloss.com/article/68457/17-painless-facts-about-mash) **Fanac Fast Facts:** - On the fan works archive Archive Of Our Own, there are [just over 1000 fan works related to MASH](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/MASH%20(TV)/works): - Top three categories: M/M (528), Gen (352), F/M (208) - ...Almost all, of which, are related to the TV series (i.e. there isn't a prominent overlap with other fandoms, though there is overlap) - Top three characters: Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (793), B. J. Hunnicutt (434), Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (248) - Top three relationships: B. J. Hunnicutt/Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (233), "Trapper" John McIntyre/Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (154), Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan/Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce (95) ### [Last Episode's](https://fanthropological.com/wrestling) Famous Last Words What did we have to say before doing the preparation for this week's episode? **T:** Is this another fandom that is going to die out? Is the fandom still alive? **G:** Would fans like to see M.A.S.H. rebooted? **Z:** When the show was running, how did fans get together? ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - _Ending_: [ReMix: Chrono Trigger "Way Before the Day Before Yesterday"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03410) by [Wiesty](https://ocremix.org/artist/8640/wiesty), [The OC Jazz Collective](https://ocremix.org/artist/14337/the-oc-jazz-collective) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org/) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Pro Wrestling - It's All "Fake"

The Nickscast — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 18:45:56 +0000

Why do people care so much about whether or not wrestling is fake? And what is it about pro wrestling that reels fans in? All this and more on this week's episode with our own resident expert, G! ## Episode Outline ## Fandom Facts ### [Last Episode's](https://fanthropological.com/earthbound) Famous Last Words What did we have to say before doing the preparation for this week's episode? **G:** < Abstained > **T:** Why do people enjoy watching bad wrestling? [// Seems partially nostalgia: period where it was cool. lack of competition or desire to find other sources.]: # **Z:** Wrestlers are pretty great show people, performing for the back of the room... have there been wrestlers that were not fans before they got into it (or ever during)? Is every pro-wrestler a fan? **Guest(s):** Statement ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ### Famous Last Words Our chance (and yours, if you're watching on [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast)) to have some (in)famous last words about next week's topic before we've done any prep work! Next week, we'll be talking about the fans and fandom of _M.A.S.H._! **T:** Is this another fandom that is going to die out? Is the fandom still alive? **G:** Would fans like to see M.A.S.H. rebooted? **Z:** When the show was running, how did fans get together? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Earthbound - Definitely Not A Cult!

The Nickscast — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 18:35:19 +0000

How does such a small franchise maintain a strong fanbase almost thirty* years later? And just what is it about fuzzy pickles and odometers that reel people into the games in the first place? ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > The Mother series ... consists of three role-playing video games: the 1989 Mother for the Famicom, the 1994 Mother 2, known as EarthBound outside of Japan, for the Super NES, and the 2006 Mother 3 for the Game Boy Advance. Written by Shigesato Itoi and published by Nintendo, and featuring game mechanics modeled on the Dragon Quest series, the Mother series is known for its sense of humor, originality, and parody. The player uses weapons and psychic powers to fight hostile, everyday objects, aliens and brainwashed people. Signature elements of the series include the lighthearted plots, the battle sequences with psychedelic backgrounds, and the "rolling HP meter": as player health ticks down like an odometer (damage doesn't instantly subtract HP), players can outrun the meter to heal before dying. While the franchise is popular in Japan, in the United States, it is best associated with the cult following behind EarthBound. > — [Wikipedia - EarthBound](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_(video_game_series)) **Names** Sometimes fandoms have a definitive name (e.g. "Whovians") other fandoms... struggle. Here are some of the names that [the community has come up with](https://earthboundcentral.com/2012/03/what-are-earthbound-fans/): - Starmen - Motherheads - Momma's Boys - Mother Lovers - EarthBounders - Boundies - Eagleandians **Search Data:** In a surprise twist, unlike most of the fandoms that we have covered on the show, [EarthBound fandom has been almost constant](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F01282w,%2Fm%2F01s7_9) (it's only decreased a little bit since 2004). The most notable spike in interest occured in October 2008, which likely coincides with the release of the unofficial English fan translation by the StarMen.net community. The top ten countries for _EarthBound_, by search volume, are as follows: Japan, United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Chile, Jordan, Australia, Mexico, Philippines, and Sweden. The top ten countries for the _Mother_ series, by search volume, are as follows: Indonesia, United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Singapore, Pakistan, and Australia. ### [Last Episode's](https://fanthropological.com/thesimpsons) Famous Last Words What did we have to say before doing the preparation for this week's episode? **T:** I want to know more about starmen.net **G:** Is anyone drawn to EarthBound because of it's contemporary, American-ness? **Z:** Itoi has gone on record to say that there will be no more Mother games... are fans making continuations of the series since there will be more more official releases? ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ### Spotlight? [The Minch Foundation](http://www.minchfoundation.org/) > A Charity for People Like Us > >You are a successful businessman. People owe you a hundred thousand dollars or more. But when have you ever taken time out to give back to your community? > >— [The Minch Foundation](http://www.minchfoundation.org/#our-story-1-alex) A division of Golden Aloysius Heavy Industries, you might know them for the EarthBound Bash or their Strategic Partnerships Enabling Network Dynamics (S.P.E.N.D.) awards presented at Camp Fangamer most recently awarded in 201X to Bill Gate, Elong Musk, and Mr. Uber. ### Spotlight?! Camp Fangamer / EarthBound Baaaash!! There _was_ (is?) a cool event related to EarthBound, but it may be defunct? It's hard to find permanent information. In 2014, there was an event called EarthBound Baaaash!! which raised over $20k for [Speak your Silence](https://speakyoursilence.org/#), a charity "to inspire people to prevent sexual abuse and assault by sharing their voice for those affected". That event _may_ have evolved into [Camp Fangamer](https://www.fangamer.com/blogs/newsletter/tbd), which is a more general celebration of the Fangamer community while also being heavily Earthbound influenced. ### Spotlight: [Mother 4 Game](http://www.mother4game.com/) > Mother 4 follows the journey of three kids and the leader of a biker gang. With dark rumors of "Modern Men" running wild, these unassuming heroes set out to uncover the truth, no matter how dangerous. From bustling urban streets to secret volcano bases, all kinds of oddball thugs and impossible monsters stand in their way... but everything should be okay if they don't forget to write home! > ... > This game is built from the ground up by a group of volunteers to be released completely free for Windows, Mac and Linux. It features original artwork, music, story and even a custom engine. This project has been in development for five years, with serious work beginning 2 years ago. > > — [Mother 4](http://www.mother4game.com/about.html) ### SPOTLIGHT: [EarthBound Anthology](http://anthology.starmen.net/index.html) > In spite of a seemingly endless stream of disappointments and letdowns, the EarthBound fanbase remains as strong and optimistic as ever. This online version of the Anthology was posted as the final bonus for the 2009 EBFGP, a yearly event in which the community plays through EarthBound together over the course of a month. The 2009 event drew thousands of visitors, hundreds of whom would tune in daily to watch the live broadcasts by various community members. > > There never was a greater illustration of the EarthBound community's spirit, and its in that same spirit that we (finally!) commit this book to the public. Stay classy, EarthBound fans! > > — [EarthBound Anthology](http://anthology.starmen.net/index.html) **Honorable Mentions** - [Mother's Cookbook](https://twitter.com/motherscookbook): A cookbook inspired by the wacky foods in the Mother series of games. Unclear if you can buy this or not, but you can find out more by following them on twitter and DMing them. ### Famous Last Words Our chance (and yours, if you're watching on [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast)) to have some (in)famous last words about next week's topic before we've done any prep work! Next week, we'll be talking about the fans and fandom of _Pro Wrestling_! **G:** < Abstained > **T:** Why do people enjoy watching bad wrestling? **Z:** Wrestlers are pretty great show people, performing for the back of the room... have there been wrestlers that were not fans before they got into it (or ever during)? Is every pro-wrestler a fan? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - Logo: ["EarthBound icon.png"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EarthBound_icon.png) by [Arkhandar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Arkhandar) used under [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) - _Ending_: ["Pollyanna (I Believe in You)"](https://soundcloud.com/jamieirl/pollyanna-i-believe-in-you) by [Jamie Paige](https://soundcloud.com/jamieirl) used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

The Simpsons - Worst Episode Ever

The Nickscast — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 18:35:20 +0000

The Nicks dive deep into personal nostalgia (that's good), the divide between fans (that's bad), the different shows that the Simpsons has been (that's good), and more for this long running (that's bad) media franchise! Can I go now? ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > The Simpsons is a long running animated TV show, spanning 27 seasons over as many years, and counting (As of Dec 2016). It revolves around the lives of a supposedly average American middle class household; Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie. > > Over the years, The Simpsons' cast grew from the original five family members into over a hundred unique characters, along with numerous cameos. > — [Fanlore - The Simpsons](https://fanlore.org/wiki/The_Simpsons) Created by Matt Groening, _The Simpsons_ debuted as a series of shorts on the _Tracy Ullman Show_ in 1987 and since then has become a worldwide cultural phenomenon spanning hundreds of episodes and many comics, video games, and so much more. It is the longest running TV show in history and airs in over 180 countries. "The series is a satirical depiction of working-class life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. The show is set in the fictional town of Springfield and parodies American culture and society, television, and the human condition" (Wikipedia). **Search Data:** Using Google Trends data, there is about as much search data available as there is missing, since it starts back in 2004. That being said, search interest in the show [has been on a slow decline](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F07c72) since approximately May 2010 (despite being relatively stable from 2004 - 2010). The show has had a particular spike in interest in July 2007 (_The Simpsons_ movie), but otherwise, no major peaks in interest. The top ten countries for _the Simpsons_, by search volume, are as follows: Argentina, Lithuania, Czechia, Bolivia, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, Colombia, and Slovakia (Canada is 27th; United States is 42nd). **Fan Demographics:** There is lots of data available about viewing habits and ratings... but not so much about the fans themselves. An article from the L.A. Times in 1990 has [some interesting tidbits though](http://articles.latimes.com/1990-10-16/entertainment/ca-2464_1_bart-simpson): > Fifty-six percent of kids 2-11 and more than 50% of youngsters 12-17 tuned in "The Simpsons." What's more, 50% of men 18-34 and 42% of men 18-49 also watched Bart Simpson and his animated family. > > The figures for women fans of "The Simpsons" were slightly lower but still impressive--41% of females 18-34 and 36% of those 18-49 watched the show's fall premiere. > > Among folks 50 and older, there was almost no "Simpsons" audience: 8% of the men and 6% of the women. As well, we know that folks see the show mostly positively even after its long run, even against other contemporaries like [The Big Bang Theory and Family Guy](https://www.statista.com/statistics/917969/us-audience-tv-show-attitudes/) with 56% positive opinion (compared to 23% negative opinion). We also know that there have been [less viewers, less awards, less top ten episodes](https://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/tv/a-scientific-search-to-find-out-when-the-simpsons-became-shit/71477), and not a lot of representation (by the numbers)... but none of that is about the fan demographics, unfortunately. [//Archive Of Our Own has approximately 300 fan works... but like, the simpsons has done it everywhere. THERE'S EVEN A SUBREDDIT FOR IT.]: # ### [Last Episode's](https://fanthropological.com/alien) Famous Last Words What did we have to say before doing the preparation for this week's episode? **T:** What is the fandom like now compared to the beginning? Or in the mid 90s? [// Didn't really find anything on this; moreso found things about watching the show then, or how the show changed]: # **G:** Do Simpsons shitposters tend to be fans of those first few seasons? Have they gone through all iterations? **Z:** At this point in the Simpsons, what kind of interaction is there between "Simpsons HQ" and the fandom? **Jaime:** Do you choo-choo-choose me? ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ### Spotlight: [Frinkiac](https://frinkiac.com/) > Frinkiac is a search engine for Simpsons quotes. It contains nearly 3 million screenshots (every episode from season 1 through 151) indexed by the quote they are associated with and has a variety of features to help you find the exact screenshot you’re looking for. Once you’ve found it you can share it with your friends or make a quick meme. Never again find yourself wishing you could pinpoint the second his heart rips in half. You’ll feel like god must feel when he’s holding a gun. > > — [Frinkiac - The Simpsons Screenshot Search Engine](https://langui.sh/2016/02/02/frinkiac-the-simpsons-screenshot-search-engine/) ### Spotlight: [Dark Simpsons](http://www.darksimpsons.com/) > Welcome to Dark Simpsons Comics! If you are reading this, you have probably already taken a look at the comics we make here and have a sense of what we do. But I am here to explain a bit more about our approach to making these comics. Our goal here is to make the most ridiculous, dark, outrageous and offensive comics/memes/GIFs that we can out of screenshots from The Simpsons. We mix and match screenshots from many episodes, trying our best to maintain a solid storyline that does not require any dialogue to understand. > > — [Dark Simpsons](http://www.darksimpsons.com/about-us/) ### Famous Last Words Our chance (and yours, if you're watching on [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast)) to have some (in)famous last words about next week's topic before we've done any prep work! Next week, we'll be talking about the fans and fandom of _Earthbound / Mother_! **T:** I want to know more about starmen.net **G:** Is anyone drawn to Earthbound because of it's contemporary, American-ness? **Z:** Itoi has gone on record to say that there will be no more Mother games... are fans making continuations of the series since there will be more more official releases? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Alien - Far Away From LV426

The Nickscast — Fri, 23 Nov 2018 18:35:31 +0000

How does the Alien cinematic universe fit together (and do fans care... about Predator)? How important is Ripley to the series? Is feminism an important part of the series? All this and more as Jaime of [Perfect Organism](https://www.perfectorganism.com/), an Alien Podcast, helps us to better understand the fandom around the Alien films! ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Alien is a science-fiction horror media franchise centered on the film series depicting Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver) and her battles with an extraterrestrial lifeform, commonly referred to as "the Alien". > > Produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox, the series began with Alien (1979), directed by Ridley Scott. It was followed by three sequels, Aliens (1986), Alien³ (1992), and Alien Resurrection (1997), directed by James Cameron, David Fincher, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet, respectively. Scott also directed a prequel series, composed of Prometheus (2012) and Alien: Covenant (2017). > > The series has led to numerous books, comics, and video game spin-offs. The Alien vs. Predator franchise combines the continuities of the Alien franchise with the Predator franchise, and consists of two films as well as varying series of comics, books and video games. A video game called Alien: Isolation was released in 2014 to generally positive reviews. > — [Wikipedia - Alien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(franchise)) **Search Data:** Interest in the Alien franchise is down a little bit since 2004, [but is relatively stable and oddly periodic](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F095d5f). There have been outsized spikes in search volume starting August 2004 (_Alien vs. Predator_), December 2007 (_Alien vs. Predator: Requiem_), February 2010, February 2013 (_Aliens: Colonial Marines_), October 2014 (_Alien: Isolation_), and May 2017 (_Alien: Covenant_). The top ten countries, by search volume, are as follows: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, Peru, Mexico, El Salvador, Paraguay, Germany, Ecuador (Canada is 31st, United States is 34th). **Fan Demographics:** [One source, BrandWatch, has some data specifically around online audiences interested in _Alien: Covenant_](https://www.brandwatch.com/blog/audience-insights-alien-covenant/). - _Gender_: 80% male (49% more likely to be male than the general twitter audience), compared to 20% female (57% _less_ than the general twitter audience) - _Interests_: 25% Interested in movies (553% more likely than general audience), 21% interested in books (150% more likely than general audience), 19% interested in games (134% more likely than general audience) **Fanac Fast Facts:** - Archive Of Our Own has [over 1000 fan works related to the Alien series](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Alien%20Series/works): - Top 3 Categories: F/M (35%), Gen (31%), M/M (25%) - Top 3 Characters: David 8 (34%), Ellen Ripley (19%), Walter (Alien: Covenant) (13%) - Top 3 Relationships: David 8/Walter (Alien: Covenant) (8%), Daniels/Walter (Alien Movies) (7%), Daniels (Alien: Covenant)/Walter (Alien: Covenant) (6%) - ...Most of which are only involved with the existing Alien properties ### [Last Episode's](https://fanthropological.com/pinball) Famous Last Words What did we have to say before doing the preparation for this week's episode? **T:** What do fans think about Prometheus? Which do they dislike more, _Alien: Resurrection_ or _Prometheus_? [// Literally asked on reddit. After listening to your episode on fandom toxicity, I don't really want to bring it up (Also, forgot about / haven't seen Alien: Covenant)]: # **G:** Alien Quadrilogy... What's the deal with that? Is there a sense of which is more beloved, Alien or Aliens? **Z:** Within the fandom ... is there an enduring love of Metroid? **Jessica:** If Jonesy had his own spin-off movie what would it be about? ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ### Spotlight: [Aliens: The Musical](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noe95IxpsiQ) You should also check out some of legolambs other works, which includes mini-musicals of other movies. ### Famous Last Words Our chance (and yours, if you're watching on [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast)) to have some (in)famous last words about next week's topic before we've done any prep work! Next week, we'll be talking about the fans and fandom of _The Simpsons_! **T:** What is the fandom like now compared to the beginning? Or in the mid 90s? **G:** Do Simpsons shitposters tend to be fans of those first few seasons? Have they gone through all iterations? **Z:** At this point in the Simpsons, what kind of interaction is there between "Simpsons HQ" and the fandom? **Jaime:** Do you choo-choo-choose me? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - ["Alien logo b"](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alien_logo_b.png) by [IllaZilla](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:IllaZilla) used under [CC BY SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) - _Ending_: [ReMix: Contra III: The Alien Wars "Dystopian Future"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02132) by [dannyshock](https://ocremix.org/artist/9511/dannyshock)from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org/) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Pinball - Tilting Into The Fandom

The Nickscast — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 18:35:06 +0000

Does Pinball really go back to the 1700s? Why the resurgence recently? And is it more about playing, collecting, or building? We've got special guest, Jessica, from the Pinball Podcast to help us out! ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Pinball is a type of arcade game, in which points are scored by a player manipulating one or more steel balls on a play field inside a glass-covered cabinet called a pinball table (or "pinball machine"). The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible. Many modern pinball machines include a story line where the player must complete certain objectives in a certain fashion to complete the story, usually earning high scores for different methods of completing the game. Points are earned when the ball strikes different targets on the play field. A drain is situated at the bottom of the play field, partially protected by player-controlled plastic bats called flippers. A game ends after all the balls fall into the drain a certain number of times. Secondary objectives are to maximize the time spent playing (by earning "extra balls" and keeping the ball in play as long as possible) and to earn bonus games (known as "replays"). > — [Wikipedia - Pinball](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinball) **Search Data:** Interest in Pinball has been [on the decline since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0gfk5), but has been stable since around 2015. However, since pinball has existed in some form since arguable the 1700s or 1800s... this isn't a lot of data to work with. The top ten countries for pinball, by search volume, are as follows: Hungary, France, Chile, Belgium, Croatia, Netherlands, Australia, Serbia, Germany, Uruguay (Canada is 13th, United States is 16th). ### [Last Episode's](https://fanthropological.com/vampirechronicles) Famous Last Words **T:** Why has there been a revival of pinball in the last decade? [//You see, pinball spent the latter half of the ’00s in a state of living death. Stern Pinball, then the only pinball company left, had put out some solid machines before 2005 (Spider-Man, The Lord of the Rings, The Simpsons Pinball Party), but it soon found itself having to cut costs to survive. The company eventually had to compromise on the quality of the games it was shipping and wound up axing significant top talent to make ends meet. This was a time where every Stern Pinball release felt like it could’ve been the pinball world’s last. Then Jersey Jack announced that he was getting out of the coin-op distribution and operating business, and was going to pursue pinball manufacturing. And the pinball industry exploded.]: # **G:** Is there another pop culture touchstone apart from Tommy? Was there a Fonz of pinball? **Z:** How do these pinball fans feel about digital pinball? **Vrai:** How did the connection between pinball places and bars happen? ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ### Spotlight: [Project Pinball](http://projectpinball.org/) > Headquartered in Bonita Springs, Florida, Project Pinball Charity is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that places pinball machines in children’s hospitals to provide recreational relief to patients, family members, and hospital staff. We have been donating and maintaining pinball machines since 2011, and have since become a nationwide organization with pinball machines in hospitals across the United States. We provide all the equipment, parts, supplies and the regular maintenance at no cost to the hospital. > ... > We have donated 39 pinball machines to 35 different hospitals in 18 different states. > > — [Project Pinball - About](http://projectpinball.org/about) ### Spotlight: [Belles and Chimes Pinball](http://bellesandchimespinball.com/) > Belles & Chimes is an international network of inclusive women's pinball leagues run by women, for women. The organization was founded in 2013 in Oakland, California. > > Our mission is to provide a fun, social environment for women to play pinball together. > — [Belles and Chimes Pinball](http://bellesandchimespinball.com/) ### Spotlight: [Pinball Map](http://pinballmap.com/) > Pinball Map is a crowdsourced pinball locator for public pinball machines. And we have a mobile app! > — [Pinball Map](http://pinballmap.com/) ### Famous Last Words Our chance (and yours, if you're watching on [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast)) to have some (in)famous last words about next week's topic before we've done any prep work! Next week, we'll be talking about the fans and fandom of the _Alien_ franchise! **T:** What do fans think about Prometheus? Which do they dislike more, Alien Resurrection or Prometheus? **G:** Alien Quadrilogy... What's the deal with that? Is there a sense of which is more beloved, Alien or Aliens? **Z:** Within the fandom ... is there an enduring love of Metroid? **Jessica:** If Jonesy had his own spinoff movie what would it be about? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

The Vampire Chronicles - Petty AF

The Nickscast — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 18:35:38 +0000

What happens when you take strong subtext, immortal beings, and over forty years of writing? It's not fanfic, but it is a fascinating history of the Vampire Chronicles fandom! **History and Origins:** > The Vampire Chronicles is a series of novels by American writer Anne Rice that revolves around the fictional character Lestat de Lioncourt, a French nobleman turned into a vampire in the 18th century. > > — [Wikipedia - The Vampire Chronicles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vampire_Chronicles) The book series encompasses 16 separate novels (including crossovers) from 1976 to 2018, and has been adapted into films—Interview with the Vampire in 1994, starring Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater, and Kirsten Dunst; and The Queen of the Damned in 2002—and as of July 2018, it was announced that a TV series adaptation of the novels is in development by Hulu. **Search Data:** Interest in _The Vampire Chronicles_ [has been on a slow decline since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F02f5gv,%2Fm%2F02p76f9,%2Fm%2F0mb0). The series enjoyed a small lift in interest around November 2009 which buoyed interest in the series for several years afterwards until July 2018 where interest spiked again (most likely due to the Hulu's announcement). The top ten countries differ slightly depending on whether or not you're looking at the entire series, or _Interview with the Vampire_: - _The Vampire Chronicles_: Spain, Romania, Hungary, Mexico, Chile, Philippines, Uruguay, United States, Poland, Venezuela (Canada is 13th). - _Interview with the Vampire_: Mexico, Russia, Moldova, Belarus, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Chile, China, Latvia (United States is 20th, Canada is 23rd). [//2005 Anne Rice Spike - Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt]: # **Fanac Fast Facts:** - Archive of our own has [almost 1000 works related to the Vampire Chronicles](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Vampire%20Chronicles%20-%20All%20Media%20Types/works) - Top 3 Categories: M/M (657), Gen (215), F/M (103) - Top 3 Characters: Lestat de Lioncourt (566), Louis de Pointe du Lac (485), Armand (Vampire Chronicles) (243) - Top 3 Relationships: Lestat de Lioncourt/Louis de Pointe du Lac (429), Armand/Daniel Molloy (119), Armand/Louis de Pointe du Lac (56) [// Small number of fics should be apparent]: # ### [Last Episode's](https://fanthropological.com/halo) Famous Last Words What did we have to say before doing the preparation for this week's episode? **T:** How much is Vampire Chronicles responsible for the vampire trend in movies, tv, etc.? [//A better question might be, why vampires ever? Looking back, it’s hard to think of a period when we weren’t in the middle of a vampire craze. In the late 1970s, Anne Rice started raking in the money with Interview With the Vampire, and movies like Werner Herzog’s Nosferatu the Vampyre and the comedy Love at First Bite were critical hits. Then came The Lost Boys, Near Dark, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Innocent Blood, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the movie), four more Anne Rice books, and Interview With the Vampire (the movie)—which could all be lumped into a rage for vampires that lasted clear through from the mid-1980s to the early 1990s. Vampires were back again in the mid-1990s, with Buffy (the TV show), the Blade movies, Southern Vampire Mysteries (the book series), and From Dusk Till Dawn. And now we’ve arrived at the highly touted mid- to late-2000s vogue of Underworld, Twilight (books and movies), True Blood (based on Southern Vampire Mysteries), and The Vampire Diaries.]: # [// and compiled a list of the most important vampire-related books, films, and TV shows of the last half-century. In total, we included 169 movies, 106 books, and 62 seasons’ worth of TV.]: # [//1960-65; 1975-76; 1980-84: 1997]: # **G:** How much actual history is threaded through the Vampire Chronicles? **Z:** The fandom seems fairly curative... is there any fanfic? Is fanfic forbidden? What is the attitude? **Krysta:** How did the interview go? **Greg:** Is Anne Rice a Christian again, or isn't she? ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ### Spotlight: [Organization for Transformative Works](http://www.transformativeworks.org/) > The OTW believes that fanworks are creative and transformative, core fair uses, and will therefore be proactive in protecting and defending fanworks from commercial exploitation and legal challenge. This help will not be limited to those fans or projects directly connected with OTW. > > — [Organization for Transformative Works](http://www.transformativeworks.org/legal/) Of course, that's _just_ the legal advocacy that they do. They also run Archive of Our Own, Fanlore, run a peer-reviewed academic journal (_Transformative Works and Cultures_) and do a bunch more! You can help them out by visiting https://transformativeworks.org/donate ### Famous Last Words Our chance (and yours, if you're watching on [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast)) to have some (in)famous last words about next week's topic before we've done any prep work! Next week, we'll be talking about the fans and fandom of _Pinball_! **T:** Why has there been a revival of pinball in the last decade? **G:** Is there another pop culture touchstone apart from Tommy? Was there a Fonz of pinball? **Z:** How do these pinball fans feel about digital pinball? **Vrai:** How did the connection between pinball places and bars happen? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - _Ending_: [ReMix: Akumajo Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight "Where's the Wall Chicken At?"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR03178) by [Tetrimino](https://ocremix.org/artist/14134/tetrimino) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org/) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

One Piece - Friendship, Adventure, and... Piracy?

The Nickscast — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 17:35:27 +0000

Are you ready to give up your mundane life and explore a world of unimaginable possibilities, all while learning the values of friendship and becoming a pirate (possibly with some wacky abilities but definitely a quirky crew)? We're not _quite_ there, yet, but we _are_ talking about the fans and fandom of this beloved show, _One Piece_. Plus, we have special guest, Greg Werner (from the [One Piece Podcast](http://www.onepiecepodcast.com/)) to navigate us all the way to the Grand Line, and beyond! ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > One Piece is a long-running shounen manga series created by Oda Eiichiro (Odacchi to his fans) that is serialized in Weekly Shounen Jump. The story chronicles the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, a boy who gained a rubber-like body after eating a cursed fruit as a young child, and his quest to find the One Piece and become the Pirate King. Along his journey, he fights many villains, makes new friends, and finds his nakama, most of whom join his crew, the Strawhat Pirates. > > — [Fanlore - One Piece](https://fanlore.org/wiki/One_Piece) Since the first volume was released in 1997 (the same year as the Fifth Element, StarFox 64, and Final Fantasy 7, for reference), an additional 89 volumes have been released, over 850 episodes of the anime, 13 movies, 45 games (including GameSpy's "GBA Platformer of the Year" in 1995)... like, a lot of stuff. Lots. **Search Data:** One Piece has been increasing in popularity [up until around January 2016](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F01_f03). After that, it starts to decrease in popularity but is still more popular than in 2004. Another interesting occurrence is a spike (and drop in) in interest around October 2010. The top ten countries for _One Piece_, by search volume, are as follows: Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Phillipines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Morocco (Canada is 43rd, United States is 49th). [// Interestingly, trend correlates with increase in interest in MHA]: # **Fan Demographics:** We managed to grab demographics from a few different sources. ...One of which comes from the [One Piece Podcast itself](http://www.onepiecepodcast.com/2016/05/23/winter-2016-survey-results/) (circa 2016). In a survey with almost 700 respondents, this is what the data looks like: - *Age*: The largest group is folks 21-25 (42%); 15-20 (32%); 26-30 (16%)... - *Gender*: 76% male; 23.6% female; 0.4% other Not demographic data, but some interesting data nonetheless: - Only 4% of participants do not read the manga. 13% do not watch the anime. - 25% of participants do not participate in the fan community In 2011, NHK (a Japanese TV channel) had also conducted a survey of readers of the manga, which gives a slightly different set of age data... which doesn't exactly line up: - < 18 (12%), 19-29 (43%), 30-49 (32%), 50+ (13%) **Fanac Fast Facts** - Archive Of Our Own has [over 12000 works for One Piece](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/One%20Piece/works). - Top 3 Categories: M/M (6149), Gen (3624), F/M (2809) - Top 3 Categories: Monkey D. Luffy (5149), Roronoa Zoro (4694), Vinsmoke Sanji (4318) - Top 3 Relationships: Roronoa Zoro/Vinsmoke Sanji (2038), Monkey D. Luffy/Trafalgar D. Water Law (917), Roronoa Zoro/Sanji (882) ### [Last Episode's](https://fanthropological.com/halo) Famous Last Words Due to a scheduling conflict, there are no famous last words for this episode. Sorry! ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ### Spotlight: [One Pace](https://onepace.net/) > One Pace is a project aiming to match the One Piece manga more accurately than Toei's anime adaptation. We cut out filler scenes, reaction shots, padded sequences, and re-order scenes to stay truer to Goda's manga. > > — [One Pace - About](https://onepace.net/about) ### Famous Last Words Our chance (and yours, if you're watching on [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast)) to have some (in)famous last words about next week's topic before we've done any prep work! Next week, we'll be talking about the fans and fandom of _Vampire Chronicles_! **Greg:** Is Anne Rice a Christian again, or isn't she? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Halo - Hail to the Chief!

The Nickscast — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 17:35:58 +0000

When you find yourself in a universe (or franchise) that's constantly expanding, filled with horrifying zombie aliens, a religious war, and ancient alien technology (and even more ancient-er aliens)... it's time to sit back, read a million books, and learn about the lore, universe, and fandom of Halo! ...And we couldn't be in better hands as Krysta of [Halo: Podcast Evolved](https://www.halopodcastevolved.com/) guides us through the vast lore that is in store! ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Halo is a military science fiction first-person shooter video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed and developed by 343 Industries, a subsidiary of Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and an alliance of aliens known as the Covenant. The Covenant, led by their religious leaders called the Prophets, worship an ancient civilization known as the Forerunners, who perished in combat with the parasitic Flood. The central focus of the franchise builds off the experiences of Master Chief John-117, one of a group of supersoldiers codenamed Spartans, and his artificial intelligence (AI) companion, Cortana. Other characters, such as Noble Six from Halo: Reach, are also introduced in the series. The term "Halo" refers to the Halo Array: a group of immense, habitable, ring-shaped superweapons that were created by the Forerunners to destroy the Flood. They are similar to the Orbitals in Iain M. Banks' Culture novels, and to a lesser degree to author Larry Niven's Ringworld concept. > > — [Wikipedia - Halo (franchise)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halo_(franchise)) The game franchise has been running since 2001, and in that time over 65 million copies of the 13 games have been sold, grossing almost $3.4 billion (not counting the books, comics, live action films and miniseries, and anime). **Search Data:** By search data, [interest in the Halo franchise has been on a slow decline](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F04h6hv,%2Fm%2F0128442n,%2Fm%2F026wy8d). Comparing to other first-person shooters, it's possible that this is in part due to more competition. Interest in the game mostly spikes around the release of new games. The top countries for Halo, by search volume, are as follows: Mexico, Columbia, United States, Australia, Canada, Guatemala, New Zealand, Panama, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom. **Fan Demographics:** This week, we have an assortment of data from different sources. The most comprehensive we found was this survey from [r/halo](https://www.reddit.com/r/halo/comments/1wwgas/halo_a_demographic_survey/) with over 1300 results: - _Gender_: Mostly male (96.2%; female 3.8%) - _Age_: Mostly 18-24 (61.8%); 15-17 (22%); 25-34 (14%) - _Employment_: Mostly students (51%); Employed full-time (22.1%); Employed part-time (13.7%) - _Ethnicity_: Mostly white / caucasian (79%); Spanish / Hispanic / Latino (6.7%); Asian (4.6%) - _Marital Status_: Mostly single, never married (86.7%); Living with partner (6.2%); Married (5.2%) Regarding age data, there is this thread from the [Halo Waypoint forums](https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/90a6869bcf944c54a17102ac9e31da1a/topics/average-age-of-halo-players/395d83dd-0491-4ea4-867c-ae4966e637d0/posts) (number of participants is not stated): - 1% - Child (5-8) - 3% - Young Teen (9-13) - 41% - Teenager (14-19) - 41% - Young Adult (20-29) - 13% - Adult (30-64) - 1% - Senior (65+) And a different source, [T3CHNOCIDE's Demographic Survey Results](http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/User_blog:T3CHNOCIDE/Demographic_Survey_Results) (over 250 respondents), which seems to corroborate age and gender data: - _Age_: Mostly 14-17 (50%); 18-21 (25%); 22-30 (12.5%) - _Gender_: Mostly male (90%); other / no answer (7.5%); female (2.5%) **Fanac Fast Facts:** - Archive Of Our Own has [over 600 works related to Halo](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Halo%20(Video%20Games)%20*a*%20Related%20Fandoms/works): - Top 3 Categories: Gen (46.6%), F/M (35.3%), M/M (10.1%) - Top 3 Fandoms (non-Halo): Red vs. Blue (6.2%), Mass Effect Trilogy (4.4%), Star Wars (2.1%) - Top 3 Characters: John-117 (40.6%), Cortana (23.5%), Kelly-087 (11.5%) - Top 3 Relationships: Cortana / John-117 (10.3%), OC / OC (2.4%), Thomas Lasky / Sarah Palmer (2.4%) ### [Last Episode's](https://fanthropological.com/team-ico) Famous Last Words **T:** How much of the fandom is non-competitive or curative? [// Hard to say; Halo competitive subreddit has 6.2k subs, halo has 192k subs, halostory has 15.1k subs. Looks like a lot of curative]: # [// Admitedly, dumb question: That's most fandom]: # **G:** Did the Halo series draw any inspiration from Starship Troopers? **Z:** Is the Halo franchise set up to keep going even though there are no new games on the horizon? Do fans move on after a certain age? **Nick:** What's up with that talking plant? ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ### Spotlight: [Installation 01](https://installation01.org/) > Installation 01 is a fan-made Halo game being made by Halo lovers working from around the world. We aim to build an artistic tribute to Halo that recreates the multiplayer experience of the Bungie-era games. The game will be free to play on all PC platforms, including: Windows, macOS, and Linux. > > We operate very carefully under Microsoft's Game Content Usage Rules. All of Installation 01's assets are either created from scratch or obtained through the Unity Asset Store. We currently maintain a level of contact with Microsoft Studios and 343 Industries, which you can read about here. > > — [Installation01 - About Us](https://installation01.org/about) ### Spotlight: [Queens of Gaming](https://www.queensofgaming.com/) > Queens of Gaming is an all female casual gaming clan founded by xD Fantasy in 2010. The clan started off as a Halo based competitive team for Halo 3. We soon changed to a more casual group and expanded to Call of Duty for Modern Warfare 2 and the next installment for Halo, Reach. Throughout the years we have expanded to variety of games such as Destiny, Overwatch, Rainbow Six and more to come and now expanding to PC. With just over 90+ members we continue to expand to more games that everyone enjoys to play and make any necessary changes needed. This clan is not just run by one leader, it is run by everyone, meaning that everyone's opinions are heard and get a chance to let their ideas come into play. Our goal is to create a fun gaming environment for all female gamers no matter if you enjoy going straight into multiplayer, working as a team towards a common goal, or if you need help leveling up or obtaining achievements. We allow all female gamers to join regardless of skill or age. If you are looking for a clan that does not care whether we win or lose but prioritizes having fun, then join us! > > — [Queens of Gaming - About Us](https://www.queensofgaming.com/) ### Spotlight: [After Hours Gaming League](https://www.afterhoursgaming.tv/) > The After Hours Gaming League is a modern twist on traditional corporate sports leagues like softball and basketball. We encourage fun, teamwork, and friendly competition on the battlefields of top esports titles. In Spring 2018 we donated $21,550 to charity on behalf of the winning teams and had over 1700 players. All skill levels are welcome and we do our best to keep matches evenly paired. Matches happen every Saturday and the first 5-9 weeks are non-elimination matches. > > — [After Hours Gaming League](https://www.afterhoursgaming.tv/about) The league was started by popular gamer and professional StarCraft player Day[9], and has different esports games every season. Doesn't include Halo this season, but a cool semi-related cause! ### Famous Last Words Our chance (and yours, if you're watching on [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast)) to have some (in)famous last words about next week's topic before we've done any prep work! Next week, we'll be talking about the fans and fandom of Anne Rice's _Vampire Chronicles_! **T:** How much is Vampire Chronicles responsible for the vampire trend in movies, tv, etc.? **G:** How much actual history is threaded through the Vampire Chronicles? **Z:** The fandom seems fairly curative... is there any fanfic? Is fanfic forbidden? What is the attitude? **Krysta:** How did the interview go? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - _Ending_: [ReMix: Halo: Combat Evolved "Mahabharath Highlands"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01182) by [Freemind](https://ocremix.org/artist/4562/freemind), [GrayLightning](https://ocremix.org/artist/4516/graylightning) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org/) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Team ICO - The "Games As Art" Episode

The Nickscast — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 17:35:15 +0000

What happens when you find yourself in a beautiful world as a silent protagonist and a non-verbal story? You _might_ end up getting into a "games as art" discussion with a special guest Nick! We're talking about fans of the works of Team ICO (i.e. ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian)! Fortunately, we have [Nick Suttner](https://twitter.com/nsuttner), author of [the Boss Fight Books book on the subject](https://bossfightbooks.com/products/shadow-of-the-colossus-by-nick-suttner) to help us out! ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Team Ico was a Japanese video game development studio led by game designer Fumito Ueda. It was part of Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Studio's Product Development Department #1, and had developed the games _Ico_ and _Shadow of the Colossus_, both for the PlayStation 2. The team was also initially responsible for _The Last Guardian_ before Ueda's departure in 2011 and the formation of a new company taking over development in 2014. Their games are usually characterized by minimalist storytelling and gameplay, an atmospheric use of bloom and high dynamic range rendering (HDR) lighting, and use of fictional languages. Their products are frequently cited as examples of video games as an art form. > > — [Wikipedia - Team Ico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Team_Ico) **Search Data:** Based on worldwide search data, it looks like [the biggest peaks of interest in the games has already passed](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&geo=US&q=%2Fm%2F05zht0,%2Fm%2F0h53djf,%2Fm%2F06404g0). _Shadow of the Colossus_ is by far the most popular of the games and has had spikes in interest around October 2005 (its release date) and again in February 2018 (remake of the original). Interest in _The Last Guardian_ similarly spikes around its release date: December 2016. The top ten countries, by search volume, are as follows for the different games: - _Shadow of the Colossus_: Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Japan, Argentina, El Salvador, Canada, Uruguay, Mexico, Spain (United States is 11th) - _The Last Guardian_: Chile, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, Puerto Rico, Portugal, United States, New Zealand ### Famous Last Words: [Last Episode](http://fanthropological.com/shrek) **G:** Were fans thrilled to have the game featured in Adam Sandler's _Rain over me_? **T:** What are the odds of any of the Team Ico characters showing up in the new Smash? **Z:** Is there a fan-made concept album where each track represents one of the Colossi you fight in the game? **Alicia:** Do you like games? ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ### Spotlight: [Nomad Colossus (Youtube)](https://www.youtube.com/user/Nomad0168/featured) > _Shadow of the Colossus_ first came out in 2005. Since then, millions of people have played the beloved PS2 game, driven by its lonesome charm, moved by its mysterious ending. But one man never stopped playing, as a result, he's found stuff that the game's creators never intended anyone to see. > > The player in question is Michael Lambert, and he's been excavating Shadow of the Colossus for the last four years on his Nomad Colossus YouTube channel. He's used glitches, external software exploits, and excursions into the bowels of SOTC's game code to extensively map the hidden places, unused ideas and unheard music tucked away in the game's hidden corners. With the hours he's spent inside the game, it's entirely possible that Lambert—along with the secret hunters Dark0ssX, Pikol, WWWArea who mentored him—might know Shadow of the Colossus better than lead creator Fumito Ueda and the other men and women who created it. > — [Kotaku - Meet the Hacker Who's Spent Six Years Inside Shadow Of The Colossus](https://kotaku.com/meet-the-hacker-whos-spent-four-years-inside-shadow-of-1685039483) ### Famous Last Words Our chance (and yours, if you're watching on [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast)) to have some (in)famous last words about next week's topic before we've done any prep work! Next week, we'll be talking about the fans and fandom of _Halo_! **T:** How much of the fandom is non-competitive or curative? **G:** Did the Halo series draw any inspiration from Starship Troopers? **Z:** ~~Is the Halo franchise set up to keep going even though there are no new games on the horizon?~~ Do fans move on after a certain age? **Nick:** What's up with that talking plant? [// Interiewed creative direector, shooter controls on console, highwire, VR]: # [// "What if we had the same david and goliath feeling, but with rocker launchers"]: # ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - _Ending_: [ReMix: Shadow of the Colossus "Trico Flies"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02832) by [Kevin Penkin](https://ocremix.org/artist/11490/kevin-penkin) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Shrek - Kickin' It Into Ogredrive

The Nickscast — Fri, 12 Oct 2018 17:35:39 +0000

SOMEbody once told me this podcast's gonna roll me. I ain't the sharpest ogre in the swamp. Er, we're trying to find out what's under the various layers of the Shrek fandom. Memes? Sincerety? More memes? Is it infinite? PLUS, we have special guest Alicia Kraft of the Ogrecast to help us out! ## Episode Outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** The Shrek franchise traces its origins back in 1990 with a picture book titled _Shrek!_ by William Steig. It wasn't until 1995 that the first film was put into active development: > "Every development deal starts with a pitch and my pitch came from my then kindergartner, in collaboration with his pre-school brother. Upon our second reading of Shrek, the kindergartner started quoting large segments of the book pretending he could read them. Even as an adult, I thought Shrek was outrageous, irreverent, iconoclastic, gross, and just a lot of fun. He was a great movie character in search of a movie." > > — [Wikipedia - Shrek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrek#Development) [// where Bill Murray would play Shrek and Steve Martin would play Donkey... Nicolas Cage, Chris Farley]: # The Shrek films follow the (mis)adventures of Shrek (played by Mike Myers), Donkey (Eddie Murphy), and Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and subversions of fairy tales and pop culture as developed by DreamWorks animation. The first film was eventually produced and released six years later in 2001. It has since had a re-shrek-table three sequels (with a fifth movie planned for an unscheduled release date), two holiday specials, a spin-off film (with another spin-off in the works), a Netflix series based on the spin-off, several short films, almost thirty video games, _and_ a broadway musical. **Search Data:** Using Google Trends as a measuring stick, Shrek's popularity is mostly focused around the releases of the different films and [is otherwise fairly constant](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0g2jql). The top ten countries for Shrek, by search volume, are: Bulgaria, Moldova, Armenia, Albania, Chile, Mexico, El Salvador, Latvia, Puerto Rico, and Azerbaijan (Canada is 30th; United States is 36th). **Fanac Fast Facts:** - There are over three hundred [fan works related to Shrek on Archive Of Our Own](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Shrek%20(Movies)/works)... - About 50% is categorized as M/M (and about 25% as F/M) - Most works stay in universe, but there biggest crossovers are with _Bee Movie_ (20 works), _Sonic the Hedgehog_ (17 works), and _Harry Potter_ (16 works) - The top three characters in works? Shrek (73%), Donkey (16%), and Fiona (8%) - More surprising, the top three relationships? Fiona / Shrek (4%), Donkey / Shrek (3%), Shrek / _Reader_ (2%) ### Main Discussion **Topics covered in this episode:** TBD ### Spotlight: [Shrek Saber](https://bsaber.com/downloadshreksaber/) Do you like rhythm games? Do you like VR? What if you were playing a rhythm game that was just 83 minutes of Shrek? Well, that's what this is! You can now download a custom song which is effectively _the entire Shrek movie_ as a beat saber track. Sure. Why not. ### Spotlight: [Shrekfest](http://the3gi.com/shrekfest.html) > Shrekfest is the ultimate experience for Shrek-heads of all ages, currently gearing up for it's fifth year! Free admission, live music, and an outdoor screening of the 2001 masterpiece. Not to mention the games and prizes, highlighted by our infamous onion eating contest. So come dressed as your favorite Fairy Tale creature, bring a fold-out chair and we'll see you at the swamp! > > — [Shrekfest - About](http://the3gi.com/shrekfest.html#shrekfest_about) The page looks like it came out of a 2000-era geocities page, complete with Smash Mouth's all start playing (as a MIDI) in the background. I don't know if it will run again in 2019, but if you happen to be near Madison, Wisconsin around Labour day weekend, check it out and let us know what it is like! ### Famous Last Words Our chance (and yours, if you're watching on [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast)) to have some (in)famous last words about next week's topic before we've done any prep work! Next week, we'll be talking about the fans and fandom of _Team Ico_ (Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian)! **G:** Were fans thrilled to have the game featured in Adam Sandler's _Rain over me_? **T:** What are the odds of any of the Team Ico characters showing up in the new Smash? **Z:** Is there a fan-made concept album where each track represents one of the Colossi you fight in the game? **Alicia:** Do you like games? ## Where can you find us? Pretty much everything we do is `something/thenickscast`, but in specific... - If you're looking for this podcast (Fanthropological), you can find it at [Fanthropological.com](https://fanthropological.com) or on different podcatchers including [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn), [Apple Podcasts](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210?mt=2), [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLnBvZGlhbnQuY28vZmFudGhyb3BvbG9naWNhbC9yc3MueG1s) and many others! - You can join us for the live recording of the podcasts and participate (or catch us when we're playing some games) at [twitch.tv/thenickscast](https://twitch.tv/thenickscast) - Keep up-to-date with our latest goings-on on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast), or [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast), all `@thenickscast` - We also occasionally create extra content about fandom including convention coverage and interviews on [YouTube.com/thenickscast](https://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We have some fine merchandise available at [shop.thenickscast.com](https://shop.thenickscast.com) (and we'd love your support!) - If all else fails, you can email us: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) ## What is "Fanthropological"? Every week, Fanthropological delivers over an hour of fandom-related "fanalysis" covering a different fandom every week and giving you hard data, history, special guests, and, of course, speculation! We cover topics spanning the gamut of anime, manga, comics, video games, comics, movies, books, television, and, in general, geek culture. ## Credits - _Ending_: [ReMix: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 "What We Left Behind"](https://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02813) by [Aviators](https://ocremix.org/artist/13051/aviators) from [http://ocremix.org](http://ocremix.org) used under [ocremix.org content policy](http://ocremix.org/info/Content_Policy#If_you.27re_using_our_content_elsewhere_.28.22Terms_of_Use.22.29...) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Minisode: Subs or Dubs?

The Nickscast — Fri, 05 Oct 2018 17:35:25 +0000

Long ago in a distant land, we, the Nickscast, reminisced about the changing landscape of anime fandom from time immemorial to the present, and, in particular, the rivalry of subtitled and dubbed anime... and why it was never about either format. We're back with new content and a new season starting next week! All this in 20 minutes or less! **Sources** - Opening music, ["Diggin' til the Very End"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Minisode: What is the difference between an Anime fan and an Otaku?

The Nickscast — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 17:35:01 +0000

When you've got nothing else to argue about, why not be pedantic on the internet? For once, T and Z are not arguing against each other but instead, trying to dig into the etymological and psychological distinction between Anime fan and Otaku. G avoids bringing up Japanimation... crap. We're taking a short break between seasons, but the content still keeps coming! All this in 15 minutes or less! **Sources** - Opening music, ["Diggin' til the Very End"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Sonic The Hedgehog - Suckin' On Chili Dogs

The Nickscast — Fri, 21 Sep 2018 17:35:59 +0000

What kind of obscure lore will we unearth about Sonic "the" Hedgehog (Or is it Sonic "Maurice" Hedgehog)? Only time will tell, unless you're too slow! Fortunately, we have special guest Matt (AKA SonicMTD) to help us out! And that wraps up Season 8! Join us in a few short weeks as we return with the beginning of Season 9! What changes will occur? How rad will our beards be? Do people say rad anymore? In any case, the episodes will keep on coming, they just won't be live until we're back. So until next time... we'll see you next time! ## Where can I learn more about Matt (AKA SonicMTD)? If you'd like to hear more from Matt or check out his work, you're in luck! - His YouTube: https://youtube.com/SonicMTD - His Twitter: https://twitter.com/SonicMTD - His Facebook: https://facebook.com/SonicMTD ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Sonic the Hedgehog is a media franchise created and produced by Sega. It is primarily a video game franchise, centering on a series of speed-based platform games. Sonic, the protagonist, is an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog with supersonic speed, capable of reaching the speed of sound. Typically, Sonic—usually along with some of his friends, such as Tails, Amy, and Knuckles—must stop antagonist Doctor Eggman's plans for world domination. > > The first game in the series, released in 1991, was conceived by Sega's Sonic Team division after Sega requested a mascot character. Its success spawned many sequels and helped Sega become one of the leading video game companies during the 16-bit era of the early 1990s. > > While the first Sonic games were side-scrolling platform games, later games expanded into other genres, such as Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. The series had sold over 80 million physical copies by June 2011, and grossed over $5 billion by 2014. As of 2017, the series has shifted 360 million units, including software package sales and mobile game downloads. The franchise has also been spun out into other media, including cartoons, anime, and a comic book series recognized as the longest running based on a video game by Guinness World Records. > — [Wikipedia - Sonic the Hedgehog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog) **Search Data:** Based on search data, Sonic the Hedgehog has been [slowly declining in popularity](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F08b26_,%2Fm%2F07656) since 2004. Strangely though, there was a swell of interest from 2004 'til the present peaking around August 2009. The following is a list of top ten countries for _Sonic the Hedgehog_ (by search volume): Australia, United States, India, United Kingdom, Philippines, Germany, Indonesia, Sweden, Canada, Switzerland. **Fan Data:** We managed to find a few different fan surveys that had been conducted. From [the unofficial Sonic the Hedgehog survey](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/7may60/the_official_unofficial_sonic_the_hedgehog_survey/) with over 300 responses, we have some data points: - Top three games: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (24.9%), Sonic Adventure 2 (15%), Sonic 3 & Knuckles (14.6%) - Bottom three games: Sonic Boom - Rise of Lyric (31.5%), Sonic 06 (19.9%), Shadow the Hedgehog (7.5%) - Favourite character: Sonic (29.6%) - Least favourite character: The Deadly Six (32.7%) - Favourite vocal theme: Live and Learn (20.9%) And [from the subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/8hly52/the_reddit_redesign_survey_results_and_some_other/) (unclear how many responses): - _Gender:_ 9 Men to every 1 woman who responded - _Age:_ Folks age 14 to 23 make up 80.7%. Average age was 19.5 - _Introductory game:_ The original trilogy (39.4%) **Fanac Fast Facts:** - FanFiction.net has over [30 000 Sonic the Hedgehog Fanfics](https://www.fanfiction.net/game/Sonic-the-Hedgehog/). Sadly, that data is hard to break down, but fortunately Archive Of Our Own has [over 2000 fanworks](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Sonic%20the%20Hedgehog%20-%20All%20Media%20Types/works) - ...Most of which are rated General Audiences (37%) or Teen and Up (37%) - ...The top three categories are Gen (35%), M/M (33%), and F/M (23%) - ...The top three characters are Sonic (64%), Shadow (37%), and Tails (30%) - ...The top three relationships are Shadow / Sonic (12%), Rose / Sonic (6%), and Metal Sonic / Sonic (3%) - The Sonic Boom TV series makes direct reference to the Sonic fandom in [an episode with _Nominatus_](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/8jlpb4/sonic_is_aware_of_his_fandom/). _Nominatus_ says "Who dares oppose Nominatus, viral sensation and destructor of worlds?". Amy replies "Viral sensation? You mean like the cute sneezing panda?" and Sonic replies "Or all those weird pictures of me?" ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/3694ef99e8c796/) Famous Last Words **T** What part of Sonic do folks latch onto? Is it that he goes fast? Is it the 90s? **G** How important is the music? **Z** Sonic the Hedgehog has a mess of canon... but he loves chili dogs. Do chili dogs hold any particular significance to fans? Do they consume them in fan gatherings? **Jen** How do the fans feel about Sonic appearing in Wreck It Ralph? Is that him selling out? - [// Seems like folks are chomping at the bit for more Sonic, even bad Sonic (and even then, that just makes more communities). People are loving it]: # **Briddany** What are the most favourite and least favourite of Sonic's sidekicks? - [// Didn't find a direct answer, but based on survey, probably Shadow (13.4%), Tails (11.5%), Knuckles (9.3%). Least fav? Charmy the Bee (13.7%) ]: # ### This week's spotlight **[Sonic Marathon](http://sonicmarathon.com/)** > The Sonic Marathon is a sometimes yearly tradition here at Respawn Point, every year we gather together and set aside an entire week with one shared goal: to raise some money for charity while bashing our heads against as many Sonic the Hedgehog games as we possibly can. The marathon runs for 7 days straight starting February 10th with no breaks. ... > > We'll be playing every main line Sonic game and as many side games we can squeeze in. You can find the complete list further down. This year the charity of choice is SpecialEffect; They work with people suffering from various disabilities that would otherwise stop them from playing video games and interacting with the world around them. Special Effect do their best to come up with creative solutions using technology that enable them to enjoy the world and this wonderful hobby we all take for granted. ... > — [Sonic Marathon](http://sonicmarathon.com/) It is unclear as to whether or not it will run in 2019, but you can check out [@RPMarathons](https://twitter.com/RPMarathons) on twitter for potential updates. **[You're Too Show](http://youretooshow.com/)** > Zane-Huett and Splendorr host the weekly podcast You're Too Show, described by itself as an "investigation into the silly world of Sonic." Zane-Huett and Splendorr pitch it to me as an educational type of podcast, where instead of them being the sort of academic-professor types spouting knowledge, they're learning about Sonic right alongside the listener. Their project isn't unlike many creatives in the Sonic fandom: only they're wielding words instead of pens. > — [USGamer - The People Who Never Gave up on Sonic: A Deep Dive Into the Most Curious (and Passionate) Fandom on the Internet](https://www.usgamer.net/articles/sonic-fandom-deep-dive) **[Sonic - The Fan Film](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtCtQpclpY8)** > The intention of making this film was for it to be a spec film, with the primary purpose being to show a live-action take on Sonic the Hedgehog. > > http://www.facebook.com/BlueCoreStudios > http://www.facebook.com/sonicfanfilm If you haven't seen it before, it's just under 20 minutes AND features Jaleel White (aka Urkel and one of the original voices of Sonic)! - [// Plugs go here]: # ### Famous Last Words What do you want to see in next season of _Fanthropological_ or with _the Nickscast_? **T** Season 9 will be the season that we start to hit our stride and find our voice. **G** Next season, we might get to the end of an episode without having a case of the sillies. Next season, we are going to have an episode with five Nicks. **Z** It would be nice to have more about Western fandoms. Lots of things that have gone uncovered (i.e. M.A.S.H). **Matt** Would like to see us have continued successful growth... and more renown. Would like to see the Nickscast to the point where you have a justified fan audience (i.e. Live Nickscast at a convention... on the road). ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast)! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - Do you use [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn)? Well, we're on there too! - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Sonic the Hedgehog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog) - [Reddit - Sonic the Hedgehog](https://old.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/) - [Discord - /r/SonicTheHedgehog](https://discordapp.com/invite/sonic) - [Google Trends - Sonic the Hedgehog (game series) vs Sonic the Hedgehog (character)](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F08b26_,%2Fm%2F07656) - [FanFiction.net - Sonic the Hedgehog](https://www.fanfiction.net/game/Sonic-the-Hedgehog/) - [Archive Of Our Own](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Sonic%20the%20Hedgehog%20-%20All%20Media%20Types/works) - [r/gaming - Sonic is aware of his fandom](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/8jlpb4/sonic_is_aware_of_his_fandom/) - [YouTube - The Tragic History of Sonic’s Fandom - The Fandom Files](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5SAMhHh2JE) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - The Official Unofficial Sonic The Hedgehog Survey](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/7may60/the_official_unofficial_sonic_the_hedgehog_survey/) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - The reddit redesign, survey results, and some other boring ramblings.](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/8hly52/the_reddit_redesign_survey_results_and_some_other/) - [YouTube - What's up With: The Sonic the Hedgehog Fandom!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c9_NAZeEdY) - [USGamer - The People Who Never Gave up on Sonic: A Deep Dive Into the Most Curious (and Passionate) Fandom on the Internet](https://www.usgamer.net/articles/sonic-fandom-deep-dive) - [Sonic Wikia - The Fastest Thing Alive](http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/Fastest_Thing_Alive) - [Sonic Wikia - Sonic Boom](http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/Sonic_Boom_(song)) - [Fanlore - Sonic the Hedgehog (franchise)](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(franchise)) - [Game Skinny - Gaming Grub: How To Make Sonic's Chili Dog](https://www.gameskinny.com/m64ms/gaming-grub-how-to-make-sonics-chili-dog) - [Gamefaqs - Did Sonic always canonically love chili-dogs?](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/627224-sonic-generations/63667072) - [Grape - Sonic the Hedgehog And Hooters Japan Team Up For Chili Dog Campaign](https://grapee.jp/en/87752) - [Quora - Article Title](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-hate-Sonic) - [Quora - Article Title](https://www.quora.com/Why-does-Mario-continue-to-be-lighthearted-goofy-and-kid-friendly-while-Sonic-the-Hedgehog-tries-way-too-hard-to-be-dark-edgy-and-mature) - [Quora - How Can Mario's Friends get a Free Pass and be Considered good but Sonic the Hedgehog's Friends are among the most Despised Elements of the Sonic Franchise?](https://www.quora.com/How-can-Marios-friends-get-a-free-pass-and-be-considered-good-but-Sonic-the-Hedgehogs-friends-are-among-the-most-despised-elements-of-the-Sonic-franchise) - [Quora - Is it Okay to Still like Sonic the Hedgehog Even Though It's a Dead Franchise?](https://www.quora.com/Is-it-okay-to-still-like-Sonic-the-Hedgehog-even-though-its-a-dead-franchise) - [r/sonic - IGN vs Sonic and Why it Happened](https://www.reddit.com/r/sonic/comments/4w3q8y/ign_vs_sonic_and_why_it_happened/) - [r/sonic - In your Opinion, Which is Best and Why? Sonic TV, Games, or Comics?](https://www.reddit.com/r/sonic/comments/1h2joi/in_your_opinion_which_is_best_and_why_sonic_tv/) - [r/sonic - Weekly Sonic Discussion #3 (Why do You like the Sonic Franchise?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/sonic/comments/455rli/weekly_sonic_discussion_3_why_do_you_like_the/) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - Why do I get mild anxiety when looking at Sonic?](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/4zzc4d/why_do_i_get_mild_anxiety_when_looking_at_sonic/) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - Made a video where I actually...](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/5mghn4/made_a_video_where_i_actually_took_the_time_to/) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - After a Quarter Century What is it about Sonic](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/73c1re/after_a_quarter_century_what_is_it_about_sonic_as/) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - In Defense of Shipping Canon Characters](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/7buh60/in_defense_of_shipping_canon_characters_and_fan/) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - Sonic Statue Spotted at LGBT Pride Event](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/8oqv2g/sonic_statue_spotted_at_lgbt_pride_event_also/) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - Sonic will appear in Wreck it Ralph 2](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/9b9be5/sonic_will_appear_in_wreck_it_ralph_2/) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - Okay Guys, I’ve been Trying to Figure this out for almost 10 Years Pls Help](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/756xj4/okay_guys_ive_been_trying_to_figure_this_out_for/) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - When did Sonic the Hedgehog start liking Chili Dogs so Much?](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/22dpuj/when_did_sonic_the_hedgehog_start_liking_chili/) - [r/SonicTheHedgehog - Why Is Sonic so Lovable?](https://www.reddit.com/r/SonicTheHedgehog/comments/6y4ts8/why_is_sonic_so_loveable/) - [Sonic Stadium Message Board - Why Does Sonic Eat Chili Dogs](https://board.sonicstadium.org/topic/22615-why-does-sonic-eat-chili-dogs/) - [Sonic Wikia - Chili Dog](http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/Chili_dog) - [TV Tropes - Sonic the Hedgehog / Fanfic Recs](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FanficRecs/SonicTheHedgehog) [try to find patterns!] - [Wikipedia - Chili Dog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chili_dog) - [Wikipedia - Sonic Drive-In](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonic_Drive-In) - [YouTube - Why Do People Still Like Sonic?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U26a0nwK9fM) ### Music / Sound - ["Odyssey Stratosphere"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=1092) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Interview: Sailor Moon Fans with Jason (Tuxedo Unmasked)

The Nickscast — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 17:35:47 +0000

What if you had one chance, one shot to talk with a super-fan about Sailor Moon fandom and how it lead to moving across the globe from to Japan? Well, you'd be in the position Nick T is in as he chats with Jason, author of _Tuxedo Unmasked_ to get a better understanding of what Sailor Moon fandom is like, and what life as a fan is like in Japan! ## Where can I learn more about Jason and _Tuxedo Unmasked_? > I’ve been a fan of _Sailor Moon_ since the late 1990s (1997, to be exact) and have been passionate about the series and characters ever since. I’ve run multiple websites (and fanfiction archives) dedicated to the series over the years, but unfortunately university and work life took over and I fell out of all that for several years and just “being a fan” had to take a back seat. > > However, with the new release of the web-based series _Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal_, I’ve started re-reading all the old manga and watching through the old anime, and really wanted to dig deep into all those questions that were left unanswered. I realized that making this in-depth analysis into the history of – and stories behind – _Sailor Moon_ was my chance to (finally?) make use of my degree in Japanese history and occupation as a Japanese translator. > — [Tuxedo Unmasked - About](https://www.tuxedounmasked.com/about/) If you want to learn more about Jason and his work, you can check out: - Tuxedo Unmasked: https://www.tuxedounmasked.com/ - On Twitter: [@t_unmasked](https://twitter.com/t_unmasked) - On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tuxedounmasked ## Sources - Opening music, ["Sailor Moon"](https://soundcloud.com/nospoonkid/sailor-moon) by Nospoonkid used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Bob's Burgers - Sexy Dance Fighting

The Nickscast — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 17:25:31 +0000

Could it be that Bob's family is... DEAD?! Probably not, but fan theories are just part of chronicling an obsession as we talk with Bob's Burgers experts Jen and Briddany about fans of, well, Bob's Burgers! Next week, a blue streak speed by... what fandom could we be talking about to wrap-up the season? ## Where can I learn more about Pod's Burgers? If you want to know more about Jen and Briddany's "podcast chronicling an obsession", you're in luck! - [Pod's Burgers on iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pods-burgers-podcast-chronicling-bobs-burgers-obsession/id1328949899?mt=2) - [Pod's Burgers on Stitcher](https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/pods-burgers) - [The Pod's Burgers Website](https://www.podsburgers.com/) - [@podsburgers on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/podsburgers/) - [@podsburgers on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/podsburgers/) ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Bob's Burgers is an American animated sitcom created by Loren Bouchard that premiered on Fox on January 9, 2011. The series centers on the Belcher family - parents Bob and Linda, and their children Tina, Gene, and Louise - who run a hamburger restaurant. The show was conceived by Bouchard after he developed Home Movies. It is produced and distributed in association with 20th Century Fox Television. > ... > In 2013, TV Guide ranked Bob's Burgers as one of the top 60 Greatest TV Cartoons of All Time. The series has been nominated for several awards, including the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program seven consecutive times, winning in 2014 and 2017. > — [Wikipedia - Bob's Burgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%27s_Burgers) **Search Data:** Based on Google Trends data, [_Bob's Burgers_ is probably more popular now than it ever has been](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=Bob%27s%20Burgers) (though interest has leveled off a bit). There was a huge spike in interest in January 2011 (when the show premiered), and wasn't as popular again until around January 2014 (Possibly related to the release of the 3rd season on DVD, though that occurred in May 2014). The most interest in Bob's Burgers occurred around October 2017, which happens to correspond with the season eight premiere. The top ten most popular countries for Bob's Burgers, by search volume, are: United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden, South Africa, Norway, and Singapore. - [// Big drop off between Canada (75) and Ireland (46) and United Kingdom (38) to Sweden (18)]: # **Fast Facts:** - FanFiction.net has [over 200 Bob's-Burgers-related fanfics](https://www.fanfiction.net/cartoon/Bob-s-Burgers/); Archive Of Our Own has [almost 200](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Bob's%20Burgers%20(Cartoon)/works) - Top 3 Categories: F/M (45%), Gen (31%), M/M (17%) - Top 3 Characters: Louise (71%), Tina (61%), Bob (59%) - Top 3 Pairings: Louise / Logan Bush (19%), Louise / Regular Sized Rudy (13%), Tina / Zeke (12%) - According to some research of Nielson data via The Wrap, viewers of _Bob's Burgers_ are among the least wealthy of primetime TV watchers (median income of $48 800 USD annually). _Modern Family_ and _Parks and Recreation_ viewers were among the most wealth (median income of $81 000 USD annually). For reference, the US median income is just under $60k - Bob is most likely less wealthy than fans of the show: [Fan's estimate his income to be about $44k](https://www.zippia.com/advice/bobs-burger-estimated-revenue/) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/368ee6999cc9fe/) Famous Last Words **T** Does anyone like Jimmy Pesto? Why? - [// Def saw some stuff about him being the best villain; also a fun fan theory about him being gay and jealous of Bob]: # **Z** How do the fans feel about most of the voice cast being men (even though the cast is fairly balanced)? - [//Lots of criticism of this, actually]: # **G** Do fans react to Larry Murphy becoming a main cast member? **Joe** How many folks tried Capoeira because of the show? - [// Took a quick look at Capoeira on Google Trends... it is way more popular. Don't appear to be any changes in popularity based on Bob's Burgers]: # **Patrick** What if Tina was a DBZ character? - [//Found some Fanart: Ginyu Force (Recoome), Another piece of fanart had her as young Gohan (Teddy is Piccolo)]: # ### This week's spotlight **[The Bob's Burger Experiment](http://thebobsburgerexperiment.com/)** > A cooking blog dedicated to Bob's Burger of the Day. > > I take the punderful name from Bob's Burger of the Day chalkboard, come up with a recipe for it, and make it. I haven't made a bad one yet (mostly). **[Binging with Babish](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJHA_jMfCvEnv-3kRjTCQXw)** > Follow along with my torso every week as I recreate the iconic and obscure foods from you favorite movies and TV shows, all in dazzling 4K. We'll make some delicious dishes, have a little fun, and if you're not careful, you might just learn a thing or two. - [// Plugs go here]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, _Sonic the Hedgehog_! **T** What part of Sonic do folks latch onto? Is it that he goes fast? Is it the 90s? **G** How important is the music? **Z** Sonic the Hedgehog has a mess of canon... but he loves chili dogs. Do chili dogs hold any particular significance to fans? Do they consume them in fan gatherings? **Jen** How do the fans feel about Sonic appearing in Wreck It Ralph? Is that him selling out? **Briddany** What are the most favourite and least favourite of Sonic's sidekicks? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast)! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - Do you use [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn)? Well, we're on there too! - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Bob's Burgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob%27s_Burgers) - [Google Trends - Bob's Burgers](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=Bob%27s%20Burgers) - [Reddit - Bob's Burgers](https://old.reddit.com/r/BobsBurgers/) - [FanFiction.net - Bob's Burgers](https://www.fanfiction.net/cartoon/Bob-s-Burgers/) - [Archive Of Our Own - Bob's Burgers](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Bob's%20Burgers%20(Cartoon)/works) - [The Wrap - The Richest and Poorest Shows on Network TV - From ‘Modern Family’ to ‘Bob’s Burgers’](https://www.thewrap.com/rich-show-poor-show-thewrap-looks-highest-lowest-income-shows/) - [Zippia - BOB’S BIG BURGER TROUBLE: ESTIMATING THE REVENUE AND PROFIT OF BOB’S BURGERS](https://www.zippia.com/advice/bobs-burger-estimated-revenue/) - [CruxWorldWide - Stickers](http://www.cruxworldwide.com/stickers/) - [r/FanTheories - [Bob's Burgers] Why Jimmy Pesto Hates Bob](https://www.reddit.com/r/FanTheories/comments/4ozhhe/bobs_burgers_why_jimmy_pesto_hates_bob/) - [r/FanTheories - Bob’s Burgers is about Bob coping with the death of his family](https://www.reddit.com/r/FanTheories/comments/2c29cw/bobs_burgers_is_about_bob_coping_with_the_death/) - [The Postgraduate Gender Research Network of Scotland - In Praise of Bob’s Burgers](https://pgrnscotland.wordpress.com/2017/11/22/in-praise-of-bobs-burgers/) - [Buzzfeed - "Bob's Burgers" Is Making History With A Fan-Animated Episode And It's The Coolest Thing Ever](https://www.buzzfeed.com/alivelez/bobs-burgers-fan-art-for-the-win?utm_term=.vi7mOKklE#.dv1joLPyQ) - [Facebook - The Bob’s Burgers Fan Club Public Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/240654162932328/) - [Fanlore - Bob’s Burgers](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Bob%27s_Burgers) - [Huffpost - About That 'Bob's Burgers' Theory That Bob's Entire Family Is Dead](https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/bobs-burgers-fan-theory-family-is-dead_us_58bec496e4b0d8c45f468b34) - [IndieWire - ‘Bob’s Burgers’ Creator Vows to Cast More Women in Future Seasons, Credits Kristen Schaal for the Push](https://www.indiewire.com/2018/07/bobs-burgers-cast-more-women-comic-con-2018-1201986298/) - [Quora - Is Bob's Burgers as Popular as Family Guy?](https://www.quora.com/Is-Bobs-Burgers-as-popular-as-Family-Guy) - [Quora - Is Bob's Burgers as Popular Now as The Simpson’s was at the Height of its Popularity?](https://www.quora.com/Is-Bobs-Burgers-as-popular-now-as-The-Simpson%E2%80%99s-was-at-the-height-of-its-popularity) - [Quora - Why Are All the Female Characters in “Bob's Burgers” Performed by Males?](https://www.quora.com/Why-are-all-the-female-characters-in-%E2%80%9CBobs-Burgers%E2%80%9D-performed-by-males) - [r/BobsBurgers - Bob's Burgers - The True Successor to The Simpsons](https://www.reddit.com/r/BobsBurgers/comments/3azqem/bobs_burgers_the_true_successor_to_the_simpsons/) - [r/BobsBurgers - Bojack Horseman Helped Me Understand Why I Like Bob's Burgers So Much](https://www.reddit.com/r/BobsBurgers/comments/6xr8ik/bojack_horseman_helped_me_understand_why_i_like/) - [r/BobsBurgers - Why Do You Love Bob’s Burgers?](https://www.reddit.com/r/BobsBurgers/comments/8k78gj/why_do_you_love_bobs_burgers/) - [Ranker - 16 Bob's Burgers Fan Theories That Are Just Crazy Enough To Be True](https://www.ranker.com/list/bobs-burgers-fan-theories/mariel-loveland) - [Taylor & Francis Online - Constructing a Feminist Icon through Erotic Friend Fiction: Millennial Feminism on Bob’s Burgers (Abstract)](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15295036.2017.1398831?scroll=top&needAccess=true) - [The A.V. Club - Bob's Burgers Returns with a Little Help from its Fans](https://www.avclub.com/bobs-burgers-returns-with-a-little-help-from-its-fans-1819045168) - [University of Chester - I’m (Not) A Girl: Animating Experiences of Girlhood in Bob’s Burgers (Abstract)](https://chesterrep.openrepository.com/handle/10034/621344) - [Wichita State University - We're All Belchers: Finding a New American Family in the Animated World of Bob's Burgers (Abstract)](https://soar.wichita.edu/handle/10057/15057) - [Wikipedia - Bob’s Burgers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob's_Burgers) ### Music / Sound - ["Stepping Outside To A Spring Day"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1021&Genre=Comedy) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Yu Yu Hakusho - Knife Edge Death-Match

The Nickscast — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 17:35:29 +0000

This would have been a podcast about a great delinquent kid who grows up with friendship and fighting and the underworld... except we died? We have special guests, [The YuYu Hakushow](https://yuyuhakushow.podiant.co/) joining us this week to talk about the fans, fandom, and the 90s attitude of, well, Yu Yu Hakusho! Next week will be Un-brie-lievable as we talk about fans of Bob's Burgers (with the hosts of [Pod's Burgers](https://www.podsburgers.com/), Jen and Briddany)! ## Where can I learn more about Joe and Patrick? If you want to here more from Joe and Patrick, especially about Yu Yu Hakusho, you're in luck! You can check out their bi-weekly show at [yuyuhakushow.podiant.com](https://yuyuhakushow.podiant.co/), follow them on Facebook ([@theyuyuhakushoow](https://www.facebook.com/theyuyuhakushoow/)) or follow them on Twitter ([@theyuyuhakushow](https://twitter.com/theyuyuhakushow))! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Yu Yu Hakusho ... is a manga series written and illustrated by Yoshihiro Togashi [also known for Hunter x Hunter, and the husband of Naoko Takeuchi, writer and illustrator of Sailor Moon]. The series tells the story of Yusuke Urameshi, a teenage delinquent who is struck and killed by a car while attempting to save a child's life. After a number of tests presented to him by Koenma, the son of the ruler of the afterlife Underworld, Yusuke is revived and appointed the title of "Underworld Detective", with which he must investigate various cases involving demons and apparitions in the human world. The manga becomes more focused on martial arts battles and tournaments as it progresses. Togashi began creating Yu Yu Hakusho around November 1990, basing the series on his interests in the occult and horror films and an influence of Buddhist mythology. The manga was originally published in _Weekly Shonen Jump_ from 1990 to 1994, and the television series aired from 1992 to 1994 in Japan (and was later licensed and released in North America in 2001, airing on Cartoon Network). _Yu Yu Hakusho_ has sold over 50 million copies in Japan alone, the animated series won the _Animage_ Anime Grand Prix for best anime in 1994 and 1995, has spawned two animated films, a series of original video animations (OVAs), audio albums, video games, and other merchandise. **Search Data:** Based on search data from Google Trends, [Yu Yu Hakusho is a lot less popular now than it was in 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F014xy1) (but interest hasn't changed much since 2006, and given the air time of the show isn't suprising either). By search volume, the top ten countries interested in _Yu Yu Hakusho_ since 2004 are: Philippines, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Dominican Republic, and El Salvador (United States is 15th, and Canada is 30th). **Fast Facts:** - FanFiction.net has [over 20 000 fan works for _Yu Yu Hakusho_](https://www.fanfiction.net/anime/Yu-Yu-Hakusho/), Archive Of Our Own has [about 1600 fan works](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/%E5%B9%BD%E2%98%86%E9%81%8A%E2%98%86%E7%99%BD%E6%9B%B8%20%7C%20YuYu%20Hakusho:%20Ghost%20Files/works): - Top 3 Categories: M/M (43%), F/M (34%), Gen (29%) - Top 3 Crossovers: InuYasha (8%), Harry Potter (4%), Naruto (3%) - Top 3 Characters: Kurama (55%), Hiei (50%), Yuusuke (43%) - Top 3 Pairings: Hiei / Kurama (19%), Yuusuke / Keiko (9%), Kurama / Yuusuke (6%) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/3689d5d0dedb3c/) Famous Last Words **T** Are fans waiting for a revival or did they move on to other shonen titles? **Z** What's the most common pairing in fic? Of those characters, what's their canonical relationship? What does that say about the fans? **G** Do fans consider it to be passed or over? Do fans have an underdog mentality or a Napolean complex about it? **Michael** Add some collectible ghosts and demons and that's the show for me. - [// How would you pitch the thing to new folks]: # ### This week's spotlight - [Help YYH sub buy yuyuhakusho.com!](https://ca.gofundme.com/yuyuhakushodotcom) Not much to this: The Yu Yu Hakusho subreddit wants to buy the domain name (which isn't in use somehow??). - [// SNK Topic]: # - [// Attack on Titan Topic]: # - [// Fanfiction Scraper]: # - [// MMA -> Share Dog]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, _Bob's Burgers_! **T** Does anyone like Jimmy Pesto? Why? **Z** How do the fans feel about most of the voice cast being men (even though the cast is fairly balanced)? **G** Do fans react to Larry Murphy becoming a main cast member? **Joe** How many folks tried Capoeira because of the show? **Patrick** What if Tina was a DBZ character? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast)! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - Do you use [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2IVp8MBIUyCqlKyZn79iHn)? Well, we're on there too! - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Yu Yu Hakusho](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_Yu_Hakusho) - [Wikipedia - Yoshihiro Togashi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshihiro_Togashi) - [Google Trends - Yu Yu Hakusho](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F014xy1) - [Fanfiction.net - Yu Yu Hakusho](https://www.fanfiction.net/anime/Yu-Yu-Hakusho/) - [Who Cares About Anime - Yu Yu Hakusho](http://whocaresaboutanime.com/2018/01/05/yu-yu-hakusho/) - [Manga Tokyo - ‘Yu Yu Hakusho’ and Japan in the 1990s](https://manga.tokyo/otaku-articles/knowing-yu-yu-hakusho-is-knowing-japans-1990s/) - [YouTube - Yu Yu Hakusho Anime Facts YOU Should Know - 107 Anime Facts S2 E7 - Cartoon Hangover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lci5HpC9Vs) - [Archive of Our Own - Search Results: Yu Yu Hakusho](https://archiveofourown.org/works/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&work_search%5Bquery%5D=yuyu+hakusho) - [Fanfiction.net - Search: Yuu Yuu Hakusho](https://www.fanfiction.net/search/?keywords=yuu+yuu+hakusho&ready=1&type=story) - [Fanlore - Animanga](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Animanga) - [Fanore - Yuu Yuu Hakusho](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Yuu_Yuu_Hakusho) - [Quora - How Strong is Yusuke Urameshi by DragonBall Standards?](https://www.quora.com/How-strong-is-Yusuke-Urameshi-by-DragonBall-standards) - [Quora - Is Hunter × Hunter Overrated? Is Yu Yu Hakusho Better than HxH?](https://www.quora.com/Is-Hunter-%C3%97-Hunter-overrated-Is-Yu-Yu-Hakusho-better-than-HxH) - [Quora - Is Yu Yu Hakusho Better than Dragonball?](https://www.quora.com/Is-Yu-Yu-Hakusho-better-than-dragonball) - [Quora - Which Anime Series Do You like Better, Naruto or Yu Yu Hakusho?](https://www.quora.com/Which-anime-series-do-you-like-better-Naruto-or-Yu-Yu-Hakusho) - [Quora - Which Japanese Anime Series do You Like Better, “Dragon Ball Z” or “Yu Yu Hakusho”?](https://www.quora.com/Which-Japanese-anime-series-do-you-like-better-Dragon-Ball-Z-or-Yu-Yu-Hakusho) - [r/YuYuHakusho - 12 Years Since I First Watched Yu Yu Hakusho, It's still My Forever Number 1 Anime/Manga and I still Hysterically Spazz About It](https://www.reddit.com/r/YuYuHakusho/comments/6wvzmp/12_years_since_i_first_watched_yu_yu_hakusho_its/) - [r/YuYuHakusho - In doing My Part to Make This Sub Active . . . Fanfiction! Do You Write it? Read it? What are Your Favorites?](https://www.reddit.com/r/YuYuHakusho/comments/1009rj/in_doing_my_part_to_make_this_sub_active/?sort=top) - [r/YuYuHakusho - This Is Chuck Huber Voice of Hiei. Ask Me Anything.](https://www.reddit.com/r/YuYuHakusho/comments/6w6zw4/this_is_chuck_huber_voice_of_hiei_ask_me_anything/) - [Youtube - Why You Should Watch Yu Yu Hakusho](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DHEr87uwgE) - [YuYu Hakusho Wiki - Kurama](http://yuyuhakusho.wikia.com/wiki/Kurama) ### Music / Sound - ["Monday Night Funk Jam"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=623&Genre=Funk) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Chrono Trigger - Avocado Toast at the Millennial Fair

The Nickscast — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 17:35:22 +0000

Will fans of this classic SNES gem be lost to Lavos, or will they endure, like Gaspar at the end of time? Where does Chrono Cross figure into the whole situation? Fortunately, we know someone who wrote the book (well, _a_ book) on the subject: we're talking with Michael P. Williams, author of _Chrono Trigger_, about fans of... well, Chrono Trigger! Next week, it'll be the (smile) bomb, as we talk about fans, of a certain popular shonen 'sho' from the 90s! ## Where can I learn more about Michael P. Williams? If you want to learn more about Michael's work, your best bet is to check out... - His book, [Chrono Trigger](https://bossfightbooks.com/products/chrono-trigger-by-michael-p-williams), published by Boss Fight Books (now available in [audiobook form](https://www.audible.ca/pd/Chrono-Trigger-Audiobook/B07G4L4VFT))! - [Boss Fight Books](https://bossfightbooks.com/) where he does a lot of editting - The Boss Fight Books twitter, [@bossfightbooks](https://twitter.com/bossfightbooks) (Yes, there is a trend here) ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Chrono Trigger is a Super Nintendo JRPG released in 1995. It was developed by Square (notable for such other games as Final Fantasy) and its so-called "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi (the creator of the Final Fantasy Series), Yuji Horii (creator of Enix's popular Dragon Quest series), and Akira Toriyama (an artist well known for his work with Dragon Quest and his ongoing manga / anime series: Dragonball, among other things). It also featured music composed by Yasunori Mitsuda (the _Chrono_ series, Mario Party, Xenosaga) and Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy). To put it succinctly: The game follows a group of adventurers who travel through time to prevent a global catastrophe... that they will never personally encounter. It has since been released and re-released multiple times with the SNES and Playstation versions shipping over 2.65 million copies, and the Nintendo DS version having sold over 790 000 copies more than a decade later. **Search Data:** Interest in Chrono Trigger [has definitely dropped since the earliest data we have from Google Trends (2004)](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F01y59). There was a huge spike in interest in November 2008 (the Nintendo DS re-release of the game), and to a much lesser extent in March of 2018 (corresponding to the unexpected Steam release of the game). The top ten countries, by search volume, are as follows: Japan, Chile, Canada, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, United States, Dominican Republic, Phillipines, and Taiwan. **Size of Fandom:** Based on a few data points: - The original game has sold more than 2.6 million copies - The DS version sold over 500 000 copies - The [Chrono Trigger subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/chronotrigger/) has about 6600 subscribers It's hard to guess, but there are probably hundreds of thousands of Chrono Trigger fans? **Fast Facts:** - According to a thread on [r/truegaming by GICN](https://www.reddit.com/r/truegaming/comments/8th8ed/data_game_completion_we_dont_finish_games/?sort=confidence), Chrono Trigger has a self-reported completion rate of 66% (slightly above the overall self-reported average of 63%). Steam global play stats reports that only [10.4% have completed the game](https://steamcommunity.com/stats/613830/achievements) - Chrono Trigger has only about [150 fanfics on Archive Of Our Own](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Chrono%20Trigger/works) - Most of which are Gen (about 56%) - The most referenced fandoms, other than Chrono Trigger, are Final Fantasy VII (about 10%), Chrono Cross (about 10%), and Final Fantasy VI (about 10%) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/3683f48c359a8c/#player) Famous Last Words **T** Has anyone written a musical about Chrono Trigger? **G** Is anyone out there who has attempted to write Chrono Trigger into the Final Fantasy continuity? **Z** Is there a fan-work (comic, VG, etc.) that is widely regarded as the 'true' sequel to Chrono Trigger? **Nikola** Is the fanbase very close to Final Fantasy in terms of demography, or is totally different? ### This week's spotlight **[JRPG Demographics](https://jrpgdemographics.com)** Roles, ages, and sexes of playable characters in JRPGs... that's it. **[Chrono Trigger the Musical](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HrimPnuU70&list=PLU-TFjG0qugDt0qSNyhaKHnfbo8oi-5gJ)** **[Chrono Compendium](https://www.chronocompendium.com/)** > The Chrono Compendium's mission is twofold. It first aims to archive and catalogue all existing knowledge and plausible speculation regarding the Chrono series, whether textual, auditory, or visual. The Compendium secondly wishes to create new content, and foster the growth and development of the Chrono series and its fan community. The Chrono Compendium started in 2003 as a 50-page thread on Overclocked ReMix... and continues to exist and be updated to this day! **[Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** > Now in its fourth year running, the Race Against Time is an annual charity marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada by beating the SNES classic, Chrono Trigger, as many times as possible in 24 hours. This year, the event is running every week until August 11 and 12 for the main event (see website for detailed schedule). > > Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that slowly robs those afflicted of their memories, and, eventually, their very sense of being. We are racing to help preserve those memories of loved ones and for a cure to stop it once and for all! > > All donations go directly to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Yu Yu Hakusho! **T** Are fans waiting for a revival or did they move on to other shonen titles? **Z** What's the most common pairing in fic? Of those characters, what's their canonical relationship? What does that say about the fans? **G** Do fans consider it to be passed or over? Do fans have an underdog mentality or a Napolean complex about it? **Michael** Add some collectible ghosts and demons and that's the show for me. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Reddit - r/chronotrigger](https://old.reddit.com/r/chronotrigger/) - [Wikipedia - Chrono Trigger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrono_Trigger) - [Fanlore - Chrono Trigger](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Chrono_Trigger) - [YouTube - Chrono Trigger the Musical](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HrimPnuU70&list=PLU-TFjG0qugDt0qSNyhaKHnfbo8oi-5gJ) - [YouTube - Game Theory: Is Chrono Trigger's Time Travel Accurate?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgLSUuKqH4w) - [Kotaku - What Happens When You Study An RPG World Like It Was Real](https://kotaku.com/what-happens-when-you-study-an-rpg-world-like-it-was-re-1522545991) - [r/chronotrigger - [Data] Game Completion -- We don't finish games](https://www.reddit.com/r/truegaming/comments/8th8ed/data_game_completion_we_dont_finish_games/?sort=confidence) - [Steam - Global Gameplay Stats: Chrono Trigger](https://steamcommunity.com/stats/613830/achievements) - [r/chronotrigger - After Patch #5: Should You Buy Chrono Trigger On Steam?](https://www.reddit.com/r/chronotrigger/comments/9520rz/after_patch_5_should_you_buy_chrono_trigger_on/) - [Google Trends - Chrono Trigger](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F01y59) - [Kotaku - Modders Are Trying To Salvage Chrono Trigger On PC](https://steamed.kotaku.com/modders-are-trying-to-salvage-chrono-trigger-on-pc-1823566781/amp) - [Chrono Compendium](https://www.chronocompendium.com/) - [JRPG Demographics](https://jrpgdemographics.com/) - [Chrono Compendium - Topic: List of the Qualities that Make Chrono Trigger so Good](https://www.chronocompendium.com/Forums/index.php?topic=10819.msg220852#msg220852) - [Chrono Compendium - Topic: Wanted to Share How I feel About Chrono Cross, and Why.](https://www.chronocompendium.com/Forums/index.php?topic=9831.msg215401#msg215401) - [Chrono Compendium - Ghost Children](https://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Ghost_Children.html) - [Chrono Compendium - Home](https://www.chronocompendium.com/) - [Chrono Compendium - Masato Kato, by Mariela Gonzalez](https://www.chronocompendium.com/wiki/index.php/2015_-_Masato_Kato,_by_Mariela_Gonzalez) - [Chrono Compendium - Topic: What Makes “Chrono” Chrono](https://www.chronocompendium.com/Forums/index.php?topic=10175.msg218618#msg218618) - [Gamefaqs - Black Sigil: Blade of the Exile - Message Board](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/944570-black-sigil-blade-of-the-exiled/49239803) - [Gamefaqs - Chrono Trigger - Message Board](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/950181-chrono-trigger/44190409) - [Héroes De Papel - Start](https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=https://www.heroesdepapel.es/&prev=search) - [Old Gaul City - Home](https://translate.google.ca/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Foldgaulcity.com%2Fogc%2F&edit-text=&act=url) - [Patreon - Man on the Internet](https://www.patreon.com/manontheinternet) - [Quora - Was Final Fantasy 6 or Chrono Trigger a Better Game, and Why?](https://www.quora.com/Was-Final-Fantasy-6-or-Chrono-Trigger-a-better-game-and-why) - [Quora - Why Is Chrono Trigger So Awesome](https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Chrono-Trigger-so-awesome) - [r/ChronoTrigger - I’m Playing Chrono Trigger in a Unique Way that I Never Have - All Characters’ Starting Equipment Is Locked - And It Is Quite Fun.](https://www.reddit.com/r/chronotrigger/comments/8hiuzq/im_playing_chrono_trigger_in_a_unique_way_that_i/) - [r/ChronoTrigger - Just Got Back into Chronotrigger](https://www.reddit.com/r/chronotrigger/comments/94vlri/just_got_back_into_chronotrigger/) - [r/JRPG - Why Does Everyone Love Chrono Trigger So Much?](https://www.reddit.com/r/JRPG/comments/67dbmv/why_does_everyone_love_chrono_trigger_so_much/) - [Wikipedia - Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrono_Trigger:_Crimson_Echoes) - [Wikipedia - Psychic Force 2012](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychic_Force_2012) - [Wikipedia - Psychic Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychic_Force) - [Youtube - Chrono Trigger The Musical](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HrimPnuU70&list=PLU-TFjG0qugDt0qSNyhaKHnfbo8oi-5gJ) ### Music / Sound - ["Deep Space Ballet"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1338&Genre=Piano) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Yuri on Ice - Born to Make History

The Nickscast — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 17:40:22 +0000

Can you hear, our heart beat? No? Well, turn up the volume to hear us (and special guest, Nikola, of [YOI Wednesdays](https://twitter.com/yoiwednesdays)) talk about fans of Yuri!! on ICE! Next week, we'll be talking with a guy who literally wrote the book (well, _a_ book) on Chrono Trigger, Michael P. Williams, to talk about fans of Chrono Trigger! ## Where can I learn more about YOI Wednesdays? Would you like to learn more about Nikola and YOI Wednesdays? You're in luck! - Nikola's Twitter: [@notgneissatall](http://twitter.com/notgneissatall) - YOI Wednesday Twitter: [@yoiwednesdays](https://twitter.com/yoiwednesdays) - YOI Wednesday Podcast: [soundcloud.com/yoiwednesdayspod](https://soundcloud.com/yoiwednesdayspod) ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Yuri!!! on Ice is a 12-episode anime series following Katsuki Yuuri in his competitive figure skating career. The series is produced by MAPPA, directed by Yamamoto Sayo [_Michiko and Hatchin_, _The Woman Called Fujiko Mine_, some episodes of _Samurai Champloo_ and _Space Dandy_] and written by Kubo Mitsurou. > — [Fanlore - Yuri!!! on Ice](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Yuri!!!_on_Ice) **Search Data / Growth:** _Yuri on Ice_ had a huge spike in interest between [October 2016 and December 2016](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2016-07-01%202018-07-31&q=%2Fg%2F11cmg5bxns) (which coincides with the release of, at the time, the only season of the anime). Interest in the show has been pretty consistent since then, though not nearly as popular as during that period. The top 10 countries for _Yuri on Ice_, by search volume, are as follows: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Chile, Singapore, Russia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Hungary (Canada is 16th, United States is 18th, and Australia is 22nd). Looking at [redditmetrics for the YOI subreddit](http://redditmetrics.com/r/YOI), the subreddit reached 5000 subscribers in under a month, but growth has been pretty flat since then. **Fan Demographics:** - [From a fan survey run by KykyElric](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo89_0mbccjeTrVoP2HYSvRfWGIyhTgec4YeEHcw4LjEF-Pw/viewanalytics), we do have some data about some of the over 2000 respondents: - _Age:_ The most populous group was ages 19-29 (36.2%), followed by 16-18 (31.3%), then folks 13-15 (23.4%). Put differently, more than half of those surveyed were under the age of 18 - _Gender_: The largest group was people who identified as female (79.1%), followed by male (5.3%), 'still figuring it out' (4.3%), and genderfluid (4.1%) - _Sexuality_: The largest group identified as heterosexual (33.2%), followed by bisexual (22.7%), and pansexual (11.8%) There are also some bits of data: - _Favourite character_: Viktor Nikiforov (35.1%), Yuuri Katsuki (31.3%), Yuri Plisetski (15.4%) - _Favourite ship_: Viktuuri (89.3%) - _Sub vs. Dub_: Sub (77.8%), Either (18.8%), Dub (3.4%) - _Ice skating interest pre/post:_ Converts (41%), Interested - No change (37.6%), Uninterested - No change (11.7%) - _Fan contributions_: Fan art (35.4%), Theories (28.7%), Memes (27.8%) - _Favourite non-main-character skater_: Mari Katsuki (Yuuri's Sister, 47.3%) **Fanac Fast Facts:** - _Yuri!!! on Ice_ has almost 30 000 fanfics on [Archive Of Our Own](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Yuri!!!%20on%20Ice%20(Anime)/works)... - Top Three Ratings: Teen and up (32%), General Audiences (28%), Explicit (19%) - Top Three Categories: M/M (89%), Gen (9%), F/M (5%) - Top Three Tags: Fluff (25%), Angst (10%), AU (8%) ### What did we discuss? - What do you wish people knew about `FANDOM`? - What is the best part of of being a fan `FANDOM` (e.g. in terms of participation within the fandom, opportunities, feelings)? - What is the worst part of being a fan of `FANDOM` (e.g. in terms of perceptions, bad elements of the fandom)? - Where do people meet to talk about the fandom? Is it centralized in one place? - What is one of the biggest parts of the fandom (e.g. vidding, fic, cosplay, etc.)? - What are some of the biggest points of conflict / contention in the fandom? - What are some common myths or misconceptions about the fans that you wish would go away? - What are some of the problematic parts of the fandom? - What are some of the heartening parts of the fandom? - Are there conventions or other big meetups for fans? - Based on what you've experienced of this fandom, what are the fans like (i.e. do they tend to be male, female, etc.)? - How did you get into the fandom? - How do you participate in your fandom? - If we did an episode on one of your other favourite fandoms… what would that be? - When did you know you were a fan? - What do you wish people knew about your fandom? - What’s your fondest memory related to your fandom? - What one aspect of this fandom is most attractive to you? - Is your participation in your fandom mostly online or off? - Do you express your fandom in your everyday life, or is it just between you and your fellow fans? - What’s your most notable experience with this fandom? How did it happen? ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/367eda7b035c14/#player) Famous Last Words **T** What is it that got people in, given the repeated video, audio, short season, etc.? **Z** Who is the oldest fan inspired by Yuri On Ice to get into figure skating? **G** Was it's integration with social media any part of people being fans of it (e.g. Instagram being featured in the show)? **Jen** Will Tanya Harding be participating? ### This week's spotlight **[Heartbeats, a Yuri On Ice Zine](https://heartbeatszine.tumblr.com/)** > A Yuri!!! on Ice PDF Zine project for charity focused on characters showing their love for each other using the different languages of love. > > There will be two zines: > - the main PG-13 zine, and > - an 18+ zine for any and all explicit nudity, sexual content, and/or graphic violence The zine was released February 14, 2018, and appears to have raized $665 USD for _Charity: Water_. **[Born To Make history: A Yuri!!! on ICE Fan Gathering](https://yoiconph.com/)** > **Born To Make History: A Yuri!!! on ICE Fan Gathering 2** is the follow-up to the warmly welcomed and well-attended Born To Make History: A Yuri!!! on ICE Fan Gathering. This event pays tribute to the history that Yuri!!! on ICE continues to make. Since its premiere last October 2016, Yuri!!! on ICE continues to inspire and invigorate its fans even more than one year later. > > **Born To Make History: A Yuri!!! on ICE Fan Gathering 2** will bring back the beloved features of the previous event with more exciting additions. The extensive Artist Alley and carefully curated Merchant Market serve as the centerpiece of the event. Thought-provoking panels, specialty talks, and cosplayer meet-and-greets round out the program for this day-long celebration of life, love, and Yuri!!! on ICE. - [//Taiwan, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) -> Victor Wedding Event Yuri on Ice, life size cutouts]: # - [//Unclear if running a third time]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Chrono Trigger! **T** Has anyone written a musical about Chrono Trigger? **G** Is anyone out there who has attempted to write Chrono Trigger into the Final Fantasy continuity? **Z** Is there a fan-work (comic, VG, etc.) that is widely regarded as the 'true' sequel to Chrono Trigger? **Nikola** Is the fanbase very close to Final Fantasy in terms of demography, or is totally different? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - Yuri On Ice](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2016-07-01%202018-07-31&q=%2Fg%2F11cmg5bxns) - [Redditmetrics - r/YOI](http://redditmetrics.com/r/YOI) - [Google Docs - Yuri!!! On Ice Survey](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo89_0mbccjeTrVoP2HYSvRfWGIyhTgec4YeEHcw4LjEF-Pw/viewanalytics) - [Archive Of Our Own - Yuri!!! On Ice](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Yuri!!!%20on%20Ice%20(Anime)/works) - [Anime Feminist - [Interview] Sayo Yamamoto, director and storyboard artist](https://www.animefeminist.com/interview-sayo-yamamoto/) - [Fanlore - Yuri!!! on Ice](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Yuri!!!_on_Ice) - [Amino - Yuri On Ice & My Love for Skating](https://aminoapps.com/c/anime/page/blog/yuri-on-ice-my-love-for-skating/Rqtw_u1oZ7oZ8J2PQqorjd5lzDXXqv) - [Dose - This Figure Skating Anime Is Smashing Gay Stereotypes](https://dose.com/articles/this-figure-skating-anime-is-smashing-gay-stereotypes/) - [Fanlore - Otabek Altin/Yuri Plisetsky](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Otabek_Altin/Yuri_Plisetsky) - [Fanlore - Yuri!!! on Ice](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Yuri!!!_On_Ice) - [Kotaku - Why People Are Hyped About A Male Figure Skating Anime](https://kotaku.com/why-people-are-hyped-about-a-figure-skating-anime-1788662926) - [Odyssey - Why "Yuri On Ice" Is So Popular](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/why-yuri-on-ice-is-so-popular) - [Otaquest - Interview With “Yuri!!! on ICE” Creator Sayo Yamamoto: Part 1](http://beta.otaquest.com/sayo-yamamoto-interview-part-1/) - [Quora - Would You Consider Yuri!!! On Ice a Yaoi/Shounen-ai?](https://www.quora.com/Would-you-consider-Yuri-On-Ice-a-yaoi-shounen-ai) - [r/YOI - Anyone Else Start Ice Skating after Falling in Love with YoI?](https://www.reddit.com/r/YOI/comments/5vxygw/anyone_else_start_ice_skating_after_falling_in/) - [The Daily Dot - Figure Skater Johnny Weir Talks ‘Yuri on Ice’ and Anime Fandom](https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/johnny-weir-yuri-on-ice/) - [The Verge - Yuri on Ice: Everything You’re too Embarrassed to Ask](https://www.theverge.com/2016/12/21/13987438/yuri-on-ice-sports-anime-explainer-guide-faq-tumblr) - [Tokyo Weekender - From Yuzuru Hanyu to “Yuri on Ice”: Japan’s Fascination With Figure Skating](https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2018/03/from-yuzuru-hanyu-to-yuri-on-ice-japans-fascination-with-figure-skating/) - [Women Write About Comics - How Yuri!!! On Ice Reawakened Figure Skating Fandom In Us](https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2017/04/how-yuri-on-ice-reawakened-figure-skating-fandom-in-us/) ### Music / Sound - ["Lazy Pirouettes"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=639&Genre=Orchestra) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Speculative Fiction - Dinosaur Billionaire Adventures

The Nickscast — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 15:05:12 +0000

You find yourself in the not so distant future; it's a place just a bit different, but in ways you hadn't imagined, and its where you will spend the REST OF YOUR LIFE. ... Alright, we're not all speculative fiction writers, but we do have a special guest, Jen Frankel, to join us to talk about the fandom around it! Next week, we were born to make history... and talk about fans of Yuri!!! on ICE (with special guest, Nikola, of [YOI Wednesdays](https://twitter.com/yoiwednesdays)). ## Where can I learn more about Jen Frankel? If you want to hear more about Jen Frankel and the work she does, why not check out some of the following: - Her website: [jenkfrankel.com](http://jenfrankel.com) - Her podcast: [JFRRS](http://www.jenfrankel.com/jen-frankel-reads-random-shit/) - Her twitter: [@jenfrankel](https://twitter.com/jenfrankel) ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Judith Merril, Canadian author, editor, and activist, defined speculative fiction in 1966: “… stories whose objective is to explore, to discover, to learn, by means of projection, extrapolation, analogue, hypothesis-and-paper-experimentation, something about the nature of the universe, of man, or ‘reality’…” > > — [DIYMFA - Defining Speculative Fiction](https://diymfa.com/writing/defining-speculative-fiction) > Speculative fiction is an umbrella genre encompassing narrative fiction with supernatural or futuristic elements. This includes, but not limited to, science fiction, fantasy, superhero fiction, science fantasy, horror, utopian and dystopian fiction, supernatural fiction as well as combinations thereof. > ... > In its English-language usage in arts and literature since the mid 20th century, "speculative fiction" as a genre term is often attributed to Robert A. Heinlein. In his first known use of the term, in ... 1947, Heinlein used it specifically as a synonym for "science fiction"; in a later piece, he explicitly stated that his use of the term did not include fantasy. However, though Heinlein may have come up with the term on his own, there are earlier citations ... > ... > In the 2000s, the term came into wider use as a convenient collective term for a set of genres. However, some writers, such as Margaret Atwood, continue to distinguish "speculative fiction" specifically as a "no Martians" type of science fiction, "about things that really could happen." > > — [Wikipedia - Speculative Fiction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculative_fiction) **Search Data:** Based on google trends data [since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F014dfn), speculative fiction is on the rise! Around 2008, interest seems to have picked up until about 2015 where interest levels off and follows an oddly periodic pattern. (Interest in _Science Fiction_ dwarfs interest in speculative fiction, but, interestingly enough, is on the decline, by comparison.) The top ten countries for _Speculative Fiction_, by search volume, are as follows: Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Latvia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan (Canada is 26th, United States is 28th). **Fan Demographics:** We couldn't find any demographics about fans, but we did come across some [data from Tor UK's author submissions](https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/science-fiction-and-fantasy/sexism-genre-publishing-publishers-perspective): - Out of 503 submissions, 32% came from female writers - Historical / Epic / High-Fantasy: 33% Women, 67% Men - Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance: 57% Women, 43% Men - Horror: 17% Women, 83% Men - Science-Fiction: 22% Women, 78% Men - YA: 68% Women, 32% Men - Other: 27% Women, 73% Men ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/36795e0fece884/#player) Famous Last Words **T** Is the distinction between speculative fiction and genre fiction substantial? **Z** Is speculative fiction a label from authors, publisher, fans...? **G** I speculative fiction meant to be cautionary? Is it all black mirror? **Matt** "Avenge me" Where does speculative fiction tow the line; when does something stop qualifying as speculative fiction? ### This week's spotlight **[Speculative Literature Foundation Grants](http://speculativeliterature.org/grants/)** > The SLF currently offers four grants: The Older Writers’ Grant, the Travel Grant, the Working Class Writers Grant, and the Diversite Writers/Worlds Grant. All of our grants are free to apply, and are designed as ‘gateway’ grants, with easy and straightforward applications that should be quick to complete. We hope that they will both serve the community directly, and also encourage genre writers to explore the wide variety of grants, awards, and residencies available in the larger writing community. **[Race Against Time IV](http://raceagainsttime.io)** > Now in its fourth year running, the Race Against Time is an annual charity marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada by beating the SNES classic, Chrono Trigger, as many times as possible in 24 hours. This year, the event is running every week until August 11 and 12 for the main event (see website for detailed schedule). > > Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that slowly robs those afflicted of their memories, and, eventually, their very sense of being. We are racing to help preserve those memories of loved ones and for a cure to stop it once and for all! > > All donations go directly to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Yuri!!! On ICE. **T** What is it that got people in, given the repeated video, audio, short season, etc.? **Z** Who is the oldest fan inspired by Yuri On Ice to get into figure skating? **G** Was it's integration with social media any part of people being fans of it (e.g. Instagram being featured in the show)? **Jen** Will Tanya Harding be participating? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - Speculative Fiction](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F014dfn) - [io9 - Why "Speculative Fiction" Is The Coolest Genre Of Them All](https://io9.gizmodo.com/5360387/why-speculative-fiction-is-the-coolest-genre-of-them-all) - [Wikipedia - Speculative Fiction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculative_fiction) - [Pan MacMillan - Sexism in Genre Publishing: A Publisher’s Perspective](https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/science-fiction-and-fantasy/sexism-genre-publishing-publishers-perspective) - [Jen Frankel - Fanfic to Fiction Writer](http://www.jenfrankel.com/blog/fan-to-fiction-writer/) - [TV Tropes - Speculative Fiction](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SpeculativeFiction) - [Fanlore - Science Fiction](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Science_Fiction) - [Fanlore - Spec](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Spec) - [DIYMFA - Defining Speculative Fiction](https://diymfa.com/writing/defining-speculative-fiction) - [Jen Frankel - Fanfic to Fiction Writer](http://www.jenfrankel.com/blog/fan-to-fiction-writer/) - [r/SciFi - Why Has Science Fiction (Or Speculative Fiction in Genral) Always Been The Exception Rather Than Rule in Prose Fiction?](https://www.reddit.com/r/scifi/comments/43adbx/why_has_science_fiction_or_speculative_fiction_in/) - [r/SciFi - Why Do You Like SciFi?](https://www.reddit.com/r/scifi/comments/nc7hn/why_do_you_like_scifi/) - [Wikipedia - Speculative Fiction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speculative_fiction) - [Fanlore - Science Fiction](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Science_Fiction) - [M.G. Herron - What Is Speculative Fiction?](https://mgherron.com/2016/03/what-is-speculative-fiction/) - [Green Tentacles - What is Speculative Fiction?](http://www.greententacles.com/articles/5/26/) - [The Guardian - Speculative or Science Fiction? As Margaret Atwood Shows, There Isn't Much Distinction](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/aug/10/speculative-or-science-fiction-as-margaret-atwood-shows-there-isnt-much-distinction) - [JSTOR - The Uses of Genre and the Classification of Speculative Fiction](https://www.jstor.org/stable/44030329?read-now=1&loggedin=true&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents) - [Quora - So, SF, Sci-Fi, Science Fiction or Speculative Fiction? And Does It Really Matter.](https://www.quora.com/So-SF-sci-fi-science-fiction-or-speculative-fiction-And-does-it-really-matter) - [Quora - Should Speculative Fiction Be Treated Seriously?](https://www.quora.com/Should-speculative-fiction-be-treated-seriously) - [Quora - Why Are the Science Fiction and Fantasy Genres Linked?](https://www.quora.com/Why-are-the-science-fiction-and-fantasy-genres-linked) - [Scroll.in - Why Speculative Fiction may be the Best Way to Depict Reality](https://scroll.in/article/767824/why-speculative-fiction-may-be-the-best-way-to-depict-reality) - [io9 - Why Speculative Fiction is the Coolest Genre of Them All](https://io9.gizmodo.com/5360387/why-speculative-fiction-is-the-coolest-genre-of-them-all) ### Music / Sound - ["Up Against the Wall"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=1361) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green

Interview: Chrono Trigger Fans with Greg Werner (One Piece Podcast)

The Nickscast — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 17:41:46 +0000

How exactly does one find themselves sitting on a toilet in Japan, looking back on a life of Sailor Moon, Akira Toriyama, and Chrono Trigger? We have quite the story to tell as Nick G and Greg talk about growing up as a fan of Chrono Trigger, its influence on Greg's life, and a little bit about Dragonball, Final Fantasy, and Akira Toriyama along the way! ## Where can I learn more about Greg Werner? If you want to learn more about Greg Werner and his work, you can check out: - YouTube: [ochimusha108](http://youtube.com/ochimusha108) - Twitter: [@ochimusha108](https://twitter.com/ochimusha108) - One Piece Podcast: [onepiecepodcast.com](http://www.onepiecepodcast.com/) - One Piece Official Website: [one-piece.com/special/greg](https://one-piece.com/special/greg) ## What is [the Race Against Time (IV)](http://raceagainsttime.io)? > Now in its fourth year running, the Race Against Time is an annual charity marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada by beating the SNES classic, Chrono Trigger, as many times as possible in 24 hours. This year, the event is running every week until August 11 and 12 for the main event (see website for detailed schedule). > > Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that slowly robs those afflicted of their memories, and, eventually, their very sense of being. We are racing to help preserve those memories of loved ones and for a cure to stop it once and for all! > > All donations go directly to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. You can donate right now at [raceagainsttime.io/donate](http://raceagainsttime.io/donate)! ## Sources - Opening music, ["Diggin' til the Very End"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Scott Pilgrim - A 'Trash Dillweed'

The Nickscast — Fri, 03 Aug 2018 16:05:30 +0000

We got a stereo, you just got to turn the knob and baby we'll go as far as we can... but we're not garbage men. This week, we have special guest, [Matthew Tyler Di Leo (aka SonicMTD)](https://twitter.com/SonicMTD) to help talk us through the fandom of Scott Pilgrim... fans. Next week, we have [Jen Frankel, author of the Undead Redhead series](http://www.jenfrankel.com/) to chat with us about fans of speculative fiction! ## Where can I learn more about Matt? If you'd like to hear more from Matt or check out his work, you're in luck! - City in Wires, [his band](https://www.facebook.com/CityInWires/) - His [YouTube](https://youtube.com/SonicMTD) - His [Twitter](https://twitter.com/SonicMTD) - His [Facebook](https://facebook.com/SonicMTD) ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Scott Pilgrim is a series of graphic stories by Bryan Lee O'Malley. The series is about Canadian Scott Pilgrim, a slacker and part-time musician who lives in Toronto, Ontario and plays bass guitar in a band. He falls in love with American delivery girl Ramona Flowers, but must defeat her seven evil exes in order to date her. > > The series consists of six digest size black-and-white volumes, released between August 2004 and July 2010, by Portland-based independent comic book publisher Oni Press. It was later republished by Fourth Estate, an imprint of HarperCollins. Full-colour hardback volumes, coloured by Nathan Fairbairn, were released from August 2012 to April 2014. > > A film adaptation of the series titled Scott Pilgrim vs. the World starring actor Michael Cera in the title role was released in August 2010. A video game adaptation developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade was released the same month. > > — [Wikipedia - Scott Pilgrim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Pilgrim) **Search Data:** As far as Google trends data goes, Scott Pilgrim looks like a flash in the pan, and [the movie is a lot more popular than the graphic novel series](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F05j3y0,%2Fm%2F05t0_2v). There is a huge spike in interest (on either graph) around August 2010, then a long tail into the present. By country, for the graphic novel series, the top ten countries for search volume are: Iceland (by a large margin), Mexico, Chile, Puerto Rico, United States, Philippines, South Korea, Paraguay, Australia. By country, for the movie, the top ten countries for search volume are: Mexico, Chile, Canada, Puerto Rico, United States, Russia, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom. **Size of Fandom:** Based on a few data points... - According to Oni press, in 2010, and after 6 years, Scott Pilgrim's final volume, _Finest Hour_ had sold over 1 million copies in North America alone ([Comicsbeat](http://www.comicsbeat.com/scott-pilgrims-finest-sales-chart-1-million-in-print/))... so, presumably that gives about one million as one possible estimate - It has [over 300 000 ratings on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446029/?ref_=tt_urv) - It has over 12 000 subscribers [on the Scott Pilgrim subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/ScottPilgrim) - There is a discord server, [_Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Discord_](https://discordapp.com/invite/QzBnDad) which has over 400 members ... so it's probably fair to say that there are _tens of thousands of fans_. **Fan Demographics:** Looking at the [ratings from IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446029/ratings?ref_=tt_ov_rt), we can get an extremely loose sense of the demographics (for the movie at least): - *Age*: Predominantly folks between ages 18-29 (38%) and 30-44 (37%) - *Gender*: Predominantly male (68%) as compared to female (15%); data is missing for other genders **Fast Facts:** - There are about 150 Scott Pilgrim works on [Archive of Our Own](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Scott%20Pilgrim%20-%20All%20Media%20Types/works) - During its opening weekend, the movie raised $10.5m at the box office... significantly less than the $60m the movie cost to make ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/#-name) Famous Last Words **T** How popular is Scott, as a character within the fandom? **G** Is the music portion of Scott Pilgrim as important to the GN fans as it is to fans of the movie? **Z** How divisive was the movie? **Lauren** What did you think of Lost at Sea?? Do you want to talk about Lost at Sea with Lauren? ### This week's spotlight **[Race Against Time IV](http://raceagainsttime.io)** > Now in its fourth year running, the Race Against Time is an annual charity marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada by beating the SNES classic, Chrono Trigger, as many times as possible in 24 hours. This year, the event is running every week until August 11 and 12 for the main event (see website for detailed schedule). > > Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that slowly robs those afflicted of their memories, and, eventually, their very sense of being. We are racing to help preserve those memories of loved ones and for a cure to stop it once and for all! > > All donations go directly to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, speculative fiction! **T** Is the distinction between speculative fiction and genre fiction substantial? **Z** Is speculative fiction a label from authors, publisher, fans...? **G** I speculative fiction meant to be cautionary? Is it all black mirror? **Matt** "Avenge me" Where does speculative fiction tow the line; when does something stop qualifying as speculative fiction? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Matt for making the time _to_ chat with us, AND for providing [his own show notes for this episode](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Bhqcl27DhtiuDixl8_6nDf2QZckTAJuLZG5Km-e1w5M/edit)! Also, thanks _from_ Matt to the following folks (many of whom were part of early Scott Pilgrim fan communities): - Rebecca Blanchard - [Erin Encheta](http://aancheta.com) - MaddoxFan - Media Mike of What To Play Gaming for his series on _Scott Pilgrim vs The World_ ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Scott Pilgrim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Pilgrim) - [Comics Beat - Scott Pilgrim's finest sales chart: 1 million in print](http://www.comicsbeat.com/scott-pilgrims-finest-sales-chart-1-million-in-print/) - [IMDB - Scott Pilgrim vs. the World](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446029/ratings?ref_=tt_ov_rt) - [Reddit - Scott Pilgrim](https://www.reddit.com/r/ScottPilgrim) - [The Telegraph - Scott Pilgrim: where are all his geeky fans?](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-blog/7968139/Scott-Pilgrim-where-are-all-his-geeky-fans.html) - [Google Trends - Scott Pilgrim](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F05j3y0,%2Fm%2F05t0_2v) - [io9 - Scott Pilgrim author says it "sucks" that the story was "so white"](https://io9.gizmodo.com/scott-pilgrim-author-says-it-sucks-that-the-movie-was-575876991) - [r/ScottPilgrim - Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/ScottPilgrim/comments/4p6gpv/scott_pilgrim_vs_the_world_the_game_faq/) - [A Forever Quest - Graphic Novel Review: Lost at Sea by Bryan Lee O’Malley](http://aforeverquest.com/2017/04/29/graphic-novel-review-lost-sea-bryan-lee-omalley/) - [Quora - What-do-Fans-of-the-Scott-Pilgrim-vs-the-World-Comic-Think-of-Mary-Elizabeth-Winsteads-Performance-in-the Film?](https://www.quora.com/What-do-fans-of-the-Scott-Pilgrim-vs-the-World-comic-think-of-Mary-Elizabeth-Winsteads-performance-in-the-film) - [Quora - What Made Michael Cera Perfect for the Role of Scott Pilgrim?](https://www.quora.com/What-made-Michael-Cera-perfect-for-the-role-of-Scott-Pilgrim) - [Quora - Why Did the Movie Scott Pilgrim Versus the World get Such Good Reviews?](https://www.quora.com/Why-did-the-movie-Scott-Pilgrim-Versus-the-World-get-such-good-reviews) - [Quora - Why Does Scott Pilgrim vs. The World have a Cult Following?](https://www.quora.com/Why-does-Scott-Pilgrim-vs-the-World-have-a-cult-following) - [Quora - Why Has Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Performed Poorly at the Box Office?](https://www.quora.com/Why-has-Scott-Pilgrim-vs-the-World-performed-poorly-at-the-box-office) - [r/FanTheories - The Moral of Scott Pilgrim](https://www.reddit.com/r/FanTheories/comments/12j970/the_moral_of_scott_pilgrim/) - [r/Movies - I Didn't Get the Hype with Scott Pilgrim vs The World - Am I Missing Something?](https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/7ild3r/i_didnt_get_the_hype_with_scott_pilgrim_vs_the/) - [r/Movies - Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a Perfect Film.](https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/8k2jq6/scott_pilgrim_vs_the_world_is_a_perfect_film/) - [r/Movies - What's Your Opinion on 'Scott Pilgrim vs the World'?](https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/3jw3pk/whats_your_opinion_on_scott_pilgrim_vs_the_world/) - [r/ScottPilgrim - A Question for Fans of Scott Pilgrim Fan Fiction.](https://www.reddit.com/r/ScottPilgrim/comments/3v0kh3/a_question_for_fans_of_scott_pilgrim_fan_fiction/) - [r/ScottPilgrim - What Drew You to the Scott Pilgrim Series?](https://www.reddit.com/r/ScottPilgrim/comments/4vljr9/what_drew_you_to_the_scott_pilgrim_series/) - [r/ScottPilgrim - Why Scott Pilgrim is Oane of the Greatest Stories of the Time. And Random Discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/ScottPilgrim/comments/1kt5c1/why_scott_pilgrim_is_one_of_the_greatest_stories/) - [Things Mean A Lot - Lost at Sea by Bryan Lee O’Malley](http://www.thingsmeanalot.com/2009/05/lost-at-sea-by-bryan-lee-omalley.html) - [Watchman Comic Movie Forum - Bryan Lee O' Malley's Lost at Sea](http://www.watchmencomicmovie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4670) ### Music / Sound - ["End of Year"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1355&Genre=Rock) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Gunpla - A Perfect Grade Podcast

The Nickscast — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 17:35:30 +0000

Take part A1-2 and add part D3-5, then turn the middle part top-wise?? This week, we're talking about the world of Gundam plastic models, AKA Gunpla, with special guest, Lauren Orsini—_[The Otaku Journalist](https://www.otakujournalist.com/)_ and author of _[Gunpla 101](https://www.gunpla101.com/)_! Next week: Are you hearing voices? Animal noises? The creme-de-la-creme? The feminine abyss? I'm not sure what any of that means, but we'll be hear to talk Scott Pilgrim with a special guest! ## Where can I learn more about Lauren Orsini? If you want to learn more about Lauren, you can [follow her on Twitter](https;//twitter.com/laureninspace), or read about more of her work on [The Otaku Journalist](https://www.otakujournalist.com/), _[Gunpla 101](https://www.gunpla101.com/), or the [Gunpla 101 twitter](https;//twitter.com/gunpla101)! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** While doing the research for this week's topic and unearthing the history of Gunpla, we inevitably were lead to our guests on words. From [Gunpla101.com's "the History of Gunpla"](https://www.gunpla101.com/the-history-of-gunpla/): > Mobile Suit Gundam, the first Gundam series ever, aired in 1979. > > Less than a year later, the first Gunpla kit appeared. And for the past 30 years, people of all ages have continued to enjoy this unusual hobby. > ... > - The word “Gunpla” was coined at the same time as the first kit. Like “cosplay,” it’s a Japanese amalgamation of two English words—“Gundam” and “plastic,” as in “plastic model. English speakers will interchange this with “Gundam models,” but we usually say Gunpla because it’s shorter. > - The first Gunpla, released in July 1980, cost just 300 yen, or about $3. Obviously, it was a kit for making the very first Mobile Suit Gundam model. > - The earliest Gunpla kits, released between 1980 and 1989, are nothing like the Gunpla we build today. Instead of snapping together, you had to glue them together with cement. Even trickier, they were all one color, and you’d need to paint them first! You’d get a rigid, hardly poseable model for your reward. Today these are called FG (First Grade) kits. > - The first High Grade was released in 1990 and cost 1000 yen, or about $10. As would become a tradition, the first model of any grade was the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Today High Grade is synonymous with “cheap and easy,” but in 1990 it was considered a more detailed, poseable grade of Gunpla. > - The first Master Grade was released in 1995 and cost 2500 yen, or about $25. It is the first time the original Mobile Suit Gundam was named correctly, as the RX-78-2. The grade was originally designed to be used for a select number of models to commemorate Gundam’s 15th anniversary, but the popularity of these more accurate models is why they’re still being manufactured to this day. > - The first Perfect Grade Gunpla appeared in 1998 and cost 12,000 yen or about $120. Today’s Perfect Grades make this look cheap, often topping $200 or more. Perfect grades come in 1/60 scale and include so much detail that they can take weeks to build. They may even come with wiring for LEDs or other electronic features. > ... > - The first Real Grade showed up just recently, in 2010. It was designed to be a step up from High Grade in terms of realism, without being as complicated as a Master Grade. **Search Data:** Looking at some of the [Google Trends data since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F077wn1), Gunpla has gained some popularity, and is relatively stable in terms of search volume having grown by 50% since 2004. There appears to be some precipitating event around September 2013 where interest picked up quite a bit, possibly in relation to _[Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Suit_Gundam:_The_Origin)_ being released in North America? It's unclear. [// Gundam build fighters - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundam_Build_Fighters]: # The top ten countries by search volume are: Japan (by a huge margin), Hong Kong, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, China, Indonesia, and Taiwan. Canada is 11th, and the United States is 13th. **Size of Fandom:** Based on a number of different sources: - The Gunpla Subreddit has over 48 000 subscribers - The Advanced Gunpla Subreddit has over 3000 subscribers - "As of 2015, Bandai has sold an estimate 450 million units, with nearly 2,000 different Gundam plastic models" [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundam_model). A simple calculation of units per model gives us over 225 000 units per model (and a good rough estimate of the number of fans). It's safe to say that there are probably _more than 100 000 fans_. **Fan Demographics:** We don't have data for this week's fandom, but we do have some data of fans of Gundam from the Gunpla subreddit, which is close (it's at least the same sample population). [From a survey conducted by MrUsamaKhan](https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunpla/comments/4i4xpx/results_the_definitive_gundam_survey_2016_initial/)... - Most folks got into Gundam via the Anime (79.7%), but a large percentage also got into it via Gunpla (13.5%) - _Gundam Wing_ was the first Gundam anime that most saw (42.1%) followed by _Mobile Suit Gundam_ (14.2%), and _Mobile Suit Gundam SEED/SEED Destiny_ (12.7%) There was also a link to [Gunpla demographics in Japan](https://imgur.com/1Bx4g3f) which includes some age data and a comparison of 2010 to 2015 (along with when different Gundam series were released): - _Age:_ The largest group is folks ages 40-50 (30%) followed by folks ages 30-40 (22%) then folks age 20-30 (20%). It looks like, for the most part, folks are growing up with the hobby, but also, younger folks are getting into it too! From Lauren's own Gunpla 101 stats: - _Age:_ About 33% are ages 25 - 30 (the largest group) followed by folks 18-24 (Google Analytics does not report on folks younger than age 18) - _Gender:_ Fairly even, with 54% male and 46% female [// kept getting sucked into Lauren's articles]: # **Fanac Fast Facts:** - There are over 6300 works on [Archive Of Our Own](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Gundam%20*a*%20Related%20Fandoms/works) in the Gundam series: - _Age ratings:_ Teen and up (1900+), General Audience (1700+), Explicit (1200+) - _Categories:_ M/M (3700+), Gen (1500+), F/M (1200+) - _Fandoms_: Gundam Wing (5100+), Gundam 00 (400+), Gundam Seed (200+) - Japanese researchers discovered in 2005 that in a study of university students, building Gunpla before doing mathematical drills produced a significant improvement in completion time. ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/366e7273a4b538/) Famous Last Words **Michael** How big can the models get? [//A 1:1 scale model exists in Odaiba, and 1:6 or 1:12 promotional sizes exist]: # **G** Are there enthusiasts who don't care about the series at all? **T** What are the forbidden techniques of Gunpla? (think about Lego) **Z** Gunpla is the modern day ship-in-a-bottle building. ### This week's spotlight **[Gunpla Builders World Cup](http://bandai-hobby.net/GBWC/)** > “Gunpla Builders World Cup” is the official Gunpla global tournament presented by BANDAI where modelers around the world show off their completed Gundam models. The competition determines the greatest Gunpla builder in the world and let creators fight for the title of Gunpla World Cup Champion! If you happen to be at [Otakuthon](http://www.otakuthon.com/2018/home/) next week, you can probably participate in the Canadian semi-finals portion of the GBWC! OR if you happen to be at [Otakon](https://www.otakon.com/), you can check out Lauren's panel, _39 Years of Gundam Anime_, or the _Art in Gundam_ panel. **[Race Against Time IV](http://raceagainsttime.io)** > Now in its fourth year running, the Race Against Time is an annual charity marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada by beating the SNES classic, Chrono Trigger, as many times as possible in 24 hours. This year, the event is running every week until August 11 and 12 for the main event (see website for detailed schedule). > > Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that slowly robs those afflicted of their memories, and, eventually, their very sense of being. We are racing to help preserve those memories of loved ones and for a cure to stop it once and for all! > > All donations go directly to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Scott Pilgrim! **T** How popular is Scott, as a character within the fandom? **G** Is the music portion of Scott Pilgrim as important to the GN fans as it is to fans of the movie? **Z** How divisive was the movie? **Lauren** What did you think of Lost at Sea?? Do you want to talk about Lost at Sea with Lauren? [// Hope Larson - graphic novels]: # ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Lauren Orsini for making the time to chat with us, especially as she was in the midst of a move when we had chatted with her! ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Gundam Models](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundam_model) - [Gunpla 101 - The History of Gunpla](https://www.gunpla101.com/the-history-of-gunpla/) - [Wikipedia - Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Suit_Gundam:_The_Origin) - [r/Gunpla - [Results] The Definitive Gundam Survey 2016 - Initial Results](https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunpla/comments/4i4xpx/results_the_definitive_gundam_survey_2016_initial/) - [Archive of Our Own - Gundam Series and related fandoms](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Gundam%20*a*%20Related%20Fandoms/works) - [Prezi - Model kit building and its effect on the brain](https://prezi.com/aoqux9zworsg/model-kit-building-and-its-effect-on-the-brain/) - [Crunchyroll - Social Media Falls In Love With "Gundam" Relationship Story](http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2017/11/22/social-media-falls-in-love-with-gundam-relationship-story) - [Gunpla 101 - Trust You: The Making of a PG Gundam 00 Diorama](https://www.gunpla101.com/trust-you-the-making-of-a-pg-gundam-00-diorama/) - [Gunpla 101 - How Gunpla First Came To America](https://www.gunpla101.com/gunpla-first-came-america/) - [Wikipedia - Impossible Bottle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impossible_bottle) - [Instructables - Building a Ship in a Bottle](http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-A-Ship-In-A-Bottle/) - [YouTube - Putting a Ship Into a Bottle](https://youtu.be/sk1IRhmcVR4) - [Marine Insight - Everything About Ship in a Bottle - The Famous Nautical Gift](https://www.marineinsight.com/recreation/everything-about-ship-in-a-bottle-the-famous-nautical-gift/) - [Folk Art in Bottles - The History of Ships in Bottles](https://www.folkartinbottles.com/other-media/articles/68-history-of-ships-in-bottles-by-bob-de-jongste) - [Wikipedia - Gundman Model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundam_model) - [The Gundam Wiki - Gunpla](http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/Gunpla) - [Gunpla 101 - About Us](https://www.gunpla101.com/about-us/) - [Anime Amino - Why Build GUNPLA? (An Introduction to Gundam Model Building)](https://aminoapps.com/c/anime/page/blog/why-build-gunpla-an-introduction-to-gundam-model-building/z2tx_u0eGdMkzJmL1kEBNN6zj0K8n3) - [The Escapist - Scientist Says Building Gundam Models Makes You Smarter](http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/101126-Scientist-Says-Building-Gundam-Models-Makes-You-Smarter) - [FROM JAPAN Blog - Why Is Gunpla So Addictive?](https://blog.fromjapan.co.jp/en/anime/why-is-gunpla-so-addictive.html) - [Quora - Can You Buy Gunpla When You Become Adult in Japan. And Do "Most" People Look Down on You?](https://www.quora.com/Can-you-buy-Gunpla-when-you-become-adult-in-Japan-And-do-most-people-look-down-on-you) - [r/Gunpla - Why Do You Build Gunpla?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunpla/comments/4awyu9/why_do_you_build_gunpla/) - [r/Gunpla - Dear r/Gunpla, Thank You](https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunpla/comments/8g4lp5/community_dear_rgunpla_thank_you/) - [r/Gunpla - Does Anybody Else NOT Watch Gundam?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunpla/comments/8ex29b/does_anybody_else_not_watch_gundam/) - [r/Gunpla - Thoughts on SD Gundams](https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunpla/comments/316mu0/thoughts_on_sd_gundams/) - [Shaolin Wahnam Institute Forum - Model Building, Another Form of Meditation?](https://www.wongkiewkit.com/forum/showthread.php?9613-Model-building-another-Form-of-Meditation) ### Music / Sound - ["Conjuring a New Enemy"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=1067) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Interview: Sailor Moon Fans with Bobbie Lee Crow (iconiQ The Soundtrack Orchestra)

The Nickscast — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 17:35:34 +0000

How does a TV show from Japan influence the lives of the folks watching them? It might just lead you to starting a symphony! Nick T has the opportunity to talk with Bobbie Lee Crow III, the artistic director of iconiQ and the conductor of SeraSymphony and his experiences growing up as a fan of Sailor Moon and how that fused with his love of music. You can also find out how Sailor Moon helped him get into college! ## Where can I learn more about Bobbie Lee Crow III? > Conductor, composer, and cellist Bobbie Lee Crow III has worked alongside singer-songwriter Blake Pfeil, ABC’s X-Factor finalist Khaya, Academy Award-winning director Tom Hooper, Japanese pop singer KIYOTAKA, and Tony Award-winner Patina Miller. His music credits include composition for the webseries How to Make It Big and the musical The Tale of Murasaki, score preparation for the film Denial, and performance on the Primetime Emmy-nominated series Elementary. An avid anime fan, Bobbie is the founder and Artistic Director of the anime, cartoon, and video game chamber ensemble iconiQ The Soundtrack Orchestra. He currently works at multi-award-winning composer Howard Shore’s music publishing company. > > — [SeraSymphony](http://www.serasymphony.com/) If you want to learn more about Bobbie Lee Crow III and his work, you can check out: - The SeraSymphony: [http://www.serasymphony.com/](http://www.serasymphony.com/) - iconiQ The Soundtrack Orchestra: - YouTube: [iconiquestra](http://youtube.com/iconiquestra) - Facebook: [@iconiquestra](https://www.facebook.com/iconiquestra/) - Twitter: [@iconiquestra](https://twitter.com/iconiquestra) - Website: [http://www.iconiquestra.org/](http://www.iconiquestra.org/) ## Sources - Opening music, ["Fight! Sailor Scouts"](http://www.serasymphony.com/store/serasymphony-ii-half-moon/) by SeraSymphony; Music by Bob Summers; © BLC3Music Services, LLC - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Galaga - The Long Quarter

The Nickscast — Fri, 20 Jul 2018 17:34:50 +0000

This week, we're teaming up to get a high score with Michael Kimball as we blast into the world of... Galaga?! What is it about the classic arcade game that has held its allure for more than thirty years? And where is the fandom heading? Next week, we move from space fighter to space _robots_ to talk about Gunpla with [the Otaku Journalist, Lauren Orsini](https://www.otakujournalist.com/)! ## Where can I learn more about Michael Kimball? You can learn more about Michael by [checking out his website](http://www.michael-kimball.com/) or perhaps even by reading his book, [_Galaga_](https://bossfightbooks.com/collections/books/products/galaga-by-michael-kimball) published by Boss Fight books! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Galaga is a Japanese arcade game developed and published by Namco Japan and by Midway in North America in 1981. It is the sequel to 1979's Galaxian. The gameplay of Galaga puts the player in control of a spacecraft which is situated at the bottom of the screen, with enemy aliens arriving in formation at the beginning of a stage, either trying to destroy, collide with, or capture the spaceship, with the player progressing every time alien forces are vanquished. > > — [Wikipedia - Galaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaga) The game has been re-released and sequeled multiple times, with at least twenty different games existing in its release history including tie-in versions for popular anime _Space Dandy_ and fighting game series _Tekken_. **Size of Fandom:** Estimating the number of fans is always difficult. Using a few data points that we have: - The [Galaga subreddit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaga) has about 140 subscribers - The [Arcade subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/cade/) has over 22 000 subscribers - The [Retrogaming subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/retrogaming/) has almost 63 000 subscribers - Two remixes on [OverClocked Remixes](http://ocremix.org/game/192/galaga-arc) - [300 000 people](http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-bc-as--new-zealand-galaga-wars-20180504-story.html) tuned in to watch a livestream of a Galaga tournament Given such a wide range of values, the safest estimate probably puts the number of fans _in the thousands_. **Fast Facts:** - Archive Of Our Own and FanFiction.net have about 60 fanfics combined that reference Galaga, the majority of which involve "Galaga Guy" from the first Avengers movie; even DeviantArt returns a scant almost 3000 results - The 2007 ABC series, _Lost_, features a submarine named after the game > Variety reports **Galaga Chronicles is being developed by The Nuttery Entertainment, who reached an agreement with the original creators, Bandai Namco. The firm will be responsible for developing a story and characters for the Galaga series for the first time in its over 30 year history**. No official word yet on where the animated series is set to land if it's completed and greenlit, but it's being reported the series and other Galaga related projects the company is working on will be cut across various platforms. The project is still very early on in development, so no release date has been given as of yet. > > — [Cinemablend - Galaga Might Get A TV Show, And Yes, We Mean That Galaga](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/1683990/galaga-might-get-a-tv-show-and-yes-we-mean-that-galaga) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/#-name) Famous Last Words **Justus** Given the age of Galaga and the fact that there haven't been that many remakes over the years... why Galaga? What is it about that game that lends itself to the longevity of the fandom? [// Why are folks still a fan?]: # [// I am also curious about this]: # **T** How does the community stay together, given how small it is? [// I found an official forum, but it was almost dead?]: # **G** Is there an aspect to Galaga fandom that is non-competitive? **Z** Is there fanfiction for Galaga? Specifically, written fanfiction. ### This week's spotlight **[Score Wars](https://scorewars.com/)** > Score Wars is a new live-streamed video gaming tournament presented by Meow Wolf. For our first-annual Score Wars, we’re bringing together the best Galaga players on the planet for an epic four-day throwdown to smash world records and crown a new Galaga champ! In addition to holding a livestreamed Galaga tournament (with ten elite players competing for $10 000), the event also had an amateur competition and a number of other arcade game cabinets and celebrity guests. **[Boss Fight Books](https://bossfightbooks.com/collections/books/products/galaga-by-michael-kimball) **[One-hour MFA](http://www.michael-kimball.com/the-one-hour-mfa-in-fiction/)** **[Race Against Time IV](http://raceagainsttime.io)** > Now in its fourth year running, the Race Against Time is an annual charity marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada by beating the SNES classic, Chrono Trigger, as many times as possible in 24 hours. This year, the event is running every week until August 11 and 12 for the main event (see website for detailed schedule). > > Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that slowly robs those afflicted of their memories, and, eventually, their very sense of being. We are racing to help preserve those memories of loved ones and for a cure to stop it once and for all! > > All donations go directly to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Gunpla! **Michael** How big can the models get? **G** Are there enthusiasts who don't care about the series at all? **T** What are the forbidden techniques of Gunpla? (think about Lego) **Z** Gunpla is the modern day ship-in-a-bottle building. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Michael, for working with us to sort out all the technical issues before the call! ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Galaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaga) - [Google Trends - Galaga vs Space Invaders](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F02xmmk,%2Fm%2F0jvd8) - [Chicago Tribune - New Zealander 1st ever 'Galaga' arcade game World Champion](http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-bc-as--new-zealand-galaga-wars-20180504-story.html) - [UGSF - Galaga](http://ugsf-series.com/en/#galaga) - [Cinemablend - Galaga Might Get A TV Show, And Yes, We Mean That Galaga](https://www.cinemablend.com/television/1683990/galaga-might-get-a-tv-show-and-yes-we-mean-that-galaga) - Boss Fights Books' [_Galaga_ by Michael Kimball](https://bossfightbooks.com/collections/books/products/galaga-by-michael-kimball) - [Imgur - Galaga Comic](https://imgur.com/gallery/zf9lx) - [Wikipedia - Galaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaga) - [Fanfiction.net - Playing Galaga Is the Way to Meet Your Soulmate](https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11032322/1/playing-galaga-is-the-way-to-meet-your-soulmate) - [Fanfiction.net - Welcome to Namco High!](https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9854222/1/Welcome-to-Namco-High) - [Fanfiction.net - Galaga: Rival's Story](https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2979763/1/Galaga-Rival-s-Story) - [Fanfiction.net - Search: “Galaga”](https://www.fanfiction.net/search/?keywords=galaga&ready=1&type=story) - [Archive of Our Own - Works Matching “Galaga”](https://archiveofourown.org/works/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&work_search%5Bquery%5D=galaga) - [Archive of Our Own- Sizzling Love for the Lonely Hearts](https://archiveofourown.org/works/7013572/chapters/15969964) - [r/Galaga - I Record a Song About Growing Up Playing Galaga](https://www.reddit.com/r/Galaga/comments/83lvin/i_recorded_a_song_about_growing_up_playing_galaga/) - [r/Gaming - My Son got 431,980 Points and the Local High Score on Galaga. As a Geek Dad and Old School Gamer, This Makes me so Proud.](https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/efa17/my_son_got_431980_points_and_the_local_high_score/) - [Plasma Sky - Plasma Sky Game for iOS and Android](http://plasma-sky.com/) - [Destructoid - A Drug-Addled Alec Baldwin's Refuge? Why, Galaga, Of Course](https://www.destructoid.com/a-drug-addled-alec-baldwin-s-refuge-why-galaga-of-course-118295.phtml) - [NZHerald - New Zealander Andrew Barrow Crowned Galaga World Champ](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12045360) - [Meow Wolf - Score Wars Record Setters, Galaga Champs and the Years to Come](https://meowwolf.com/2018/04/06/score-wars-world-records-galaga/) - [RePlay Magazine - Galaga Turns 35; Fan Content Expands Its Universe](http://www.replaymag.com/galaga-turns-35-fan-content-expands-its-universe/) - [GalagaChronicles.com - Home](http://www.galagachronicles.com/) ### Music / Sound - ["Chiptune Frontiers"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=592&Genre=Eight) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Light Novels - Reborn as Podcasters, Now We Interview Really Cool Guests!

The Nickscast — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 18:30:23 +0000

Oh no! We've been transported to another world where podcasters fight in some sort of Battle Royale (and also Z has been turned into a washing machine)?! This week, we're talking about the fascinating fandom that is Light Novel fans, with special guest, [Justus R. Stone](justusrstone.com)! Next week, we'll be going to another other world... in ... space? Talking about... Galaga?! ## Where can I learn more about Justus R. Stone? [Justus R. Stone](justusrstone.com) is the author of the apocalyptic fiction series, The Bleeding Worlds, and has a podcast ([Light Novel Podcast](lightnovelpodcast.com)) and [YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/justusrstone) dedicated to light novels. You can also find him on Twitter ([@justusrstone](http://twitter.com/justusrstone)), Instagram ([@justusrstone](http://instagram.com/justusrstone)) and Facebook (... [@justusrstone](http://facebook.com/justusrstone)). ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Light Novels are short (approximately 50 000 words), Japanese novels primarily targeted at high- and middle-school students which are often accompanied by manga- or anime-style illustrations. The "light" in the name actually comes from the lack of hard-to-read kanji (ideographic characters in Japanese). Light novels are sort of the evolution of pulp novels and magazines in Japan: Somewhere in the 1970s, many pulp magazines had started to move away from classic-style covers towards more anime and manga style covers and including illustrations at the beginning of stories. In the 1980s, novels like _The Heroic Legend of Arslan_ and _Record of Lodoss War_ took a hold of audience, as did _Slayers_ and the _Boogiepop_ series in the 1990s (note that many of these were turned into anime). Interest in light novels really took off in the mid-2000s with the success of the _Haruhi Suzumiya_ series. **Search Data:** By Google Trends search volume, [Light Novels have become much, much more popular since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F06b_0_) and are arguably the most popular they have ever been. Since 2006, they have been on a steady climb upwards with exception to the last few years where interest has been a bit flat. There was a sharp increase in interest between February to August 2015, but we couldn't figure out why. In terms of search volume, the top ten countries for_Light Novel_ are: Japan, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Phillipines, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan. [// There is a pretty dramatic decline in interest: Kazakhstan is at 17]: # [// Canada is at 22, with 6; United States is at 26 with 5]: # **Fan Demographics:** Based on some data from the [r/LightNovel Community Survey from 2016](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightNovels/comments/3g2rm5/rlightnovels_community_survey_results/) (with over 1500 respondents): - _Gender_: In the subreddit, overwhelmingly male (95.6%; 3.3% female) - _Age_: Predominantly folks age 17-25 (40% 17-20 years old, 36.5% 20-25 years old) - _Location_: Most of respondents are in North America (51.1%) but many in Europe (27.2%) and some in Asia (11.1%) Some other interesting bits of data from the survey: - Most folks come to the subreddit for Chinese light novels (57.8%), followed by Japanese (34.9%) - Respondents are predominantly lurkers (74.6%) - Most folks prefer to read by chapter (60.8%) as compared to by book (37.1%) - Most folks do not buy licensed light novels (76.4%) - Most folks do read Western books (78.4%) but do not prefer Western books to Light Novels (66.9%) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/366365f057a51a) Famous Last Words **Erica** What do you think are the qualities of light novels as a genre that makes them so interesting as reader and reviewer of light novels? (What are your thoughts about the genre as a whole, and personal interpretation of why you like them) **G** Why 'light' novels? Why are they called light novels? **T** Why have they become so popular in North America? [// because Kurt Hastler likes them -> Border s -> Brought manga sections to North America -> Spice and Wolf ]: # **Z** Is there a magic ratio of pictures to text for it to be a light novel? ### The Verdict **T is out.** "Is this a fandom?" On its own, no. Not in... yet. **G is in (?)** Can't get into manga... but likes anime. So maybe light novels are the way in. Going to try it out **Z is out.** Could be interesting to get into light novels. Has read some and didn't even know it! **Justus is in.** Mission was to read as many volume ones as possible to see what would entice folks. Got into light novels out of curiousity. ### This week's spotlight **[Baka-Tsuki.org](http://baka-tsuki.org)** > Started back in 2006 to spread word about the _Haruhi Suzumiya_ light novels, the site now acts as the go-to place for fan-translated light novels. The main site uses a wiki layout and acts as a hub for many light novel projects. Each light novel's wiki page includes not only the translated novels themselves but also information on who is working on the projects, how much has been completed of the series in total, and a list of updates. > > The site now sports over fifty different light novel series in various states of completion—and in many languages besides English. Of course, like many manga and anime translation sites, if and when a series is licensed, it is removed from the site. > > Despite the dubious legality of this activity, it is nonetheless truly interesting to see how most of these translators have all come together in one place to ensure the light novels they love are translated as efficiently as possible. > > — [Kotaku - Light Novel Fan Translators Build a Centralized Community on the Web](https://kotaku.com/light-novel-fan-translators-build-a-centralized-communi-470822754) **[EnglishLightNovels.com](https://englishlightnovels.com/)** **[LNDB.org](https://lndb.org/)** **[Race Against Time IV](http://raceagainsttime.io)** > Now in its fourth year running, the Race Against Time is an annual charity marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada by beating the SNES classic, Chrono Trigger, as many times as possible in 24 hours. This year, the event is running every week until August 11 and 12 for the main event (see website for detailed schedule). > > Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that slowly robs those afflicted of their memories, and, eventually, their very sense of being. We are racing to help preserve those memories of loved ones and for a cure to stop it once and for all! > > All donations go directly to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. [//Recommendations go here]: # [//Plugs go here]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Galaga! **Justus** Given the age of Galaga and the fact that there haven't been that many remakes over the years... why Galaga? What is it about that game that lends itself to the longevity of the fandom? [// Why are folks still a fan?]: # **T** How does the community stay together, given how small it is? **G** Is there an aspect to Galaga fandom that is non-competitive? **Z** Is there fanfiction for Galaga? Specifically, written fanfiction. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Light Novels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_novel) - [Google Trends - Light Novels](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F06b_0_) - [Reddit - Light Novels](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightNovels/) - [/r/LightNovels - /r/LightNovels Community Survey Results!](https://www.reddit.com/r/LightNovels/comments/3g2rm5/rlightnovels_community_survey_results/) - [/r/LightNovels - What's wrong with Light Novel adaptations?](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/4t3iaz/whats_wrong_with_light_novel_adaptations/) - [Kotaku - Light Novel Fan Translators Build a Centralized Community on the Web](https://kotaku.com/light-novel-fan-translators-build-a-centralized-communi-470822754) - [Fanlore - Light Novel](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Light_Novel) - [Google Trends - “Japanese Novella” vs. “Light Novel”](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=US&q=japanese%20novella,light%20novel) - [Kadokawa.co.jp - The Platform to Produce Innovative Content: Kadokawa Annual Report 2012](http://ir.kadokawa.co.jp/ir/annual/2012/annual_2012.pdf) - [Quora - What is the Difference Between Manga and Light Novels?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-manga-and-light-novels) - [StackExchange - Anime and Manga - What exactly is a “Light Novel”?](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/13301/what-exactly-is-a-light-novel) - [The Guardian - What Became of Illustrations in Fiction?](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/dec/13/illustrations-fiction-novels) - [The Ranobe Cafe - How ‘Not’ To Write A Light Novel](https://web.archive.org/web/20120430065529/http://ranobecafe.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/how-not-to-write-a-light-novel) - [Web Japan - Light Reading: Comic-Like Novels Are All the Rage](http://web-japan.org/trends/07_culture/pop070228.html) - [WikiHow - How to Write a Light Novel](https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Light-Novel) - [Youtube - I'm Launching a Patreon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un3oZ7B9tAA) - [Youtube - Q and A Video! So Many Questions... :)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjM5iWxuwAw) ### Music / Sound - ["Rescuing the Day at 140BPM"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=432&Genre=Techno) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Yuri - Parting the Gauze Curtain

The Nickscast — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 15:13:11 +0000

What has a history over a hundred years-old, goes beyond genre, and gets its name from the Japanese word for 'lily'? If you guessed yuri, you and our guest would be in good company! This week, we had special guest Erica Friedman to help us wrap up the season and educate us on the fascinating world of yuri... for the revolution of the world?! Next week, it's season eight; what changes will we have in store?! One thing that won't change is that we'll have a new episode, this time with Justus R Stone talking about fans of light novels! ## Where can I learn more about Erica Friedman? If you want to learn more about Erica Friedman's fantastic work on yuri, you're in luck! - The Yuri New Network (now with podcast!): [okazu.yuricon.com](https://okazu.yuricon.com) - YuriCon: [yuricon.com](https://yuricon.com) - Facebook: [@yuriconalc](https://facebook.com/yuriconalc) - Twitter: [@okazuyuri](https://twitter.com/okazuyuri) And, you can help support the continuation of that work by becoming a patron of her work on Patreon: http://patreon.com/okazu ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Yuri, or Girls' Love, is a genre of manga, anime, and other Japanese works involving lesbian relationships. It can focus on the romantic or sexual aspects of the relationships (or both). The word itself literally means 'lily', a common Japanese feminine name, and may be derived in parallel to the pre-existing association between the word for rose ('bara') and gay men. ...And of course there's a lot of history, which is why we have Erica to help us out! **Search Data:** Interest in Yuri has been [relatively constant since 2004 with some slow growth](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0jb0t,%2Fm%2F0f9s9). Most spikes in interest appear to be erroneously associated with the genre: a spike in December 2016 most likely corresponds to the finale of _Yuri!!! on Ice_, for example, as does a spike in August 2011 referring to cosmonaut _Yuri Gagarin_. A quick comparison to Yaoi puts Yuri as just under half as popular but with similar trends. In terms of search data by country, the top ten are: Japan, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Cambodia, Phillipines, Malaysia, and El Salvador (Canada is 30th, and United States is 32nd). **Fan Demographics:** Based on a fan survey conducted by [Floating into Bliss in 2017](https://floatingintobliss.wordpress.com/2017/10/14/report-on-the-yuri-fandom-demographic-survey/), we do have some rough data from its almost 700 respondents. - Gender: A plurality identified as women (47.19%), but fairly equal representation of those identifying as men (44.31%) with the remainder identifying as non-binary / other. - Sexuality: Of the women who responded, 96.04% listed their sexuality as something _other_ than heterosexual (compared to 23.38% of men) - Age: The mode age group is 21-25 (though, 16-20 and 26-30 are also fairly represented) Other neat facts from this survey include: - Most responses came from Twitter (and there was a higher proportion of responses from women than men on Twitter; a higher proportion of men responded from Reddit) - Most respondents prefer to read Yuri manga (55.39%) vs watching anime (16.97%) or visual novels (4.46%). 18.56% don't care about which medium. - The vast majority (84.9%) read both original and fan works - Over 80% enjoy shipping, and over 50% enjoy shipping but don't see it as a key aspect of their enjoying Yuri. - Over 40% read both pornographic and non-pornographic content and have no preference for which The survey also lists favourite manga by groups... so I would highly recommend checking out the survey! A slightly different survey from the [International Anime Research Project](https://sites.google.com/site/animeresearch/past-results/2016-results) also happened to ask about interest levels in Yuri (and other genres). Of the 300+ respondents (~54% identifying as male), approximately 25% listed Yuri as "Do not like" with approximately 12% identifying as "Very much like" and another 12% as "I don't know" (the remainder being evenly divided between the 5 other rankings). ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/36597267af48ca/) Famous Last Words **Z** Is there a Japanese version of Tanya Chalkin's "the Kiss"? **G** Who is Yuri for? **T** What is the first canonical Yuri manga? [// Possibly 'Shiroi Heya no Futari' (Our White Room) by Ryoko Yamagishi in 1971 might have been "the first manga involving a lesbian relationship ... as it was "prototypical" for many yuri stories of the 1970s and 1980s" ]: # **Tyler** What is the primary focus of Yuri (since Yaoi seems to be focussed on the seme / uke relationship)? ### This week's spotlight **[Yaoi / Yuri North](http://yaoinorth.com)** > Yaoi / Yuri North is the annual LGBTQ-centric programming track that runs as part of Anime North. Programming features a variety of informative panels and events including fandom-specific discussions, queer lifestyle, and yaoi/yuri fandom topics as well as evening / overnight viewings and a multitude of contests. **[YuriCon](http://www.yuricon.com/what-is-yuricon)** > Yuricon was founded in 2000 by Erica Friedman as _AniLesboCon_, with the mission of bringing together fans of lesbian images in Japanese animation and comics. Initially, ALC was designed to be a “virtual” convention only, with real contests to foster community and creativity. This mission gathered people from all over the world; to discuss and create stories that represented an entire continuum of lesbian experience, from youthful crushes to adult relationships. **[Race Against Time IV](http://raceagainsttime.io)** > Now in its fourth year running, the Race Against Time is an annual charity marathon to raise money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada by beating the SNES classic, Chrono Trigger, as many times as possible in 24 hours. This year, the event is running every week until August 11 and 12 for the main event (see website for detailed schedule). > > Alzheimer's is a terrible disease that slowly robs those afflicted of their memories, and, eventually, their very sense of being. We are racing to help preserve those memories of loved ones and for a cure to stop it once and for all! > > All donations go directly to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Light Novels! **Erica** What do you think are the qualities of light novels as a genre that makes them so interesting as reader and reviewer of light novels? (Thoughts about genre as a whole, and personal interpretation of why you like them) **G** Why light novel? Why are they called light novels? **T** Why have they become so popular in North America? [// because Kurt Hastler likes them -> Border s -> Brought manga sections to North America -> Spice and Wolf ]: # **Z** Is there a magic ratio of pictures to text for it to be a light novel? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Erica Friedman, who despite losing her voice the day of recording managed to tough it out and help us learn a lot more about the world of yuri! ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Yuri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_(genre)) - [Google Trends - Yuri vs Yaoi](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0jb0t,%2Fm%2F0f9s9) - [International Anime Research Project - 2016 Preliminary Results](https://sites.google.com/site/animeresearch/past-results/2016-results) - [Floating into Bliss - Report on the Yuri Fandom Demographic Survey](https://floatingintobliss.wordpress.com/2017/10/14/report-on-the-yuri-fandom-demographic-survey/) - [Anime Feminist - [Feature] Consider the Lilies of the Field: The Case for Yuri Manga](https://www.animefeminist.com/feature-consider-lilies-field-case-yuri-manga/) - [Behind the Nihon Review - The Structure of Yuri: the Shift from Female to Male Audiences](http://behind-the.nihonreview.com/20100215/the-structure-of-yuri-the-shift-from-female-to-male-audiences/) - [Brobible - The 21 Most Cliche Dorm-Room Posters](https://brobible.com/college/article/the-21-most-cliche-dorm-room-posters/) - [Complex - The Most Famous Kissing Photographs Of All Time](https://www.complex.com/style/2013/07/famous-kissing-photographs/kiss-by-tanya-chalkin) - [Everyday Feminism - Am I a Queer Woman Looking Through the Male Gaze?](https://everydayfeminism.com/2017/07/queer-woman-male-gaze/) - [Everyday Feminism - We’re Taking Lesbian Sexuality Back from the Male Gaze and the Result Is Awesome](https://everydayfeminism.com/2015/04/lesbian-sexuality-male-gaze/) - [Fanlore - Yuri](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Yuri) - [Floating into Bliss - Yuri isn’t Made for Men: An Analysis of the Demographics of Yuri Mangaka and Fans](https://floatingintobliss.wordpress.com/2017/11/27/yuri-isnt-made-for-men-an-analysis-of-the-demographics-of-yuri-mangaka-and-fans/) - [Japanese Studies - The Sexual and Textual Politics of Japanese Lesbian Comics: Reading Romantic and Erotic Yuri Narratives](https://japanesestudies.org.uk/articles/2010/Nagaike.html) - [Momojob.net - Introduction to the Customs for Lesbians! Basic Knowledge for Lesbian Women to Work in Customs](https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=http://momojob.net/blog/post-5179/&prev=search) - [Quora - Why Isn’t Yuri as Popular as Yaoi Anime](https://www.quora.com/Why-isnt-yuri-as-popular-as-yaoi-anime) - [Stack Exchange - Anime - Who is the Main Target Audience of Yuri Titles?](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/13482/who-is-the-main-target-audience-of-yuri-titles) - [Vice i-D - Article Title](https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/nenb5w/the-kiss-15-years-on-meet-the-models-and-creators-behind-the-iconic-image) - [YouTube - A Very Brief History of Yuri by Erica Friedman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8Te2epyC_4) ### Music / Sound - ["Threshold of Insanity Super Bass Mode"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=1024) by TeknoAxe used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Minisode: Do we still need genres?

The Nickscast — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 17:35:50 +0000

Is this action, adventure, or... romance? Whatever genre this is, its definitely a podcast, and T and Z are at each others throats defending some very (unimportant) opinions about what genres are and if they're still needed (they are not). All this in 30 minutes or less! **Sources** - Opening music, ["Diggin' til the Very End"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Disney Theme Parks - #PurpleWall

The Nickscast — Fri, 22 Jun 2018 17:35:51 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # It turns out... we had a lot to say about Disney theme parks, so enjoy part two (I guess it _isn't_ such a small world after all)! Next episode, we have our finale, talking about fans of Yuri with Erica Friedman! ## Where can I learn more about Tyler? Tyler happens to run his own podcast, [Ride Rehab](http://riderehab.com), where he and his co-hosts put themselves in the role of Disney imagineers (i.e. the folks that make rides) and figure out how they would update different attractions at Disney! You can find lots of details about that via [Twitter](http://twitter.com/riderehab) or [Instagram](http://instagram.com/riderehab) both @RideRehab. And, if you haven't got enough of Tyler, you can check out his personal art (as he _is_ a comic artist and illustrator): [tylermannart.com](http://tylermannart.com) or [@TylerMannArt](https://twitter.com/TylerMannArt) on Twitter. ## Episode outline ### The Verdict **T is in.** Originally wasn't thinking it would be interesting... but a lot more interested after hearing Tyler talk. **G is in.** In it for the dole whip. **Z is in.** Intrigued by the immersiveness on offer. **Tyler is in.** You can take the experience to as much of a level as you want to. ### This week's spotlight **[DisneyBound](http://disneybound.co/)** > DisneyBound is meant to be inspiration for you to pull together your own outfits which work for your body and wallet whether from your closet or local mall. **[Dreams Take Flight](http://www.dreamstakeflight.ca/)** > **Dreams Take Flight** is a national volunteer charitable organization dedicated to providing the trip of a lifetime to medically, mentally, physically, socially or emotionally challenged children. With the aid of Air Canada, other national and local organizations and businesses, money is raised to make the dream a reality in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Halifax. Funds not required for its primary purpose can be gifted by Dreams Take Flight to other registered charities that benefit physically, mentally or socially challenged children and are within the policies adopted by Dreams Take Flight Canada. [// Plugs go here ]: # [// Race Against Time ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Yuri! **Z** Is there a Japanese version of Tanya Chalkin's "the Kiss"? **G** Who is Yuri for? **T** What is the first canonical Yuri manga? **Tyler** What is the primary focus of Yuri (since Yaoi seems to be focussed on the seme / uke relationship)? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Tyler for being patient with us as we sorted out multiple technical difficulties! ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - Walt Disney World](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F09b1k,%2Fm%2F02fzs,%2Fm%2F04tkqm) - [Know DW.com - Walking Distance At Disney World](http://knowdw.com/theme-parks/walking-distance-disney-world/) - [Orlando Rising - Theme park demographics changing: Higher incomes and more millennials](http://orlando-rising.com/theme-park-demographics-changing-higher-incomes-and-more-millennials/) - [Quora - What are some failed Disney park rides and attractions?](https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-failed-Disney-park-rides-and-attractions) - [LA Times - This is your brain on Disneyland: A Disney addict's quest to discover why he loves the parks so much](http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-disneyland-psychology-20170707-htmlstory.html) - [Quora - How many Disney theme parks exist around the world and, of them, which are the most visitor friendly and why?](https://www.quora.com/How-many-Disney-theme-parks-exist-around-the-world-and-of-them-which-are-the-most-visitor-friendly-and-why) - [WDW News Today](https://wdwnt.com/) ### Music / Sound - ["A Whole New World with Piano"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqrVEACfuT8) by TeknoAXE - ["Secret of Tiki Island"](https://incompetech.com/wordpress/2016/07/5-new-pieces/) by Kevin MacLeod and Bryan Teoh - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Disney Theme Parks - Wonderland Wonderpanned

The Nickscast — Fri, 15 Jun 2018 17:35:06 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, special guest Tyler "Spooky" Mann joins us a special guest friend to dig into the surprisingly large and _obviously_ magical world of Disney... theme parks! How many hidden Mickeys can you find? Plus, this episode was so long that we broke it into two parts! Be prepared for the second half! ## Where can I learn more about Tyler? Tyler happens to run his own podcast, [Ride Rehab](http://riderehab.com), where he and his co-hosts put themselves in the role of Disney imagineers (i.e. the folks that make rides) and figure out how they would update different attractions at Disney! You can find lots of details about that via [Twitter](http://twitter.com/riderehab) or [Instagram](http://instagram.com/riderehab) both @RideRehab. And, if you haven't got enough of Tyler, you can check out his personal art (as he _is_ a comic artist and illustrator): [tylermannart.com](http://tylermannart.com) or [@TylerMannArt](https://twitter.com/TylerMannArt) on Twitter. ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, officially Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and informally known as Disney Parks, was one of The Walt Disney Company's four major business segments and a subsidiary. The company was responsible for the conception, building, and managing of Disney theme parks and vacation resorts, as well as a variety of family-oriented leisure enterprises. It was founded in 1971, following the opening of Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida. > > — [Wikipedia - Walt Disney Parks and Resorts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_Parks_and_Resorts) [// 11 theme parks]: # **Search Data:** Interest in Walt Disney theme parks [hasn't changed much since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F09b1k,%2Fm%2F02fzs,%2Fm%2F04tkqm); though interest in Walt Disney World is about half the interest as in 2004, Disneyland is about the same as it was. Search data is highly periodic, with spikes occurring regularly every January and interest slowly dropping throughout the year. There is definitely an east-west divide in the United States, in terms of interest: folks in, or east of Colorado are more likely to search for Walt Disney World than Disneyland, for example. The top ten countries, by search volume, for Walt Disney World are: United States (by a large margin), Puerto Rico, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Argentina, Australia, Norway, South Africa, and Mexico. **Size of Fandom:** Based on the data we have: - [r/disneyparks](https://www.reddit.com/r/disneyparks/) has almost 10000 subscribers - The Magic Kingdom receives over 56 000 guests per day (with park capacity around 100 000), and over 20 million visitors per year according to this [quora question](https://www.quora.com/How-many-people-visit-Disney-World-each-day-What-affects-attendance). - [r/disneybound](https://www.reddit.com/r/disneybound/) has about 2000 subscribers - [r/WaltDisneyWorld](https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/) has almost 60 000 subscribers That puts a good rough estimate in the _tens of thousands_ (if we're talking about dedicated fans), but its super hard to say given that fans of the parks are often fans of Disney properties in general. **Fan Demographics:** We weren't able to find a lot of demographics in terms of fandom, but there are some interesting statements based on data from the park and related sources: > ... the average visitor has the disposable income. The average annual household income for guests at theme parks was $86,000, according to the study. That’s twice the $43,000 that residents in Greater Orlando bring home and way above the $55,775 median annual household income nationwide, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. > >... The report found that 18-29 year olds are the largest group of theme park visitors at 46 percent - a nearly 10 percent increase from 2015. This generation was also the most impressed with technology with 59 percent saying it made them more likely to return and 44 percent say tech gadgets encourage them stay longer. > > — [Orlando Rising - Theme park demographics changing: Higher incomes and more millennials](http://orlando-rising.com/theme-park-demographics-changing-higher-incomes-and-more-millennials/) [// There are over 1000 results for disneyland on archive of our own. Popular destination for characters?? ]: # ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/#-name) Famous Last Words **Emily** How many days does it take to get through Disney world (all of it)? [// If you're just talking the Magic Kingdom: 3.49km. Add Epcot (4.47km), Hollywood Studios (2.23km), and Animal Kingdom (3.65km): That's 13.69km. At the average walking speed, that's about 2.7 hours if it was all arranged in one path. ]: # **T** What are some of the biggest Disney park failures? [// Alien Encounter: Too scary, changed into Stitch attraction. Defunt land superstar limo]: # **Z** Are Disney fans worried that the magic of the theme parks will be diluted by other franchises popping up? [// Martin's Vids -> YouTube: Documentaries of all the rides and attractions ]: # **G** If you are doing a Disney-bound outfit, how close can you get? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Tyler for being patient with us as we sorted out multiple technical difficulties! ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - Walt Disney World](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F09b1k,%2Fm%2F02fzs,%2Fm%2F04tkqm) - [Know DW.com - Walking Distance At Disney World](http://knowdw.com/theme-parks/walking-distance-disney-world/) - [Orlando Rising - Theme park demographics changing: Higher incomes and more millennials](http://orlando-rising.com/theme-park-demographics-changing-higher-incomes-and-more-millennials/) - [Quora - What are some failed Disney park rides and attractions?](https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-failed-Disney-park-rides-and-attractions) - [LA Times - This is your brain on Disneyland: A Disney addict's quest to discover why he loves the parks so much](http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-disneyland-psychology-20170707-htmlstory.html) - [Quora - How many Disney theme parks exist around the world and, of them, which are the most visitor friendly and why?](https://www.quora.com/How-many-Disney-theme-parks-exist-around-the-world-and-of-them-which-are-the-most-visitor-friendly-and-why) - [WDW News Today](https://wdwnt.com/) - [r/WaltDisneyWorld - Analyzing the Pending Fox Acquisition and it's Impact on Walt Disney World](https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/comments/7ndhmf/analyzing_the_pending_fox_acquisition_and_its/) - [r/AskReddit - Redditors Who've Worked (Or Who Are Still Working) at Disney World. What Are Some NSFW Behind the Scenes Stories do You Have?](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/5oqedm/redditors_whove_worked_or_who_are_still_working/) - [r/WaltDisneyWorld - With Disney Buying Fox, What Sort of New Attractions Do You Think We'll Get?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/comments/7jrvve/with_disney_buying_fox_what_sort_of_new/) - [r/WaltDisneyWorld - New Life for Brazil Pavillion with Purchase of Fox's Movie/TV Division?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/comments/7lwfjb/new_life_for_brazil_pavillion_with_purchase_of/) - [r/WaltDisneyWorld - I Need Help Convincing My Husband That WDW Is Amazing!](https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/comments/7leu29/i_need_help_convincing_my_husband_that_wdw_is/) - [r/WaltDisneyWorld - What Happened to the Vision?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/comments/8mvdqt/what_happened_to_the_vision/) - [r/WaltDisneyWorld - Strangely Unexcited for my First Visit](https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/comments/69vqpj/strangely_unexcited_for_my_first_visit/) - [r/WaltDisneyWorld - First Time Visiting. How is WDW for Those with Mental Illnesses?](https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/comments/5yczpi/first_time_visiting_how_is_wdw_for_those_with/) - [r/WaltDisneyWorld - First Time Back to WDW Since I was 5....Results](https://www.reddit.com/r/WaltDisneyWorld/comments/3vqtby/first_time_back_to_wdw_since_i_was_5results/) - [Unofficial Walt Disney World Discussion Forums - Is Walt Disney Imagineering Dead?](https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/is-walt-disney-imagineering-dead.939095/#post-8128186) - [Unofficial Walt Disney World Discussion Forums - Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout Announced for Disney California Adventure](https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/guardians-of-the-galaxy-mission-breakout-announced-for-disney-california-adventure.915850/page-7#post-7325786) - [Unofficial Walt Disney World Discussion Forums - Tomorrowland Dance Party](https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/tomorrowland-dance-party.899350/page-3#post-6692054) - [Unofficial Walt Disney World Discussion Forums - Guardians of the Galaxy Attraction Confirmed for Epcot](https://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/guardians-of-the-galaxy-attraction-confirmed-for-epcot.929265/page-102#post-7858696) ### Music / Sound - ["A Whole New World with Piano"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqrVEACfuT8) by TeknoAXE - ["Secret of Tiki Island"](https://incompetech.com/wordpress/2016/07/5-new-pieces/) by Kevin MacLeod and Bryan Teoh - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Pretty Heroes - NOT a Magical Girl Episode

The Nickscast — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 17:35:06 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, we take a bit more of a convention-al bent, to talk about the wider world of women heroes in media with special guest, Emily Gonsalves (con chair of the [Pretty Heroes convention](https://www.prettyheroes.com/)). We talk about representation of women in comics, tv, anime and manga and a LOT more. Next week, we continue the magic with a trip to a little place that's a small world after world: that's right, we'll be talking about fans of Disney theme parks! ## Where can I learn more about Emily Gonsalves and the Pretty Heroes convention? Pretty Heroes is a convention dedicated to showcasing strong female characters and it's the first "girl power" convention in Toronto. It started as the Toronto Sailor Moon Celebration and grew with fan demand to expand into a convention with a new name (but the same heart) featuring a variety of anime, cute items, "girly" items, and plenty of intriguing female characters. The founder and con chair, Emily Gonsalves, is a professional graphic designer and marketing manager by day, but she also used to "moonlight" as a regular reporter for the Sailor Moon focused blog "Moon Chase." You can also find Emily at other conventions running panels about Sailor Moon, art, fandom, and social media marketing. To follow her Sailor Moon related content on social media, check out [Moon Chase on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/MoonChaseBlog/) and [Twitter](https://twitter.com/MoonChaseblog/) and [SailorMoonCelebration on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/sailormooncelebration/). For general female character and convention fun, check out Pretty Heroes on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/prettyheroes/), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/prettyheroes/), and [Instagram](http://instagram.com/prettyheroes). ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Search Data:** Given the broadness of today's topic, its hard to get data... but we tried! Looking at [Google Trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F03hdkg,girl%20power,%2Fm%2F01cjwd) for _Girl Power (search term)_, _Girl Power (Topic)_, and _Magical Girl (literary genre)_ all reveal interesting results... - Interest in the _Magical Girl_ literary genre is about twice as high as _girl power_. Interest was on a slow incline from 2004 to December 2010 before spiking dramatically starting in January 2011 (Madoka Magica), then decreasing a bit (still more popular than 2004). - Interest in _Girl Power (search term)_ has been on a slow increase since 2004, whereas _Girl Power (topic)_ has been on a slow _decline_ in the same period. The top 5 countries for the various trends, by search volume: - _Magical Girl (literary genre)_: Japan, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong - _Girl Power (search term)_: Philippines, United States, Puerto Rico, Malaysia, Australia - _Girl Power (topic)_: Italy, Sweden, Australia, Denmark, Norway ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/boys-love-boys-keep-swinging/) Famous Last Words **T** Who was the first pretty hero? [// Himitsu no Akko-chan (1962) is the earliest magical girl manga... possibly her ]: # **Z** Who was the more popular female hero of the 90s? Xena, or Buffy? **G** Where does Lina Inverse sit in the roster of pretty heroes? **Sara** Given that it is an empowerment fantasy for young girls, how do people feel about magical girls? What are some of the discussions around that? ### This week's spotlight **[Inspiring Girls](http://www.inspiring-girls.com/)** > Inspiring Girls International is an organisation dedicated to raising the aspirations of young girls around the world by connecting them with female role models. > >Our goals are: > - Exposing young girls (10-15 years old) to the full variety of careers and options in life; and > - Inspiring them to aim high > > ... We connect female role models and young girls around the world. > > — [Inspiring Girls International - About Us](http://www.inspiring-girls.com/about/what-we-do/) **[Pretty Heroes](https://www.prettyheroes.com/)** > It’s time for a convention in Toronto that is dedicated to strong female characters. > > We first started as the [Toronto Sailor Moon Celebration](http://sailormooncelebration.com/). Now we’re transforming to incorporate even more girl power to meet the demands of fans in Toronto. > > We want to encourage young people to pursue their dreams and define what being a hero means for them. If you enjoy narratives featuring strong female characters – you will find a positive, welcoming space at our events. > > — [Pretty Heroes](https://www.prettyheroes.com/) [// Plugs go here ]: # [// Race Against Time ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Disney parks! **Emily** How many days does it take to get through Disney world (all of it)? **T** What are some of the biggest Disney park failures? **Z** Are Disney fans worried that the magic of the theme parks will be diluted by other franchises popping? **G** If you are doing a Disney-bound outfit, how close can you get? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Emily for taking the time out of her busy schedule to chat with us! ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - Girl Power and Magical Girl](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F03hdkg,girl%20power,%2Fm%2F01cjwd) - [Wikipedia - Magical Girl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_girl) - [Elle - How To Reboot Girl Power](https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a14700/cartoon-girl-power-reboots/) - [Buzzfeed - What Happened to Girl Power Cartoons on Television?](https://www.buzzfeed.com/spartantown/what-happened-to-girl-power-cartoons-on-television-c8u6?utm_term=.wx3WAZkk2#.gwPpm011P) - [a plus - Here’s Why One Campaign Is Targeting The Gender Imbalance In Cartoons](https://aplus.com/a/inspiring-girls-redraw-the-balance-lets-get-animated?no_monetization=true) - [Jezebel - Where Are the Girls in Children's Media?](https://jezebel.com/5980085/where-are-the-girls-in-childrens-media) - [Fanlore - Buffy the Vampire Slayer](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer) - [Fanlore - Xena: Warrior Princess](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Xena:_Warrior_Princess) - [Gwern.net - Magical Girls and Atomic Bomb Sperm: Japanese Animation in America](http://www.gwern.net/docs/anime/1995-newitz.pdf) - [IMDB - Buffy The Vampire Slayer (TV Series 1996-2003)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/) - [IMDB - Xena: Warrior Princess (TV Series 1995-2001)](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112230/) - [Nika Summers - E-Zines](http://www.nika-summers.com/ezines.php) - [OpenEdition - “Unreal” Gender Messages in Late 90s Women-Centered Action Dramas](https://journals.openedition.org/tvseries/1205) - [The Mary Sue - Netflix and Lumberjanes Creator Noelle Stevenson Deliver She-Ra for the Next Generation](https://www.themarysue.com/noelle-stevenson-netflix-she-ra) - [UVicSpace - Make-Up!: The Mythic Narrative and Transformation as a Mechanism for Personal and Spiritual Growth in Magical Girl (Mahō Shōjo) Anime](https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/bitstream/handle/1828/8496/russell_ndonna_MA_2017.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y) - [Wikipedia - Buffy The Vampire Slayer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer) - [Wikipedia - Xena: Warrior Princess](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xena:_Warrior_Princess) - [YouTube - Bigger Than Me: A Documentary About Fandom ► JamesChats](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGDtTRPgfrw) ### Music / Sound - ["Sheba out on the Town"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=988&Genre=Downtempo) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Interview: Reboot Fans with Andy Spiteri (Zelda Dungeon)

The Nickscast — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 17:35:04 +0000

At the outset of this season, we narrowly missed the chance to have Andy on the show to talk about fans of ReBoot (as he suggested the topic in the first place!) but now, all is right with the world as G and Z dig a bit deeper into ReBoot fandom with him! All this in... under an hour? Not bad! ## Where can I learn more about Andy? You can learn more about Andy Spiteri through his work at [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net)! Or, you can listen to the [Champion's Cast](http://pod.zeldadungeon.net/), Zelda Dungeon's podcast that comes out every week. Haven't got enough Andy?? Check him out on Twitter: [@Spiteri316](http://twitter.com/spiteri316) **Sources** - Opening music, ["Diggin' til the Very End"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Boys' Love - Boys Keep Swinging

The Nickscast — Fri, 25 May 2018 17:35:46 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, we need an expert to get to the bottom of the difference between yaoi and shonen-ai, for starters, as we dive into the world of Boys' Love fans (just in time for Anime North)! ## Where can I learn more about Sara (Feminist Fujoshi)? Sara is the writer and moderator of the blog Feminist Fujoshi on [Tumblr](http://feministfujoshi.tumblr.com/) and [WordPress](https://feministfujoshi.wordpress.com/). Sara's work on Feminist Fujoshi started on Tumblr in 2013 and she has even done some academic research on the subject! If you want to check out more of her work, you can find her on Twitter [@blusocket](twitter.com/blusocket) and soon on [Anime Feminist](https://www.animefeminist.com/)! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > In English, often abbreviated BL. Written as BL or ボイズラブ in Japanese. The manga and anime genre of fictional male homosexual romance, created for a female audience. Used interchangeably with yaoi and shounen ai in English (but not in Japanese). > > — [Fanlore - Boys' Love](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Boys%27_Love) **Search Data:** Based on the search data, interest in the literary genre of ["Yaoi" is, generally, up](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0f9s9). There was a wave of interest that appears to have started in 2011, peaked in Summer of 2015, then has been on a bit of decline ever since. It appears that Yaoi might be the general term that Google wraps up search terms under. The top 10 countries, by search volume, for Yaoi, are as follows: Thailand, Phillipines, Chile, Vietnam, Bolivia, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Russia. ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/#-name) Famous Last Words **Z** Did this genre emerge simply because folks saw these elements in other stories and wanted to make a quick buck? Or was it about expressing themselves? **T** How much BL is sports manga? [// Kuroko's Basketball #5 related search topic ]: # **G** Is there a golden standard for "this is the best BL manga" OR is it getting better as time goes on? **Dan** Is there a distinction between Yaoi and Boy's Love? Why has the terminology changed? **Ari** I really like Love Live? Where are the boy bands? Are there boy idols? **Raph** "hewwo i'm 5 wats yaoi" ### The Verdict **G is in.** Gravitation struck him like a lightning rod. **T is in.** Going to check out some of Sara's recommendations. Wants to feel things! **Z is in.** Standing in front of the door to BL. Wants to open the door to vulnerability. **Sarah is in.** Complex genre with a really rich history! There's probably something for everyone, but you might have to dig. ### This week's spotlight [// Yaoi-con ]: # **[Yaoi North](https://yaoinorth.com/)** > Yaoi North was originally created in 2004 by Bishounen Hideto and Gryvon, after a discussion in Anime North 2004’s yaoi panel about the need for an East Coast version of Yaoi-Con. A few months later, Hideto and Gryvon approached the Anime North staff with the idea of Yaoi North, a one-room event inside Anime North similar to the J-Rock room. They were given the go, and from there Yaoi North was born. Hideto pulled Chris in as staff to do artwork for us while Gryvon grabbed both Matan and Covarla as her lackeys, originally having Matan run Gay Sex 101 and Covarla check IDs. Yaoi North 2005 was the first run of the con. The majority of the programming was taken over by viewings, but a number of staple panels grew out of this year - namely Crossplay 101, World History of Homosexuality, and the ever-popular Gay Sex 101, which ran over its original one hour timeslot to become the longest running panel in con history. > > — [Yaoi North - About Us](https://yaoinorth.com/about-yaoiyuri-north/) [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Pretty Heroes! **T** Who was the first pretty hero? **Z** Who was the more popular female hero of the 90s? Xena, or Buffy? **G** Where does Lina Inverse sit in the roster of pretty heroes? **Sara** Empowerment fantasy... young girls... How do people feel about magical girls? What are some of the discussions around that? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Sara for taking the time to chat with us! ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - Yaoi](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0f9s9) - [Fanlore - Boys' Love](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Boys%27_Love) - [Feminist Fujoshi](https://feministfujoshi.wordpress.com/) - [Comicsverse - Let’s Talk about Boy’s Love: Exoticization or Revolution?](https://comicsverse.com/boys-love-exoticization-revolution/) - [Dru Pagliassotti - The Mark of Ashen Wings - Qualitative data from research reported in Dru Pagliassotti, Reading Boys’ Love in the West](http://drupagliassotti.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Dru_Pagliassotti_Qualitative.pdf) - [Japan Powered - Yaoi: History, Appeal, and Misconceptions](https://www.japanpowered.com/anime-articles/a-brief-history-of-yaoi) - [JSTOR - Beautiful, Borrowed, and Bent: "Boys' Love" as Girls' Love in Shojo Manga](http://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/10.1086/498987.pdf?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents) - [r/Boy’s Love - Boys Love, M/M or Yaoi with Action, Adventure...An Actual Plot](https://www.reddit.com/r/boyslove/comments/6v4tea/boys_love_mm_or_yaoi_with_action_adventurean/#bottom-comments) - [r/Boy’s Love - Still Don’t Know What To Do](https://www.reddit.com/r/boyslove/comments/84esik/still_dont_know_what_to_do/) - [University of Wollongong Australia Research Online - The World of Yaoi: The Internet, Censorship and the Global “Boys’ Love” Fandom](http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1152&context=artspapers) - [YaoiCon - About Us](http://yaoicon.com/index.php/about-us/) ### Music / Sound - ["Summer Wanders"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWv3hXhdKnU) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Minisode: Has Fandom Gone Too Mainstream?

The Nickscast — Wed, 23 May 2018 17:35:52 +0000

If elected, T will ensure that all fans, no matter what they believe, will be able to walk around with Dakimakura in public, without being ridiculed. If Z is elected, only the true fans will be allowed to follow their manifest destiny in the world of fandom. G eats a sandwich. Pandemonium ensues? This week, we're talking about how far fandom has (or hasn't) come into the mainstream and what any of that means! All this in 20 minutes or less! **Sources** - Opening music, ["Diggin' til the Very End"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Final Fantasy - Thirteen-Year-Olds, You’re On Notice

The Nickscast — Fri, 18 May 2018 17:35:20 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, there's no need to use a Phoenix Down because we are ALIVE, and talking about the fans of the Final Fantasy series! The iconic music, characters, stories, costumes... whatever it may be, it has left a lasting mark on the RPG and video game worlds for the decades since its introductions, and we get into all of that with some special guest friends of ours, Dan and Ari! Next week, just in time for [Anime North](http://animenorth.com/), we're talking about fans of Boys' Love with Sarah of the [Feminist Fujoshi](https://feministfujoshi.wordpress.com/)! ## Where can I learn more about Dan and Ari? You might remember Dan and Ari from our [super-cut of Super MAGFest 2018](https://youtu.be/DiJt-4m6qKE?t=4m8s) and his panel on [the music of Final Fantasy](https://youtu.be/sEPn75v-L3M). You can check out more of their work online: _Ari_ - Instagram: [@totallytoastyari](http://instagram.com/totallytoastyari) - Facebook: [facebook.com/totallytoasty](http://facebook.com/totallytoasty) - YouTube: [youtube.com/totallytoastyari](https://www.youtube.com/totallytoastyari) _Dan_ - Instagram: [@musiconthedlo](http://instagram.com/musiconthedlo) - Twitter: [@musiconthedlo](http://twitter.com/musiconthedlo) - YouTube: [youtube.com/musiconthedlo](https://www.youtube.com/musiconthedlo) ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Final Fantasy is a science fiction and fantasy media franchise owned by Square Enix. Despite having fifteen numbered games, 135 million copies of the various games sold, and well over 40 different sequels, spin-offs, and other properties, the game acquired its moniker in 1987 due to the game designers' belief that Square was going to go bankrupt ([according to Nobuo Uematsu](https://www.wired.com/2009/07/final-fantasy/), composer of many famous _Final Fantasy_ tracks). Though most of the numbered games are stand-alone stories in different settings with different characters, there are many recurring plot themes, game mechanics, and character names (e.g. Plots center on a group of heroes battling a great evil while exploring the characters' internal struggles and relationships). **Search Data:** The Final Fantasy series has had a dramatic [decrease in interest since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F02ywx,%2Fm%2F0dvzv). The series is about a tenth as popular as it was back in 2004. There are spikes in interest in September 2005 (The release of _Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children_), March 2010 (_Final Fantasy XIII_), and December 2016 (_Final Fantasy XV_). [// Why is that? More options for games? ]: # The top ten countries, by search volume, are as follows: Phillipines, Japan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Canada, Malaysia, South Korea, United States, New Zealanda, Spain. [// Also gives us some interesting data on most searched By topic: - XIII-2 - Dissidia - Brave Exvius - Lightning Returns XIII - XV By query: XIV XIII-2 Dissidia A Realm Reborn (XIV) Type 0 Exvius ]: # **Fan Demographics:** We actually managed to find a survey from 2015 with some data! Though it is skewed towards whoever responded on `r/FinalFantasy`, [Tobzzen has us covered with almost 5000 responses](https://www.reddit.com/r/FinalFantasy/comments/4rd7at/results_of_my_survey_from_november_2015/): - _Age:_ 21 to 30 years old (47%), 18 to 20 years old (42%) — a very narrow age range - _Gender:_ Male (82%), Female (16%), Other (2%) - _Location_: >50% North America, >30% Europe - _Employment Status:_ 60% studying or working - _Gaming Status:_ 95% had more than 4 years of computer gaming experience; >25% had more than 16 years experience - _Game Playing Time:_ 53% played on average 3-6 hours per day; >10% played more than 10 hours per day **Fanac Fast Facts:** - Archive Of Our Own has [over 28 000 works related to the Final Fantasy Series](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Final%20Fantasy/works) - ... most being categorized as M/M (13000+), Gen (7000+), or F/M (6000+) - ... the most represented game being XV (14000+), VII (6000+), and XIV (1300+) [// FF VI has about 500 ]: # - ... the most represented characters being Noctis (9000+), Ignis (8700+), and Prompto (8300+) [// Cloud is 5th (3700), Sephiroth is 6th (2600) ]: # ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/nier-lessons-in-applied-nier-ology/) Famous Last Words **G** What is it that has endured about FF7 compared to FF6? **Z** The people who came into the FF world long after the SNES... do they go back and play the old games (and do they like)? **T** Why is it still called Final Fantasy? [// Couldn't find anything conclusive. Probably because it stuck? Did find this list of renamed games though: Ff1- Warriors of Light Ff2- Red Roses Ff3- Crystal Darkness Ff4- Legends of the Moon Ff5- Crystal Heroes Ff6- World into Ruin Ff7- Mako Crisis Ff8- Balamb Heroes Ff9- Honor Among Thieves Ff10- Son of Sin Ff11- Crystal Heroes Online Ff12- War of Ivalice Ff13- Chained Destiny Ff14- Crystal Heroes Online 2 Ff15- Journey of a Prince ]: # **Sarah** What is your all-time favourite Final Fantasy song? [// Serious answer: I really liked Real Emotion from FF X-2; didn't play a lot off FFs... FF6 - the decisive battle? Mog's theme? ]: # **EpicFilmGuys** _At Zanarkand_ is the greatest FF song ever written. Debate. **tengumaru** "You son of a submariner" is a good Final Fantasy famous last word... ? ### What did we discuss? Questions: ~~- What do you wish folks knew about Final Fantasy and its fans?~~ - What do you see as one of the biggest parts of Final Fantasy fandom (e.g. vidding, fic, art, cosplay, etc.)? ~~- What are some of the biggest points of conflict or contention in Final Fantasy fandom?~~ - What are some common myths or misconceptions about Final Fantasy fans that you wish would go away? - Have you noticed any problematic aspects to the fandom, and if so, what do they tend to be? - Could you describe a moment where you were participating in the fandom and were just blown away in a positive way? ~~- How did you get into Final Fantasy?~~ - How do you express your fandom? ~~- When did you know you were a fan?~~ - Which is your favourite Final Fantasy game and why? - If we did an episode on one of your other favourite fandoms… what would that be? ### The Verdict **G is in.** One of G's favourite games of all time... FF6 worthy of an HBO drama. **Ari is in.** Definitely a lifelong fan. Would love to play all the games. **Dan is in.** Final Fantasy has, musically, shaped the way he constructs music. **T is in.** Will give more Final Fantasy a shot. **Z is out.** But really interested in playing FF IX and some spin-offs. ### This week's spotlight **[OverClocked Remix](http://ocremix.org/)** > Founded in 1999, OverClocked ReMix is a community dedicated to the appreciation and promotion of video game music as an art form. Its primary focus is ocremix.org, a website featuring thousands of free fan arrangements, information on game music and composers, resources for aspiring artists, and a thriving community of video game music fans. In 2016, OC ReMix officially moved under the umbrella and sponsorship of [Game Music Initiative, Inc](http://gamemusic.org), a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization. > > — OverClocked Remix - About Us ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, (Fandom name)! **Z** Did this genre emerge simply because folks saw these elements in other stories and make a quick buck? Or was it about expressing themselves? **T** How much BL is sports manga? **G** Is there a golden standard for "this is the best BL manga" OR is it getting better as time goes on? **Dan** Is there a distinction between Yaoi and Boy's Love? Why has the terminology changed? **Ari** I really like Love Live? Where are the boy bands? Are there boy idols? **Raph** "hewwo i'm 5 wats yaoi" [// Ari: Bioshock! Dan: Also Bioshock... or the Sims]: # ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Dan and Ari for being patient with us and flexible as we deal with time zone differences, for joining us on the show, and for in general, just being amazing people! ## Credits ### Sources - [r/FinalFantasy](https://www.reddit.com/r/FinalFantasy/) - [Archive Of Our Own - Final Fantasy works](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Final%20Fantasy/works) - [Google Trends - Final Fantasy series](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F02ywx,%2Fm%2F0dvzv) - [r/FinalFantasy - Results of my [SURVEY] from November 2015](https://www.reddit.com/r/FinalFantasy/comments/4rd7at/results_of_my_survey_from_november_2015/) - [Wikipedia - List of Final Fantasy video games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Final_Fantasy_video_games) - [Wired - WHY'S IT CALLED 'FINAL FANTASY'? UEMATSU EXPLAINS](https://www.wired.com/2009/07/final-fantasy/) - [Wikipedia - Final Fantasy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy) - [GameFAQs - Rename the title of every mainline FF game](https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/boards/932981-final-fantasy-xv/73783737) - [Fanlore - Final Fantasy Press](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_Press) - [Fanlore - Final Fantasy](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy) - [Final Fantasy Five Four Job Fiesta - About](http://fourjobfiesta.com/about.php) - [Kotaku - Final Fantasy VII Retrospective: Great Because It’s Weird](https://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-vii-retrospective-the-weirdest-rpg-ever-1797547869) - [Quora - I’ve Never Played Final Fantasy, Where Do I Start?](https://www.quora.com/Ive-never-played-Final-Fantasy-Where-do-I-start) - [YouTube - Final Fantasy X OST : To Zanarkand](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-0G_FI61a8) - [YouTube - When Do Final Fantasy Games Become Overrated/Underrated? An Extensive Analysis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI4x9LuxKJQ) ### Music / Sound - ["Crystal Caves in the Mountain"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=580&Genre=Soundscape) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Nier - Lessons in Applied Nier-ology

The Nickscast — Fri, 11 May 2018 17:35:20 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # > Everything that lives is designed to end. We are perpetually trapped in a never-ending spiral of life and death. Is this a curse? Or some kind of punishment? I often think about the god who blessed us with this cryptic puzzle...and wonder if we'll ever get the chance to kill him. > > — Nier: Automata Uh... we're talking about Nier this week, and hopefully we don't dive too far down the existentialist rabbithole. Plus, we've got special guest Sarah (aka SMZeldaRules) as our resident Nier-ologist to get us through it all. Next week, we'll dive into that long-running and epic fandom: Final Fantasy fans (with special guests, Dan and Ari)! ## Where can I learn more about SMZeldaRules? Do you like Cosplay? Perhaps Video Games? Good news! SMZeldaRules is a huge fan of both! If you want to follow her work, you can find her on... - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smzeldarulesartandcosplay - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smzeldarules/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/smzeldarules - Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/smzeldarules - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/smzeldarulescosplay ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Nier... is actually a complicated game series to explain. It is definitely most well-known because of the 2017 entry in the series, _Nier: Automata_, but technically that is a sequel to the less popular _Nier_ (2010), which itself is a sequel to Ending E of _Drakengard / Drag-On Dragoon_ (2003). I think I've got that right. [// Interject and ask if Sarah can provide some additional detail without a tone of spoilers ]: # Speaking just about _Nier_ and _Nier: Automata_ (for the moment), the games are set in the far future where Earth has been left in a state of decay. _Nier_ focussed on the character of the same name attempting to find a cure for an illness, the Black Scrawl, and the sequel focusses on a combat android, 2B, in the midst of a proxy war between androids and machines created by otherworldly invaders. Did we mention it gets complicated? Both _Nier_ and _Nier: Automata_ were written by the eclectic Yoko Taro. And combined have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. [// Someone could easily do a history lesson on how all the games fit together ]: # **Search Data:** Given the complicated nature of the series, I looked up _Drakengard_, _Nier_, and _Nier: Automata_. The data is [very spiky](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F013f6zqs,%2Fm%2F09k6px6,%2Fm%2F02glg9), but generally interest has gone up since 2004 (although most interest has been since March 2017 - approximately the release date). Since _Automata_ has the most data, we used it for looking at interest by region. The top 10 countries, by search data: South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, Moldova, Malaysia, Russia, Puerto Rico. (_Nier_ data is pretty similar in terms of top five, but Canada makes an appearance at 6th and Australia at 10th) **Size of Fandom:** Looking at the data we have from a few sources: - There are almost 31 000 subscribers on [r/nier](https://www.reddit.com/r/nier/) - [Metacritic has over 2700 user ratings for Automata](http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/nier-automata/user-reviews) - [Nier: Automata has sold over 2 million copies by March 2018](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nier:_Automata) It's fair to say that there are tens of thousands of dedicate fans of Nier. **Fanac Fast Facts:** - Archive Of Our Own has about [400 fics related](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/NieR:%20Automata%20(Video%20Game)/works) to the [Nier series](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Nier%20Gestalt%20%7C%20Nier/works): - ... Most of which are F/M (224) - ... Most of which have no crossover - ... Most of which involve 2B (296) or 9S (280) - In a 'best girl' survey on the Nier subreddit, [2B narrowly beat out A2](https://www.reddit.com/r/nier/comments/61qutn/best_girl_survey_results/) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/wes-anderson-not-to-scale/) Famous Last Words **Z** The popularity of Nier is as small as it is because it came out after Sony had disrupted the Nintendo-based gaming monoculture. **T** How did the series go from Dragons (Drakengard) to Robots (Nier)? [// Complicated as fuck: but from this reddit thread (thanks theblob326): Drakengard's ending E has Caim, Angelus and the queen beast appear in what is essentially our world. They all die and their remains are the source of magic and white chlorination syndrome. WCS causes the apocalypse and magic lets humanity survive it as Gestalts. Then fast forward a LOT more]: # **G** Why are there more albums than games? ### What did we discuss? Questions for Sarah: - What got you into Nier? - What is contentious in the fandom? - Problematic elements of fandom? - What has been the most touching moment you have seen in the fandom? Why do folks like Nier? - Interesting take on New Game + - Music is great! - Lots of questions + lore - Philosophy? Not necessarily deep, but good - Very Anime-esque - Great theme ('endless' repetition) - Self discovery, heartbreak - genre bending: SHMUP sections, 2d, action RPG - FUCKING MUSIC - reminds me of GitS (music, etc.) - Looks pretty fucking good ### The Verdict **G is in~terested.** Attracted to the idea of stories that take place over a very long time. **T is in.** Wants to play through some more, get more endings! **Z is in?** Would really like to play them all... but that might be a fantasy. **Sarah is in.** It's great. As someone in the fandom for just three years, still kind of a newbie. ### This week's spotlight **[Project: C[O]DA](https://nierautomatafanzine.tumblr.com/tagged/faq)** > _What is this Project, Commander? _ > We have been tasked to analyze and reproduce sound data as images. These images will then be compiled into a booklet to be distributed to all unmotivated androids. Glory…to mankind. > > — Project: C[O]DA FAQ It's a fanzine for Nier, with proceeds going to the Brain and Behaviour Research Foundation. Unfortunately, looks to be done now, but worth trying to find. [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Final Fantasy! **G** What is it that has endured about FF7 compared to FF6? **Z** The people who came into the FF world long after the SNES... do they go back and play the old games (and do they like)? **T** Why is it still called Final Fantasy? **Sarah** What is your all-time favourite Final Fantasy song? **EpicFilmGuys** At Zanarkand is the greatest FF song ever written. Debate. **tengumaru** "You son of a submariner" is a good Final Fantasy famous last word... ? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Notable quotes from this episode > "Quote" > > —(X) ## Thanks Special thanks to SMZeldaRules for being able to make time in her schedule to share her wealth of knowledge on the Drakengard / Drag-on Dragoon / Nier series! ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - Nier: Automata, Nier, Drakengard](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F013f6zqs,%2Fm%2F09k6px6,%2Fm%2F02glg9) - [MetaCritic - Nier: Automata](http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/nier-automata/user-reviews) - [Reddit - r/nier](https://www.reddit.com/r/nier/) - [r/nier - Best Girl Survey Results](https://www.reddit.com/r/nier/comments/61qutn/best_girl_survey_results/) - [Wikipedia - Drakengard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drakengard) - [Wikipedia - Nier](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nier_(video_game)) - [Wikipedia - Nier: Automata](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nier:_Automata) - [Nier2.com - Timeline](http://nier2.com/timeline.html) - [r/nier - Connection with Nier and Drakengard](https://www.reddit.com/r/nier/comments/5u47qc/connection_with_nier_and_drakengard/) - [Game Informer - Opinion - Give Me More Weird Masterpieces Like Nier: Automata](http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2017/11/23/opinion-give-me-more-weird-masterpieces-like-nier-automata.aspx) - [YouTube - Lore summary - From Drakengard to Nier: Automata](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE6n2KGbaZ0) - [Giant Bomb Forum - NieR: Automata - Be Honest With Me: Why Do You Love NieR: Automata?](https://www.giantbomb.com/nierautomata/3030-49998/forums/be-honest-with-me-why-do-you-love-nier-automata-sp-1816970/) - [Quora - How Famous is NieR: Automata](https://www.quora.com/How-famous-is-NieR-Automata) - [Steam Community - NieR:Automata - Curious Why This is So Popular](https://steamcommunity.com/app/524220/discussions/0/135512305396404908/) - [The Verge - Nier: Automata’s Director Explains Why He Wants to “Continue to Fail”](https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/28/17173244/nier-automata-yoko-taro-interview-gdc-2018) - [Waypoint - Does the Designer Behind “NieR: Automata” Believe in God?](https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/xw8xzd/does-the-designer-behind-nier-automata-believe-in-god) - [YouTube - NieR Automata Analysis - Clemps (Part 1)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuShB-g2eog) - [YouTube - NieR Automata Analysis - Clemps (Part 2)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q4sbh4ETMA) - [YouTube - NieR Automata Analysis - Clemps (Part 3)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lS6d5A-gPVs) - [YouTube - NieR Automata Review - Clemps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SYabipradE) ### Music / Sound - ["Android Aware: Dawn of Sentience"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=1198) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Emil Face"](https://raiduk.deviantart.com/art/HoneyMiel-Honeycomb-Additionnal-Icons-684241948) by [raiduk](https://raiduk.deviantart.com/) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Minisode: Does Anyone Care About 4k?

The Nickscast — Wed, 09 May 2018 17:35:44 +0000

What if you were listening to the latest episode in Dolby Surround 11.1 (that's right, this one goes to 11.1)!? Well, probably nothing, but we're sure someone out there would care. This week, we're talking about ~~the highest~~ super high definition displays, and unearthing why folks care so much about 4k resolution! All this in 20 minutes or less! **Sources** - Opening music, ["Diggin' til the Very End"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

Wes Anderson - Not to Scale

The Nickscast — Fri, 04 May 2018 13:34:05 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com ]: # This week's episode will be interrupted by a number of spectacular, linear tracking shots, all filmed with a delightful sepia-esque duotone filter. Oh, and Bill Murray will be there... probably? That's right, we're talking about the works of Wes Anderson (and fans of his work)! Expecting LEGO? There was a bit of a scheduling mixup. Try again later. Next week, we have special guest, SMZeldaRules to talk about the complex and fascinating world of the _Nier_ games! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Wes Anderson is an American film director, producer, screen writer and actor known for his peculiar visual and narrative style. His films and himself have been nominated for (and have won) many different awards. He has directed 9 feature length films since 1996. > Anderson is regarded by many as a modern-day example of the auteur. He has received consistent praise from critics for his work, and three of his films—The Royal Tenenbaums, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Grand Budapest Hotel—appeared in BBC's 2016 poll of the greatest films since 2000. > > — [Wikipedia - Wes Anderson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Anderson) **Search Data:** Interest in Wes Anderson is very spiky, but overall [interest in him has been lifted since about January 2012](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F02ld6x). Most notable spikes include October 2007 (_The Darjeeling Limited_), June 2012 (_Moonrise Kingdom_), March 2014 (_The Grand Budapest Hotel_), February 2015 (BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay, _Grand Budapest Hotel_), and April 2018 (_Isle of Dogs_). Top countries, by search volume: United States, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, Norway, Singapore. **Size of Fandom:** Based on a few data points: - There are over 12 000 subscribers on [r/wesanderson](https://www.reddit.com/r/wesanderson/) - Bottle Rocket has [over 60 000 ratings on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115734/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_16) - There are over 220 000 subscribers on [r/AccidentalWesAnderson](https://www.reddit.com/r/AccidentalWesAnderson/) - Moonrise Kingdom has [over 270 000 ratings on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748122/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_7) It's safe to put the number of fans somewhere in _the low hundreds of thousands_ **Fan Demographics:** We did manage to get some demographic information... in a bit of a roundabout way. [YouGov has a page for Wes Anderson](https://yougov.co.uk/opi/browse/Wes_Anderson), and by reading some of the source code and information on the page, we can get a very rough idea compared to 'competitors': - _Age:_ A lot younger than competitors - _Gender:_ A lot more female than competitors - _Politics:_ A lot more left leaning than competitors If we look at a bit more general data like the ratings data from IMDb for Moonrise Kingdom, we can get a loose idea of age and gender (admittedly, skewed by general cinema-goers): - _Gender:_ Predominantly male (63%) - _Age:_ Largest group is aged 30-44 (37%) followed by 18-29 (35%) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/chiptune-sample-mario-brothersm4a/) Famous Last Words Whoops! Due to a scheduling conflicts, last week's famous last words about Lego don't apply to this week's episode... on Wes Anderson. ### The Verdict **G is in.** Is his favourite director. **T is out.** Might watch some of the other movies. **Z is in.** Not a big a fan as G... not quite. ### This week's spotlight Not so much a spotlight as an interesting (if ill-thought out) homage to Wes Anderson films. **[Sammy the Explorer](https://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/12/9/7356099/wes-anderson-charity-video)** > Charities HurleyH20 and SurfAid Sumba decided to promote their clean-water charity project with a video shot in the style of filmmaker Wes Anderson. The video is narrated by a cheerful young Indonesian boy who discovers, on his home island's beach, some white male surfers, whom he watches in amazement until the surfers come to his village to install clean drinking water. > > — [Vox - A charity made a video about a brown child being entranced by magical white men. Um?](https://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/12/9/7356099/wes-anderson-charity-video) [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, *Nier*! **Z** The popularity of Nier is as small as it is because it came out after Sony had disrupted the Nintendo-based gaming monoculture. **T** How did the series go from Dragons (Drakengard) to Robots (Nier)? **G** Why are there more albums than games? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Wes Anderson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Anderson) - [Google Trends - Wes Anderson](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F02ld6x) - [IMDb - Moonrise Kingdom](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748122/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_7) - [IMDb - Bottle Rocket](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115734/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_16) - [YouGov - Wes Anderson](https://yougov.co.uk/opi/browse/Wes_Anderson) - [Vox - A charity made a video about a brown child being entranced by magical white men. Um?](https://www.vox.com/xpress/2014/12/9/7356099/wes-anderson-charity-video) - [r/unpopuaropinion - I think Wes Anderson's movies are extremely overrated](https://www.reddit.com/r/unpopularopinion/comments/5uofuj/i_think_wes_andersons_movies_are_extremely/) - [Betty - What’s the Big Deal with Wes Anderson Movies Anyway? Here’s What You Need to Know…](https://www.betty.me/style/wes-anderson-movies/) - [Catholic Answers Forums - Why Do People Like Wes Anderson and His Films?](https://forums.catholic.com/t/why-do-people-like-wes-anderson-and-his-films/326755/6) - [Eater - Wes Anderson’s Greatest Meals](https://www.eater.com/2018/3/22/17142016/wes-anderson-best-food-scenes-grand-budapest-hotel-rushmore) - [Fondazione Prada - Bar Luce](http://www.fondazioneprada.org/barluce-en/?lang=en) - [Indie Wire - Wes Anderson’s Style: Watch 10 Iconic Movies That Influenced Him](http://www.indiewire.com/2017/04/wes-anderson-style-orson-welles-francois-truffaut-1201809039/) - [Mic - The Science Behind Why We Love Wes Anderson Movies](https://mic.com/articles/85591/the-science-behind-why-we-love-wes-anderson-movies#.pTk0HQWxl) - [Quora - Who Are Wes Anderson’s Biggest Influences?](https://www.quora.com/Who-are-Wes-Andersons-biggest-influences) - [Quora - Why Are Wes Anderson Films Supposedly Brilliant](https://www.quora.com/Why-are-Wes-Anderson-films-supposedly-brilliant) - [Quora - Why are Wes Anderson's Movies so Important and so Admired?](https://www.quora.com/Why-are-Wes-Andersons-movies-so-important-and-so-admired) - [Quora - Why Does Wes Anderson Frequently Make Movies about Rich People and their Strange Peculiarities?](https://www.quora.com/Why-does-Wes-Anderson-frequently-make-movies-about-rich-people-and-their-strange-peculiarities) - [r/movies - People Who Like Wes Anderson: Why Do You Like Wes Anderson?](https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/15ucs2/people_who_like_wes_anderson_why_do_you_like_wes/) - [The Cinephiliac - Why I Hate Wes Anderson](https://thecinephiliac.com/2011/05/10/why-i-hate-wes-anderson/) - [YouTube - You Know It’s Wes Anderson If...](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqfRmceGwUs) ### Music / Sound - ["Black Widow"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1232&Genre=Retro) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Chiptune - Sample Mario Brothers

The Nickscast — Fri, 27 Apr 2018 16:34:57 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, we're talking about the who, what, and why of Chiptunes! A few parts music theory, a few parts video games, and a lot of speculation! Next week, Nier, far, wherever you are, we know that your heart will be... drifting out in space, ready to take down aliens? We'll be talking about the Nier series! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Chiptune (also known as chip music or 8-bit music) is a style of synthesized electronic music which is made for a programmable sound generator (PSG) though the term is also often used for music made in the _tracker_ format, which is intended to sound like PSG-created music. This music is often composed from 'simple' wave forms such as pulse waves, square waves, triangle waves, and sawtooth waves. Although real-time synthesized has been possible since as early as 1951, it wasn't until the golden age of video arcade games (late 70s and early 80s) that chiptune music began to appear in video games (and by extension, reach the masses). Of particular note, artists such as Yello Magic Orchestra had started sampling video game music in the late 70s which had a major influence on music that would later come in the 8- and 16-bit eras. Various advances in computing, such as frequency modulation synthesis (FM synthesis), MIDI, and sample-based sound synthesis furthered chiptune music up until the end of the 1980s where chiptune music declined in popularity until a resurgence in interest in the mid-2000s with mainstream music leveraging the artform again (for example, _Girl_ by Beck, or _On Top_ by the Killers). We could likely have a whole episode on the history of chiptunes... **Search Data:** Interest in Chiptune is probably [about the same as the oldest data we have from 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0lc1r). As mentioned in the history, the mid-2000s did see an increase in chiptune music, from 2004 until the height of interest in August 2010 (possibly related to Kesha's best-selling single of 2010, _Tik Tok_). Since then, interest has been on a slow decline to 2004 levels. The top 10 countries, by search volume, are as follows: Sweeden, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Denmark, United States, United Kingdom, Japan. **Size of Fandom:** Based on a few data points... - The [chiptune subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/chiptunes/) has over 22 000 subscribers - [Anamanaguchi released their album _Endless Fantasy_ (and then some) on Kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dreamhax/anamanaguchi-make-endless-fantasy-more-than-album) with over 7000 backers and over $250 000 USD - DJ Cutman has [almost 9000 followers on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/DjCUTMAN/) - Ben Briggs has [over 12 000 subscribers on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRC_MIZGejtGSsM8AE6GNwQ) It's safe to say that there are probably *tens of thousands of fans of chiptunes*. **Fan terms:** There are some terms that are not exactly fan terms, but more generally musical / technical terms: - _Sample_: a digital sound file of an instrument, voice, or sound effect - _Note_: the frequency a sample is played at, like an instrument (e.g. _C_, _C#_, _G_) - _Track / Channel_: a space where a sample is played back at a time. Some hardware limits the number of channels available, and modern trackers often have an unlimited number of channels. - _Pattern_: a group of tracks that represents a full section of a song - _Order_: part of a sequence of patterns that defines the layout of a song - _Fakebit_: Poorly defined, but often referring to music that is written that is possible to be performed on a particular sound chip, but may have been written on modern hardware - _Riptunes_: A more extreme version of Fakebit; music that uses chiptune sounds without regard to whether or not the piece could be played on a particular sound chip **Fanac Fast Facts:** ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/#-name) Famous Last Words **Z** Is there an artist who treats different chips like different instruments? Is there a band where someone plays Genesis, NES, etc? **T** Difference between Chiptunes and EDM fans? [// Everynoise.com says that it isn't far from eletronic music. Not sure about fandoms, but I did read some interesting stuff about Anamanaguchi]: # **Mike** These people who make chiptunes... do they care what version of the chips they use are? [// Didn't look, but for purists, yes ]: # **G** A majority of chiptunes do not use chips. ### The Verdict **G is out.** You up the bitrate and it sounds like New Order. Imports dance trends. Loves music... but music and nerdy stuff never crossed. **T is in.** Contrary to G, _has_ crossed nerdy and music a lot. **Z is out.** Enjoys 8-bit music and retrogaming, and music is important to games... but chiptunes doesn't have the lushness that prog rock has. ### This week's spotlight **[Game Chops](http://gamechops.com/)** > GameChops is the record label for video game remixes. We are a group of passionate musicians and gamers who’ve grown up along-side video games. > All GameChops remix albums and singles are sold with a Creative Commons license, allowing you to use our remixes in your streams, youtube videos, podcasts or other projects. Buy a GameChops album on iTunes or, other online music store and it’s yours to use, as long as you credit the remixer and provide a link back to GameChops. Questions? Contact Us. > > — GameChops ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Lego fans! **G** We all know that there are AFOLs, but are there a AFODs (Adult Fans of Duplo) **T** Is there a large divide between fans of megablocks and fans of LEGO? **Z** How do fans feel about the corn cob guy minifig? Why do some fans come back to LEGO after their dark age, while others don't? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Chiptune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiptune) - [Wikipedia - Music Tracker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_tracker#Terminology) - [r/chiptunes](https://www.reddit.com/r/chiptunes/) - [Google Trends - Chiptunes](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0lc1r) - [Kickstarter - Anamanaguchi - make ENDLESS FANTASY more than an album!](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dreamhax/anamanaguchi-make-endless-fantasy-more-than-album) - [Facebook - DjCUTMAN](https://www.facebook.com/DjCUTMAN/) - [YouTube - Ben Briggs](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRC_MIZGejtGSsM8AE6GNwQ) - [BeepBox - BeepBox](https://www.beepbox.co/#5n31s0kbl00e03t7m0a7g0fj7i0r1w1111f0000d1111c0000h0000v0000o3210b4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4h4p16000000) - [Quora - Audio and Acoustical Engineering: Why Are 16-bit Chiptunes so Rare?](https://www.quora.com/Audio-and-Acoustical-Engineering-Why-are-16-bit-chiptunes-so-rare) - [Quora - Why Is Chiptune Music so Appealing?](https://www.quora.com/Why-is-chiptune-music-so-appealing) - [Quora - What Is It Like to Compose Chiptunes and How Is It Different from Composing Music Using Traditional Instruments?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-to-compose-chiptunes-and-how-is-it-different-from-composing-music-using-traditional-instruments) - [TV Tropes - Chiptune](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Chiptune) - [Wikipedia - Chiptune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiptune) - [Youtube - SNES & NES soundtrack on SEGA Genesis sound chip [PART II]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQCya6yn73o) - [Kotaku - The chiptunes band that just might break through](https://kotaku.com/5272206/the-chiptunes-band-that-just-might-break-through) - [Everynoise - Chiptunes](http://everynoise.com/engenremap-chiptune.html) ### Music / Sound - ["Chiptune Downtempo Funk Party"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=788&Genre=Eight) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Retrogaming - CRT Appreciation Station

The Nickscast — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 17:44:19 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, we don't want to hold down the B button as we talk about fans of retrogaming with special guest, Mike, from Lost Without Translation! Next week, we'll be continuing the feel-good beeps and boops to talk about Chiptunes! ## Where can I learn more about Mike? Mike is an avid collector, but _also_ part of a YouTube channel that reviews and runs retrospectives on games... without an English translation. If you want to check out their work, visit [YouTube.com/lostwithouttranslation](http://youtube.com/lostwithouttranslation)! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Retrogaming is the playing or collecting of PC, console, and arcade video games; usually these games are for systems that are obsolete or have been discontinued. To make a distinction, it can broadly be broken into vintage retrogaming (i.e. on the original hardware), emulation retrogaming, and ported retrogaming. Whether or not they go by the name _retrogamers_, _classic gamers_ or _old school gamers_, one thing is clear: there is not a ton of agreement on what constitutes the 'retro' in retrogaming (though the first usages date back to 1997 with the RetroGames video game store, and 1998 with the emulation website retrogames.com). Some commonly used definition include: - Consoles from the 70s, 80s, and 90s - "Anything older than the consoles that came out when I was younger" - "Anything that doesn't work with my TV" - Anything before the 6th generation (e.g. Nintendo Gamecube, Sony Playstation 2) **Search Data:** Based on the [search data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F07hmmd,%2Fm%2F0c9qyj), interest in Retrogaming has been on the upswing since around October 2012 after generally being on the decline (and in general, dwarfs interest in video game collecting). The most notable spike in interest is probably December 2017 (Christmas after the release of the SNES mini), though it isn't very dramatic. The top 10 countries, by search volume, are: United Kingdom, Japan, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Greece, United States, Netherlands, France. **Fan Demographics:** From a [2017 demographic survey on the RetroGaming subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/retrogaming/comments/7pezx6/lets_learn_about_each_other_the_results_of_our/). Of the over 600 respondents: - _Age_: The largest group was people ages 25 to 34 (42%) - _Years Playing_: The largest group was people who had played for 26 to 30 years (23%) but its worth noting that only 1.7% of respondents had been playing video games for five years or less - _Top five retro platforms_: SNES (71%), NES (57%), Genesis (47%), N64 (40%), PlayStation (38%) - Most prefer to _play on original hardware_ (59%) Worth noting, the top five platforms [more or less line up with Game Stop's survey of PowerUp Rewards members](http://investor.gamestop.com/news-releases/news-release-details/retro-consoles-modern-gamer-gamestops-holiday-wish-list-yours?ID=2228598&c=130125&p=irol-newsArticle) (all five platforms were in their top 10). From earlier this year, Ipsos Connect's GameTrack consumer survey also has some nugget about European retro gamers: - 41% of retro gamers believe that older games are better than current ones (23% disagreed) - 66% like to revisit games from their youth - 38% stated that classic games are never as good as they remember ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/reboot-the-original-matrix/) Famous Last Words **G** Classic rock still means music from 70s... is retro gaming the same? Does retrogaming expand as time goes on? **T** What more is there to retrogaming fandom than collecting? **Z** Why do people bother making their own NES or SNES carts (as in, new games)? Why do they go that extra mile? ### The Verdict **G is in.** Still loves the SNES, loves retro-style games. **T is in.** Got emulator running on a Pocket C.H.I.P. to play Chrono Trigger. **Z is in.** Super in. **Mike is in.** Obviously. Has been paring down his collection, and loves trying new (old) esoteric games. ### This week's spotlight **[Rose Colored Gaming](https://www.rosecoloredgaming.com/)** Do you like showing off your collection, or maybe are looking for some parts to repair your old console? Rose Colored Gaming has you covered! **[Games Done Quick](https://gamesdonequick.com/)** > Games Done Quick is a series of charity video game marathons. These events feature high-level gameplay by speedrunners raising money for charity. Games Done Quick has teamed up with several charities in its seven-year history, including Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation. We are currently the largest fundraising event globally for both charities! > > To date, Games Done Quick has raised over 14 million dollars for charity. We also average over 1800 people in attendance at our events, including staff, volunteers, runners, and attendees just looking to have fun and support the event! > > — Games Done Quick ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Chiptunes! **Z** Is there an artists who treat different chips like different instruments? Is there a band where someone plays Genesis, NES, etc? **T** Difference between Chiptunes and EDM fans? **Mike** These people who make chiptunes... do they care what version of the chips they use are? **G** A majority of chiptunes do not use chips. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Any special thanks to Mike and for taking the time to chat with us, and the whole Lost Without Translation crew for making such awesome content! ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - Retrogaming](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F07hmmd,%2Fm%2F0c9qyj) - [r/RetroGaming - Let's learn about each other! The results of our 2017 demographics survey.](https://www.reddit.com/r/retrogaming/comments/7pezx6/lets_learn_about_each_other_the_results_of_our/) - [Wikipedia - Retrogaming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrogaming) - [GameStop - Retro Consoles for the Modern Gamer: From GameStop's Holiday Wish List to Yours](http://investor.gamestop.com/news-releases/news-release-details/retro-consoles-modern-gamer-gamestops-holiday-wish-list-yours?ID=2228598&c=130125&p=irol-newsArticle) - [GamesIndustry.biz - 49% of European gamers like to revisit classic games](https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-01-04-49-percent-of-european-gamers-like-to-revisit-classic-games) - [Make Use Of - 9 NES Homebrew Carts You Won’t Believe Exist](https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/9-nes-homebrew-carts-wont-believe-exist/) - [Kickstarter - Eskimo Bob for the NES by Tomas Guinan](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/80534516/eskimo-bob-for-the-nes) - [Eurogamer - Why People Are Still Making NES Games](https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-07-05-why-people-are-still-making-nes-games) - [NES Coding Competition - 2017 Coding Competition](http://nesdevcompo.nintendoage.com/rules/2017/) - [NESDev - Search: “Why NES”](https://forums.nesdev.com/search.php?keywords=%22why+NES%22&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search) - [Boss Fight Books - Bible Adventures by Gabe Durham](https://bossfightbooks.com/collections/books-1-12/products/bible-adventures-by-gabe-durham) - [Quora - What Do You Call a Person Who Loves to Play Retro Games but was Never Born in the 90s?](https://www.quora.com/What-do-you-call-a-person-who-loves-to-play-retro-games-but-was-never-born-in-the-90s) - [BBC News - Retro Gaming: Why Players are Returning to the Classics](http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-40427838) - [Talk Nerdy TV - Why Retro Gaming Will Never Die](https://talknerdytv.ca/blogs/geek-101/why-retro-gaming-will-never-die) - [Nerd Bacon - 25 Reasons Why Retrogaming is Better](http://nerdbacon.com/25-reasons-retrogaming/) - [YouTube - Wii U Virtual Console Retrospective](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FWxgzgQIo0&feature=youtu.be) ### Music / Sound - ["Retroland Recital"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1368&Genre=Eight) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/us/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

ReBoot - The Original Matrix

The Nickscast — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 17:37:00 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # "I come from the Nickscast. Through conventions, people, and cities, to this place - Fanthropological. My format, Co-host: To state and investigate. To learn about my new found friends, their hopes and dreams, and to defend them from their enemies. ... They say _the chat_ lives outside the podcast and inputs text for pleasure. No one knows for sure, but I intend to find out!" Uh... yeah. We're talking about fans of ReBoot (the animated series). Next week? Retrogaming! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > ReBoot is a Canadian CGI-animated action-adventure television series that originally aired from 1994 to 2001. It was produced by Vancouver-based production company Mainframe Entertainment, Alliance Communications and BLT Productions. The series follows the adventures of a Guardian named Bob and his companions Enzo and Dot Matrix as they work to keep the computer system of Mainframe safe from the viruses known as Megabyte and Hexadecimal. It was the world's first ever half-hour, completely computer-animated TV series. ... > > A reimagined, live-action/CG-animated series, ReBoot: The Guardian Code, was announced in 2015 and is slated to premiere on Netflix worldwide (excluding Canada) on March 30, 2018. YTV will later broadcast the series sometime in June 2018. > > — [Wikipedia - ReBoot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReBoot) **Search Data:** Considering that the show aired until 2001, _Google Trends'_ usual 2004 limit on data almost works in this case! Interest in the show has been mostly flat, or [arguably on a very slow decline](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F01k3bp). There have been some notable spikes in interested around July 2007 (likely due to the announcement of a potential trilogy of films), May 2008 (Countdown to the launch of a webcomic, _Code of Honor_), December 2010 (Possibly due to the rights being acquired for a full DVD release) and February 2018 (The announcement of _ReBoot: The Guardian Code_ with a release date). The top ten countries, by search volume: Canada, Philippines, South Africa, Kenya, United States, Pakistan, New Zealand, Croatia, Puerto Rico, and Singapore. [// 100 Can, 47 Phil, 37 US ]: # **Size of Fandom:** Some of the notes on ReBoot in fanlore mention it as a [microfandom](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Microfandom): a source with some interest beyond a single fan, but perhaps not with a specific community or fansite, or without a lot of fanworks. That being said, we can still give a rough estimate of the size of the fandom based on a few different data sources: - There are [over 4000 ratings on IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108903/) - The [ReBoot subreddit has over 1600 subscribers](https://www.reddit.com/r/ReBoot/) With so few data points, and the new series not being released yet, it's hard to estimate the size of the fandom. A rough estimate would be in the low _tens-of-thousands_. **Fanac Fast Facts:** - Archive Of Our Own has [almost 90 fanworks related to ReBoot](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/ReBoot%20(TV)/works) - Did you know that Gillian Anderson was in an episode of ReBoot? - The show only had 4 seasons, totaling 48 episodes, and the delay of seasons three and four was partly caused by Mainframe entertainment's work on other TV shows - Over 30 different established computer games are featured throughout the series ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/scp-foundation-its-all-winks-and-nudges-or-is-it/) Famous Last Words **G** How much non-nostalgic interest is there in the series? [// Seems limited ]: # **T** Is there a reboot fan convention? [// could not find a dedicated convention ]: # **Z** Is there another country where Reboot was and is popular? [// Not really, possibly US or UK ]: # ### The Verdict **Z is in.** Missed some episodes, has some fond memories... **G is in.** Would like to see what he missed. Too old for other new show. **T is in.** Enjoyed it fondly. ### This week's spotlight **[ReBoot Marathon](https://www.twitch.tv/shtfther)** At this point, it may no longer be available but when the episode was recorded, Shout Factory was running a marathon of classic ReBoot before the new series was to be released! [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Retrogaming! **G** Classic rock still means music from 20 years ago... is retro gaming the same? Does retrogaming expand as time goes on? **T** What more is there to retrogaming fandom than collecting? **Z** Why people bother making their own NES or SNES carts (as in, new games)? Why do they go that extra mile? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [ReBoot Wiki - Data Nully](http://reboot.wikia.com/wiki/Data_Nully) - [Google Trends - ReBoot](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F01k3bp) - [Wikipedia - ReBoot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReBoot) - [Fanlore - ReBoot](https://fanlore.org/wiki/ReBoot) - [Fanlore - Microfandom](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Microfandom) - [ReBoot Revival - Michael Hefferon on ReBoot: The Guardian Code - “We tried to imagine that ReBoot had never been made”](https://www.rebootrevival.com/?p=2513) - [Screenrant - ReBoot: 15 Things You Never Knew About The CGI Cartoon](https://screenrant.com/reboot-tv-show-trivia/) - [Vice - Everything I Learned From ‘ReBoot,’ the 90s Kids Show That Predicted the Future](https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/7bdnwg/everything-i-learned-from-reboot-the-90s-kids-show-that-predicted-the-future) - [Fanlore - Microfandom](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Microfandom) - [Fanlore - ReBoot](https://fanlore.org/wiki/ReBoot) - [Fanlore - Timesprite](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Timesprite) - [Fanlore - Turing System](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Turing_System) - [Gamespot - ReBoot Review](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/reboot-review/1900- 2546045/) - [Hex Nuts Unanimous - Main Page](http://www.c4vct.com/kym/slachash/hexnuts/index.htm) - [Mainframe Chaos - Need to Write a Letter?](http://mainframe_chaos.tripod.com/) - [Quora - ReBoot (TV Series)](https://www.quora.com/topic/ReBoot-TV- series) - [r/ReBoot - The More I Think About It, The Worse It Is](https://www.reddit.com/r/ReBoot/comments/80vm3k/the_more_i_think_about_it_the_worse_it_is/) - [r/ReBoot - Why The New Trailer Both Excites and Annoys Me To No End!](https://www.reddit.com/r/ReBoot/comments/7zrb7e/why_the_new_trailer_both_excites_and_annoys_me_to/) - [ReBoot - Home](http://www.cyberpursuits.com/heckifiknow/reboot/) - [ReBoot Revival - EXCLUSIVE - First look at Bob, Dot, and Enzo in ReBoot: The Guardian Code](https://www.rebootrevival.com/?p=2774) - [ReBoot Revival - Rainmaker begins systematic eradication of online sales for fan-made merchandise](https://www.rebootrevival.com/?p=2706) - [Slack & Hash’s Domain - Main Page](http://www.c4vct.com/kym/slachash/index.htm) - [The Mainframe Peanut Gallery - Home](http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=rebootwebmasters;id=4;url=http%3A%2F%2Fpagedowngal%2Etripod%2Ecom%2F) - [TV Tropes - ReBoot Fanfic Recs](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/FanficRecs/ReBoot) - [Unofficial ReBoot Home Page - Home](http://www.inwap.com/mf/reboot/) - [YouTube - *LEAKED* ReBoot: The Guardian Code Intro Sequence!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL8cVMPXg9Y) - [YouTube - ReBoot: The Guardian Code - Vera](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikri1SGOp1U) - [YouTube - ReBoot: The Guardian Code - The Guardians](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90WbLQYF9lI) - [Facebook - MégabogueS / ReBoot](https://www.facebook.com/M%C3%A9gabogueS-ReBoot-51262540868/) ### Music / Sound - ["Uneasy Truce"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_2.php?q=653) by TeknoAXE is used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green!

Minisode: Why Re-release Secret of Mana?

The Nickscast — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 17:37:00 +0000

Out of all the games on all the consoles in all the world, this one walked onto mine. This week, we're talking about the re-release of the remastered _Secret of Mana_! Why did Square Enix release it over its contemporaries? And what's the deal with video game re-releases anyway? All this in 20 minutes or less! **Sources** - ["Ringing Phone Sound"](http://soundbible.com/1868-Ringing-Phone.html) by Mike Koenig used under [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) - Opening music, ["Diggin' til the Very End"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/) - Ending music, ["Bounty Hunter"](http://music.djcutman.com/album/volume-iv) by Dj CUTMAN used under [CC BY-NC-SA](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/)

SCP Foundation - It’s All Winks and Nudges — Or Is It?

The Nickscast — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 16:21:11 +0000

This week, we make sure that everything is cleared by the ethics committee before we talk about SCP-001. That's right we're talking about fans of the SCP Foundation! ...And that's it for this season! Main episodes will be back in two weeks, but stay tuned because next week we have a special introduction to the podcast, our first regular minisode! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** The SCP Foundation (Secure, Contain, Protect) is a fictional organization launched in 2008 that is the subject of web-based collaborative writing project of the same name. Stories from the project often describe situations that violate natural law, and are written in an academic, scientific writing style. The series of stories started with SCP-173 on 4chan's paranormal _/x/_ board. The SCP Foundation has hundreds of different stories about various SCPs and the SCP Foundation itself, and has also inspired many spin-off works such as _SCP - Containment Breach_. **Search Data:** Interest in the SCP Foundation [follows a strange trend](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fg%2F1q2xhks7f). From 2004 to January 2012, interest was on a steady decline. However, after that point there was a sharp increase in interest followed by a mostly upward trend in interest with spikes in May 2012 (Possibly Markiplier playing _Containment Breach_ ), August 2014, and April 2017 (Series IV opens up?). The top 10 countries, by search volume are: Japan, South Korea, Poland, United States, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, and Taiwan. **Fan Demographics:** Fortunately, the [SCP Foundation website holds an annual community survey](http://www.scp-wiki.net/2017-survey-results). Here are some interesting demographics and data points from the over 6000 responses for the 2017 survey. - _Age_ : The largest group is those 15-19 (~ 50%), then 20-24 (~ 21%), and under 15 (~ 11%) - _Gender_ : Predominantly male (~ 81%), with some female representation (~ 10%), and some smaller populations present as well (e.g. 1.9% non-binary, 1.1% agender, 1.6% genderfluid) - _Language_ : Predominantly English (~ 75%), but many languages represented - _Country_ : Predominantly United States (~ 55%) but representation from many different countries Some other interesting notes about the fandom: - Most found out about the SCP Foundation via Markiplier (~ 16%), one of the SCP games (~ 12%), another Youtube channel (9.9%) or a referral (9.9%) - The SCP Foundation adhere's to the International System of Units ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/fad-foods-reconstituted-from-meat-flakes-and-delivered-in-a-cheeto-dusted-dorito-burrito/) Famous Last Words **Z** Is there a writer who is at least internet famous who got their start with the SCP Foundation? **G** How influenced is it by pop culture? **T** Are they supposed to be creepy? **EFG Nick** Time travel creepypasta. ### The Verdict **Z is out.** Cool concept… but have a hard time with initial disappointment that they aren't _all_ creepy. **G is in.** "This is the creepypasta that I want to read." **T is in.** So much diversity of concept! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around _next week 's_ fandom, ReBoot! **G** How much non-nostalgic interest in the series? **T** Is there a reboot fan convention? **Z** Is there another country where ReBoot was and is popular? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, _Let 's Plays_, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? _We_ are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). _Ahem_ We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. _Because everyone 's a fan._ ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - SCP Foundation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCP_Foundation) - [Google Trends - SCP Foundation](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fg%2F1q2xhks7f) - [SCP Wiki - 2017 Community Survey Results](http://www.scp-wiki.net/2017-survey-results) - [TV Tropes - Painting The Medium / SCP Foundation](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/PaintingTheMedium/SCPFoundation) - [The Daily Dot - Meet the secret foundation that contains the world's paranormal artifacts](https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/fandom/scp-foundation-paranormal-artifact-containment-horror/) - [Facebook - State of Terror](https://www.facebook.com/pg/stateofterror/posts/) - [Inverse - SCP, The Creepypasta for 'X-Files' and H.P. Lovecraft Fans](https://www.inverse.com/article/7474-scare-season-scp-the-creepypasta-for-x-files-and-h-p-lovecraft-fans) - [Know Your Meme - SCP Foundation](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sites/scp-foundation) [Michelle Proulx - Author - Writing Prompt Wednesday! Hidden Agendas](https://michelleproulx.com/2015/10/21/writing-prompt-wednesday-hidden-agendas/) - [O5 Command - Max Landis](http://05command.wikidot.com/forum/t-4616472/max-landis) - [r/SCP - I'm Recently Suspended Moderator Doctor Cimmerian. I've Written over 50 Articles on the Site and have an SCP Podcast. Ask Me Anything!](https://www.reddit.com/r/SCP/comments/7pcvqb/im_recently_suspended_moderator_doctor_cimmerian/) - [SCP Foundation - About the SCP Foundation](http://www.scp-wiki.net/about-the-scp-foundation) - [SCP Foundation - Canon Hub](http://www.scp-wiki.net/canon-hub) - [SCP Foundation - FAQ](http://www.scp-wiki.net/faq) - [SCP Foundation - How to Write an SCP](http://www.scp-wiki.net/how-to-write-an-scp) - [SCP Foundation - Meet the Staff](http://www.scp-wiki.net/meet-the-staff) - [The Daily Dot - Meet the Secret Foundation that Contains the World's Paranormal Artifacts](https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/fandom/scp-foundation-paranormal-artifact-containment-horror/) - [Wikidot.com - Max Landis](http://www.wikidot.com/user:info/max-landis) - [Wikipedia - SCP Foundation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCP_Foundation) - [Wikipedia - Max Landis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Landis) - [Youtube - Andjealous (Joshua Sheetz)](https://www.youtube.com/user/Andjealous) ### Music / Sound - ["Dreadful Things Approach"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1323&Genre=Halloween) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Fad Foods - Reconstituted from Meat Flakes and Delivered in a Cheeto-Dusted Dorito Burrito

The Nickscast — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 17:16:37 +0000

For a limited time only\*, you can check out this week's episode IN SMELL-O-VISION as we talk about fans of fad foods! Plus, we've got a special guest: Nick H of the Epic Film Guys and RestauRant podcast! Next week, we're closing out the season with a callback to the first episode. We'll be getting our D-4 classification to learn about the world of the SCP Foundation! \* Only at participating locations ## Where can I learn more about EFG Nick and the Epic Film Guys? > **Epic Film Guy Nick** has been in love with film and filming for as long as he can remember. When he’s not listening to Justin’s lisp, he is focused on his two sons, fiancee, and working on his own screenplays. Other interests include beer and playing music. > > — [Epic Film Guys - About Us](https://epicfilmguys.wordpress.com/about-us/) To find out more, check out: - The [Epic Film Guys podcast](http://www.epicfilmguys.com/) - The [RestauRant podcast](http://restaurantpod.podbean.com/) - The Epic Film Guys on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/epicfilmguys) and [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/epicfilmguys) - Nick H on Twitter: [@thedraylives](http://www.twitter.com/theredraylives) ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Search Data:** We had no idea how to even broach this topic; what is the search term for fad food? What we learned is that [interest in the McRib](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=hipster%20food,fad%20food,mcrib), for example, dwarfs interest in search terms like 'fad food' or 'hipster food'. If you remove that, there is a noted increase in interest in 'hipster food' and decrease in interest in 'fad food' since 2004 (though overall, fad food is the more popular search). The vast majority of results come from countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/breakfast-cereals-part-of-a-fanss-complete-breakfast/) Famous Last Words **Z** Is there a fad food fan out there who collects wrappers (or similar)? **G** What was the first fast food restaurant to have a secret menu? **T** Are there people who collect and preserve fad foods? If so, how do they do it? ### The Verdict **T is out.** Fad food fans are not a thing. **G is out.** Not tailgatin' in a McDonald's parking lot. **Z is out.** Not chasing down fad foods. **EFG Nick is out.** Can't... no. Just eat something else. McRib is garbage. ### This week's spotlight **[Ronald McDonald House Charities](https://www.rmhccanada.ca/) or [in the US](https://www.rmhc.org/)** > Ronald McDonald Houses provide families of sick children with a home to stay at while their child is being treated at a nearby hospital. Ronald McDonald Family Rooms also provide a comfortable place for families to rest and recharge, right inside hospitals. And through Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles, we help to bring basic medical care to vulnerable communities. So families can stay together and kids can heal better. ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, SCP Foundation! **Z** Is there a writer who is at least internet famous who got their start with the SCP foundation? **G** How influenced is it by pop culture? **T** Are they supposed to be creepy? **EFG Nick** Time travel creepypasta. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Nick H of the Epic Film Guys for making the time to join us on this week's podcast amidst his many other podcasting engagements! ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - McRib](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=hipster%20food,fad%20food,mcrib) - [Google Trends - Hipster food, fad food](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=hipster%20food,fad%20food) - [Buzzfeed - 22 Outrageously Hipster Foods That Must Be Stopped](https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahloewentheil/22-outrageously-hipster-foods-that-must-be-stopped?utm_term=.xgya6lzzv#.hsyw19LL8) - [Buzzfeed - 19 Ridiculous Hipster Foods That Will Either Make You Very Angry Or Very Happy](https://www.buzzfeed.com/crystalro/a-twentysomething-and-a-thirtysomething-give-hot-takes-on?utm_term=.db9ekjJJ0#.mrN6x3kkY) - [East This, Not That! - The 10 Weirdest Food Trends of the Last 10 Years](http://www.eatthis.com/weird-food-trends/) - [Dorkly - McDonalds Let the Internet Create Their Own Burgers and Guess What Happened](http://www.dorkly.com/post/79724/mcdonalds-let-the-internet-create-their-own-burgers-and-guess-what-happened) - [Entrepreneur - For McRib Fans, Search for the Sandwich Is Worth the Effort](https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/230063) - [McRib Locator - Home](http://mcriblocator.com/) - [CBS North Carolina - McRib Fans Rejoice — McDonalds is Bringing Back Pork Sandwich](http://wncn.com/2017/11/07/mcrib-fans-rejoice-mcdonalds-is-bringing-back-pork-sandwich/) - [Belfast Telegraph - KFC’s Double Down is arriving in the UK, and fans are very much ready for it](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/Viral/kfcs-double-down-is-arriving-in-the-uk-and-fans-are-very-much-ready-for-it-36191001.html) - [Maclean’s - Taco Bell breaks its Cool Ranch Dorito taco promise, fans go ballistic](http://www.macleans.ca/news/taco-bell-breaks-its-cool-ranch-dorito-taco-promise-fans-go-ballistic/) - [Quora - If people love the McRib sandwich as much as McDonald's thinks they do, why isn't it a regular menu item?](https://www.quora.com/If-people-love-the-McRib-sandwich-as-much-as-McDonalds-thinks-they-do-why-isnt-it-a-regular-menu-item) - [Munchies - This Guy Has a Collection of Almost 500 McDonald's Boxes](https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/j5gb3d/this-guy-has-a-collection-of-almost-500-mcdonalds-boxes) - [Munchies - But the McRib is Delicious](https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/3djg49/but-the-mcrib-is-delicious) - [Munchies - How US Army Technology Gave Rise to the McRib](https://munchies.vice.com/en_us/article/zmv5nx/how-us-army-technology-gave-rise-to-the-mcrib-fastfoodweek2017) - [The Atlantic - McRib Everlasting](https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/08/mcrib-lto-fast-food/494585/?utm_source=atlfb) - [Yahoo! Finance - Why Burger King Is Copying a McDonald’s Cult Classic](https://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/the-exchange/why-burger-king-copying-mcdonald-sandwich-172120222.html) - [Association for Consumer Research - Consumer Responses to Discontinuance of Favorite Products: an Exporatory Study](http://acrwebsite.org/volumes/8637/volumes/v29/NA-29) ### Music / Sound - ["Backwater Route 66"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1061&Genre=Rock) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Fast Food Server"](https://thenounproject.com/term/fast-food-server/973877/) by [Gan Khoon Lay](https://thenounproject.com/leremy) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Breakfast Cereals - Part of a Fans’s Complete Breakfast

The Nickscast — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 17:37:00 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week's episode is gr-r-reat, probably because we can see why kids love the swirl of Nicks in every bit of this week's episode... on Breakfast Cereal fans! Next week, we'll have special guest friend, [EFG Nick](http://www.epicfilmguys.com/), to talk about fans of fad foods! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Breakfast cereal is a type of food, often made of grains and eaten as the first meal of the day (in Western society, at least). Cereals are often fortified with vitamins, lack the vitamins needed for a healthy breakfast, _and_ are often high in sugar. In 1970, there were only 160 different kinds of cereal in the US; in 2012, there were almost 5000. [//Apparently, breakfast cereal has profit margins of 40-50%? That's a lot ]: # Breakfast cereal actually shares its history _way_ back with indigenous North Americans who had found a way to make ground corn palatable (later, called "grits" or "hominy")... though it never gained a foothold in the northern US. Apparently, there was a group of food reformers who wanted to cut back on excessive meat consumption at breakfast (including Seventh-day Adventists, who made the food reforms part of their religion). Flash forward a bit to the end of the 19th century with a certain John Harvey Kellogg, son of an Adventist factory owner, medical superintendent, _and_ masturbation rehabilitator. The institute he worked at often had wealthy industrialists visit for recuperation and they were accustomed to egg, ham, sausage, fried potatoes, coffee... and so on; at the facility, they found abstinence and a vegetarian diet. Kellogg experimented with granola, which eventually lead to Cornflakes, the archetypical breakfast cereal. Later, Charles W. Post (a patient at Kellogg's sanitarium), impressed by the all-grain diet, began experimenting on his own and eventually introduced Grape-nuts. ...But there is a lot of history. Too much for me to get through. Read it for yourself [on wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_cereal#History_in_North_America). **Search Data:** Would you believe that we are in the middle of a [slow growth in interest in breakfast cereal](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0l6sg)? While there was a decline in interest from 2004 to about 2008, it seems that interest is slowly on the rise again. The top 10 countries by search volume: Poland, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Singapore, South Korea, Norway, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. **Fanac Fast Facts:** - There are over 1000 fanfics when searching for cereal on [Archive of Our Own](http://archiveofourown.org/works/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&work_search%5Bquery%5D=cereal) - [Frankenberry caused a strange health epidemic in the 70s](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-strangest-stories-behind-famous-cereals-and-their-mascots)... because kids were eating a lot of the cereal leaving their stool discoloured - There were some really racist and weird cereal mascots, like [So-hi and a creepy clown for "Rice Krinkles"](http://mentalfloss.com/article/53218/6-controversial-moments-world-breakfast-cereal) (later, Cocoa and Fruity Pebbles) - [Cap'n Crunch has a backstory](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-strangest-stories-behind-famous-cereals-and-their-mascots) > Taken from the official website as well as commercials and official social media posts, Crunch Island, located in the Sea of Milk--a magical place with talking trees, crazy creatures and a whole mountain (Mt. Crunchmore) made out of Cap’n Crunch cereal--is the birthplace of Cap'n Horatio Magellan Crunch. > > — [Odyssey - 4 Strange Things You Never Knew About Your Favorite Breakfast Cereals](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-strangest-stories-behind-famous-cereals-and-their-mascots) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/wonder-woman-lassoing-the-truth-about-the-fairer-fandom/) Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Breakfast Cereals! **G** Cinnamon toast crunch is the internet's favourite cereal. **Z** Out of all the cereals in all the world... has the most complex song-of-ice-and-fire style background story (the mascot)? **T** How divisive is the fandom? [// Captain Crunch video games ]: # ### The Verdict **G is in.** Loves eating breakfast cereal. **T is out.** Didn't get into cereal... and not as much community as I would have expected. **Z is out.** ...But is a Weetabix man. ### This week's spotlight **[Magic Breakfast](https://www.magicbreakfast.com/what-the-charity-does)** Magic Breakfast is a UK charity that helps provide healthy breakfast food and support to schools. > We work with over 470 Primary, Secondary and ASL/Special Educational Needs schools, plus Pupil Referral Units, to make sure that over 31,500 children start their school day in the best possible way. > > — [Magic Breakfast - What we do](https://www.magicbreakfast.com/what-the-charity-does) [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Fad Foods! **Z** Is there a fad food fan out there who collects wrappers (or similar)? **G** What was the first fast food restaurant to have a secret menu? **T** Are there people who collect and preserve fad foods? If so, how do they do it? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Breakfast Cereal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast_cereal#History_in_North_America) - [Google Trends - Breakfast Cereal](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0l6sg) - [Archive Of Our Own - Cereal search results](http://archiveofourown.org/works/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&work_search%5Bquery%5D=cereal) - [Odyssey - 4 Strange Things You Never Knew About Your Favorite Breakfast Cereals](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-strangest-stories-behind-famous-cereals-and-their-mascots) - [MelMagazine - How Tony the Tiger Became the Most Sexually Objectified Breakfast Mascot](https://melmagazine.com/how-tony-the-tiger-became-the-most-sexually-objectified-breakfast-mascot-8cad4f6e7901) - [Mentalfloss - 6 Controversial Moments in the World of Breakfast Cereal](http://mentalfloss.com/article/53218/6-controversial-moments-world-breakfast-cereal) - [YouTube - Cereal Fans Flock to NYC’s Kellogg’s Cafe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW05r-mXqVg) - [YouTube - Kellogg’s Cereal Cafe](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_94DiFrAh3M) - [YouTube - Cereal Time TV](https://www.youtube.com/user/MrGabeFonseca/videos) - [Quora - Why Isn’t Breakfast Cereal as Well Known in China as it is the US?](https://www.quora.com/Why-isnt-breakfast-cereal-as-well-known-in-China-as-it-is-in-the-US) - [Quora - Do People Outside of America Eat Breakfast Cereal](https://www.quora.com/Do-people-outside-of-America-eat-breakfast-cereal) - [Quora - Why Is Breakfast Cereal so Popular in Europe?](https://www.quora.com/Why-is-breakfast-cereal-so-popular-in-Europe) - [Quora - If Breakfast Cereals Were People Which Would You be in a Romantic Relationship with and Why?](https://www.quora.com/If-breakfast-cereals-were-people-which-would-you-be-in-a-romantic-relationship-with-and-why) - [News-a-Rama - Serial Fiction Meets Cereal Boxes: DC & General Mills Team-Up](https://www.newsarama.com/33435-serial-fiction-meets-cereal-boxes-dc-general-mills-team-up.html) - [Odyssey - 4 Things You Never Knew About Your Favourite Breakfast Cereals](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-strangest-stories-behind-famous-cereals-and-their-mascots) - [The Robot’s Pajamas - The 10 Weirdest Cereal Mascots](http://www.therobotspajamas.com/the-10-weirdest-cereal-mascots/) - [Mental Floss - The Stories Behind Your Favorite Cereal Mascots](http://mentalfloss.com/article/18236/stories-behind-your-favorite-cereal-mascots) - [Ad Age - See the Spot: Lucky Charms Finds Gold With Adult Fans](http://adage.com/article/news/lucky-charms-finds-gold-adult-fans/238551/) - [Cerealously - Home](http://www.cerealously.net/) - [BrainCharm - The Crazy Psychology Behind Cereal Boxes](https://braincharm.com/2017/11/01/the-crazy-psychology-behind-cereal-boxes/) - [BakeryAndSnacks.com - Cereal Psychology: Mascot Eye Contact Sparks Consumer Trust](https://www.bakeryandsnacks.com/Article/2014/04/03/Breakfast-cereal-psychology-Mascot-eye-contact-sparks-trust) - [PsyBlog - The Psychology of Nostalgia (in under 300 words)](http://www.spring.org.uk/2013/07/the-psychology-of-nostalgia-in-under-300-words.php) - [Quora - What is Captain Crunch’s Backstory?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-Captain-Crunchs-backstory) ### Music / Sound - ["Invading the 80s"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1285&Genre=Downtempo) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/us/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Breakfast”](https://thenounproject.com/term/breakfast/163057/) by [Stan Diers](https://thenounproject.com/stan.diers) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Wonder Woman - Lassoing the Truth about the Fairer Fandom

The Nickscast — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 18:37:00 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, in honour of International Women's Day, we're talking about an important fandom in the DC Comics universe. We're talking about that founding member of the Justice League, goddess, and Ambassador-at-Large of the Amazon people: Wonder Woman! And can you spot the swirls of cinnamon and sugar in every minute of next week's podcast? We'll be talking about fans of ... Breakfast Cereal? ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Wonder Woman is a character in the DC Comics universe and is a founding member of the Justice League. Her official title is Princess Diana of Themyscira, Daughter of Hippolyta but when blending into society outside of her homeland, she adopts the identity _Diana Prince_. She has several heroic abilities including superhuman strength, speed, durability, and longevity, accelerated healing factor, flight, and possesses a variety of interesting technology such as the Lasso of Truth, indestructible bracelets, and a tiara that she often uses as a projectile. Originally developed in 1941, she was created by American psychologist William Moulton Marston and artist Harry G Peter, and was heavily influenced by Olive Byrne, Marston's lover, his wife, Elizabeth Marston, and early feminists. Wonder Woman has been depicted in various media including the 1975 TV series, many animated series, and most recently, the 2017 movie. **Search Data:** Strangely, the most search data seems to be around Diana Prince rather than her superheroic name. That being said, [interest in the character had been almost flat (slight increase in interest)](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0sc7q) until approximately 2016 when there was a much more noticeable increase in interest (and notably, with the release of the 2017 movie as well). The top ten countries, by search volume, are: Puerto Rico, Brazil, Phillipines, United States, Singapore, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Taiwan, United Kingdom. **Fan Demographics:** Looking at Facebook data, [Brett Schenker dug into fans of Wonder Woman](http://www.comicsbeat.com/demographics-wonder-woman-around-the-world/) to draw some interesting data: - Overall, men made up about 52% of the population in the various countries, but accounted for almost 57% of the Wonder Woman fans - Most female Wonder Woman fans: South Korea (72%) - Most male Wonder Woman fans: India (88%) **Fast Facts:** - Archive of Our Own has over 800 fan works related to Wonder Woman - The majority of which are categorized as F/M (471) - The _vast_ majority deal with DC universe - Top 3 pairings: Diana / Trevor (247), Diana / Bruce Wayne (69), Diana / Steve Rogers (57) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/monty-python-fans-fans-and-toast-fans-and-eggs-fans-and-ham-fans-fans-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z** As we found in the Barbie episode... is there a Wonder Woman fan who strives to look like Wonder Woman (to the extreme)? **T** Is Wonder Woman more popular with men, or women? At what point did she lose her bizarre weaknesses (and was that influenced by the times)? [// About equal in popularity between men and women ]: # [// Aphrodite's Law: Not too long after her early incarnation; Marston liked bondage, and used Wonder Woman a bit as his opinion piece. Apparently, was tossed out at the start of the 'modern age' of comics in the 80s ]: # **G** Are there fans out there who see Wonder Woman as an American patriotic symbol? If so, how does that work? ### The Verdict [// I'm not going to ignore the fact that it's 3 dudes talking about feminism / wonder woman, often talking about issues's affecting women ]: # **T is in.** Hope is a very powerful motivator... and Wonder Woman has a lot of hope. **Z is out.** **G is in.** Will probably investigate some of the recent titles. ### This week's spotlight **[International Women's Day](https://www.internationalwomensday.com/)** > International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. > > International Women's Day (IWD) has been observed since the early 1900's - a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. International Women's Day is a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity. No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women's network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women's Day. Many organizations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others. > > — [International Women's Day](https://www.internationalwomensday.com/About) [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Breakfast Cereals! **G** Cinnamon toast crunch is the internet's favourite cereal. **Z** Out of all the cereals in all the world... has the most complex song-of-ice-and-fire style background story (the mascot)? **T** How divisive is the fandom? [// Captain Crunch video games ]: # ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Any special thanks; usually to guest. ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Wonder Woman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonder_Woman) - [Wikipedia - Cultural Impact of Wonder Woman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_impact_of_Wonder_Woman) - [Google Trends - Diana Prince](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0sc7q) - [ComicsBeat - Demographics: Wonder Woman Around the World](http://www.comicsbeat.com/demographics-wonder-woman-around-the-world/) - [SciFi StackExchange - Is Wonder Woman's only weakness being bound by a man?](https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/83963/is-wonder-womans-only-weakness-being-bound-by-a-man) - [Kinja - To Be Human: Why I Love Wonder Woman](https://tay.kinja.com/to-be-human-why-i-love-wonder-woman-1796614969) - [Fanlore - Wonder Woman](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Wonder_Woman) - [Business Insider - Why “Wonder Woman” Matters to Women - And is Changing Movies](http://www.businessinsider.com/wonder-woman-matters-to-women-movies-2017-6) - [Cinema Blend - Why Wonder Woman Fans Are Arguing About Gal Gadot’s Armpits](https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1637619/why-wonder-woman-fans-are-arguing-about-gal-gadots-armpits) - [Crave - Why Have Wonder Woman’s Pants Been Officially Doffed?](http://www.craveonline.com/site/171987-wonder-womans-pants-officially-doffed) - [Daily Mail - Military Dentist Dubbed Real-Life Wonder Woman](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4966900/Military-dentist-dubbed-real-life-Wonder-Woman.html) - [Elite Readers - Meet the Cosplayer Who Can Remarkably Transform Herself into Anyone](https://www.elitereaders.com/alyson-tabbitha-video-game-anime-cosplay/) - [Entertainment Weekly - Wonder Woman Fans are Hiding Swords in their Dresses](http://ew.com/movies/2017/06/15/wonder-woman-fans-swords-in-dresses/) - [ET Canada - “Wonder Woman” Fans Furious Over Amazons’ Over-Sexualized “Justice League” Outfits: “Completely Implausible”](https://etcanada.com/news/271273/wonder-woman-fans-slam-amazons-over-sexualized-justice-league-outfits-completely-implausible/) - [Facebook - Wonder Woman Fans](https://www.facebook.com/Wonder-Woman-Fans-104332712993858/) - [Fanlore - Wonder Woman](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Wonder_Woman) - [Film School Rejects - Boiling Point: Wonder Woman Sucks, That’s Why](https://filmschoolrejects.com/boiling-point-wonder-woman-sucks-thats-why-a62f50a3e54c/) - [India - This Girl’s Transformation Into Wonder Woman And Captain Jack Sparrow Will Leave You Amazed](http://www.india.com/buzz/this-girls-transformation-into-wonder-woman-and-captain-jack-sparrow-will-leave-you-amazed-2529131/) - [r/WonderWoman - Home](https://www.reddit.com/r/WonderWoman/) - [r/WonderWoman - Wonder Woman [Nubia] by Terry Alec](https://www.reddit.com/r/WonderWoman/comments/7opcbn/wonder_woman_nubia_by_terry_alec/) - [The Gloss - Beauty Trends From History: How to Shave without a Razor](http://www.thegloss.com/beauty/beauty-trends-from-history-how-to-shave-without-a-razor-344/) - [The Mary Sue - DC Has No Idea What We Love About Wonder Woman, Introduces New Comic Arc About Diana’s Brother](https://www.themarysue.com/stop-trying-to-make-wonder-woman-about-men/) - [Tumblr | Agent Verbivore - Empathy and Compassion in Wonder Woman](https://agentverbivore.tumblr.com/post/161413128468/my-favorite-thematic-message-of-wonder-woman-and) - [Tumblr | Perichat - Wonder Woman is not an Example of the Born Sexy Yesterday Trope](http://perichat.tumblr.com/post/161529153606/would-you-rant-more-on-the-differences-between-the) - [UN News Centre - “Wonder Woman” appointed UN honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls](http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55367#.WniBiOdG1PY) - [YouTube - Wonder Woman was Based on this Real-Life Lady](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H98Q44vwxbk) ### Music / Sound - ["A Hero Steps Forward"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=882&Genre=Action) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Wonder Woman”](https://thenounproject.com/term/wonder-woman/23141/) by [Ben King](https://thenounproject.com/Kinger) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Monty Python - Fans, Fans and Toast, Fans and Eggs, Fans and Ham, Fans, Fans, Fans!

The Nickscast — Fri, 02 Mar 2018 18:37:00 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # We've no room for dead parrots, flying circus, silly walks, or arguments... or do we? This week, we're talking about fans of that iconic English comedy group that are definitely not snakes: Monty Python! Next week, we'll be travelling to Themyscira to learn about fans... of Wonder Woman! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Monty Python (or _The Pythons_) were a group of British comedians for formed a surreal comedy group and created their own sketch comedy show, _Monty Python's Flying Circus_ which first aired on the BBC in 1969. The group consisted of six members, who you may know from many different works: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin. As a group responsible for their own comedy writing and performances, they went on to create many different work including at least three movies (_Holy Grail_, _Life of Brian_, _The Meaning of Life_), 5 years of their television program, and several specials and other live performances. > Their influence on British comedy has been apparent for years, while in North America, it has coloured the work of cult performers from the early editions of Saturday Night Live through to more recent absurdist trends in television comedy. "Pythonesque" has entered the English lexicon as a result. > > — [Wikipedia - Monty Python](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python) **Search Data:** Looking at search data for [Monty Python](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F04sd0), interest in Monty Python has been on the decline since 2004. The most dramatic change was between 2004 and 2010, but has otherwise been quite slow (and mostly flat). Nonetheless, there have been some spikes in interest in July 2014 (_Monty Python Live (Mostly): One Down, Five to Go_), November 2013 (a reunion to pay for legal fees for _Spamalot!_), and October 2009 (_Monty Python: Almost the Truth - The Lawyer's Cut_). The top ten countries for Monty Python, by search interest, are: United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, Denmark, Norway, Czechia, Canada, Poland, and Finland. **Size of Fandom:** Given the age of the works of Monty Python, it is quite difficult to get an accurate assessment of the size of the fandom as we are well past the time of their zeitgeist. That being said, here is the data that we have: - The [Monty Python Subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/montypython/) has over 7500 subscribers - The [IMDB page for Monty Python and the Holy Grail](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071853/) has over 400 000 ratings [// Twitter / Youtube ]: # We were unable to collect any other data, so a rough estimate of fandom size today probably puts it within the **low millions**. **Famous fan works:** It's hard to draw a line between inspiration and fan works, but in this case, one example sticks out: [_Spamalot!_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spamalot), a musical 'ripped off' from the movie, _Monty Python and the Holy Grail_. **Fast Facts:** - Archive Of Our Own has upwards of 170 fan works related to Monty Python's works or actors (the largest of which are [real-person fiction (RPF) at 86 works](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Monty%20Python%20RPF/works)) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/rick-and-morty-ah-geez-fans-i-dunno/) Famous Last Words **G** Why does reciting a thing that you're watch make it better?? **Tyler** How important is it to a fan to have grown up watching it? [// Didn't find a lot about that ]: # **T** Why do so many groups ape Monty Python given a lot of their appeal is their absurdity and unpredictability? [// It turns out, I was remembering an ancient XKCD comic (#16... Jan 1, 2006). I don't think this is unique to Monty Python; at this point, we've also seen it with the Simpsons, Family Guy, etc. I think it's a kind of geek signalling. "This is akin to a common ironic concept of a teenager who wants to rebel against conformity by doing all the things his friends are also doing." ]: # **Z** Is being a Monty Python fan being an Anglophile (or vice versa)? ### The Verdict **T is out.** Understands the significance... but meh. **G is in.** Super in. Grew up loving it. Might be nostalgia. **Z is in.** Will still watch occasioo ### This week's spotlight **[Silly Walks - The International March](https://www.facebook.com/SillyWalkBrno/)** > We started doing silly walk marches in Brno, Czech Republic in 2012. After few years Monty Python's officials contacted us to spread the march worldwide! > ... > We want YOU to organize the march in your city! Send a message and tell us why you are the one who can handle all the stuff needed to make the Silly Walk happen in your city on 7th January every year! > > — [Silly Walks - The International March](https://www.facebook.com/pg/SillyWalkBrno/about) [// Plugs go here ]: # [// Race Against time 3.5 - Rage Against the Time ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Wonder Woman! **Z** As we found in the Barbie episode... is there a Wonder Woman fan who strives to look like Wonder Woman (to the extreme)? **T** Is Wonder Woman more popular with men, or women? At what point did she lose her bizarre weaknesses (and was that influenced by the times)? [// Was going to ask why Wonder Woman isn't more popular... but a quick search reveals she's the 3rd most popular DC comic hero and #5 on a list of all comic heroes (including non-DC or Marvel) ]: # **G** Are there fans out there who see Wonder Woman as an American patriotic symbol? If so, how does that work? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - Monty Python](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F04sd0) - [Wikipedia - Monty Python](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python)\ - [Archive Of Our Own - Monty Python RPF](http://archiveofourown.org/tags/Monty%20Python%20and%20the%20Holy%20Grail%20(1975)/works) - [r/montypython - Home](https://www.reddit.com/r/montypython/) - [IMDB - Monty Python and the Holy Grail](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071853/) - [ExplainXKCD - 16: Monty Python -- Enough](https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/16:_Monty_Python_--_Enough) - [Independent - Resistance is futile. ‘Monty Python’ is part of a 60s cultural hegemony that grips us to this day](http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/resistance-is-futile-monty-python-is-part-of-a-60s-cultural-hegemony-that-grips-us-to-this-day-8957838.html) - [The Guardian - Monty Python reinvented British comedy - despite the odd 'crap' sketch](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/apr/10/monty-python-reinvented-british-comedy-michael-palin-crap) - [BBC News | Talking Point - Monty Python - Still Funny?](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/463127.stm) - [Debate.org - Is Monty Python Influential?](http://www.debate.org/opinions/is-monty-python-influential) - [Fanlore - Monty Python](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Monty_Python) - [Fanlore - The Complate Monty Python](https://fanlore.org/wiki/The_Complate_Monty_Python) - [howardjohnsonblog - About Kim “Howard” Jonson](https://kimhowardjohnson.com/about-kim-howard-johnson/) - [Know Your Meme - Monty Python](knowyourmeme.com/memes/people/monty-python) - [Monty Python Official Site - FanWall](http://www.montypython.com/fanwall) - [New York Times - Eric Idle Leads Monty Python to the Web](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/07/fashion/07python.html) - [Quora - How Do You Feel about Monty Python’s 'Life of Brian' Today, 38 Years After its Initial (Controversial) Release?](https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-feel-about-Monty-Python%E2%80%99s-Life-of-Brian-today-38-years-after-its-initial-controversial-release) - [Quora - Is There an Under-Appreciation for Witty Comedies Today, Compared to the likes of Mel Brooks & Monty Python for Example?](https://www.quora.com/Is-there-an-under-appreciation-for-witty-comedies-today-compared-to-the-likes-of-Mel-Brooks-Monty-Python-for-example) - [Quora - What Is Your Review of Monty Python?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-review-of-Monty-Python) - [Quora - What Was the Point Behind the Alien Scene in “Life of Brian”?](https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-point-behind-the-alien-scene-in-Life-of-Brian) - [Quora - Who Is Your Favorite Member of Monty Python?](https://www.quora.com/Who-is-your-favorite-member-of-Monty-Python) - [The Awl - The Before and After of “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”](https://www.theawl.com/2013/03/the-before-and-after-of-monty-pythons-flying-circus/) - [The Daily Beast - Why You’re Wrong About Monty Python](https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-youre-wrong-about-monty-python) - [Wikipedia - Kim “Howard” Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_%22Howard%22_Johnson) - [Wikipedia - Starlog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlog) - [YouTube - Elvis was a Python-Fan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ--9TAY5KA) - [Youtube - Monty Python fan! Ep: 6 "Stories from The Anglo-Files", Meet Joan in Burberry!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWG8xDlvI2I) ### Music / Sound - Outro music for this episode, [The Liberty Bell March](https://woodstock.bandcamp.com/track/the-liberty-bell-march) performed by Woodstock Present - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - Dead Parrot is a derivative of [“Parrot”](https://thenounproject.com/term/parrot/1046586) by [Iconic](https://thenounproject.com/iconproducer) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Rick and Morty - Ah Geez, Fans, I Dunno

The Nickscast — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 20:37:23 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, are we getting Rick-ity wrecked in order to learn about Rick and Morty fandom? Not exactly, but I guess that's the waaaaaaaay the news goes. We ARE chatting with Tyler Marchant (host of the [Cynical Cartoons Podcast](http://www.futurehorsepod.com/)) to learn more about the fandom and the appeal of Rick and Morty! Next week, we'll be visiting the Ministry of Silly Walks to learn more about fans of Monty Python! ## Where can I learn more about Tyler Marchant? The best way to learn more about Tyler are to check out his podcasts, [Cynical Cartoons](http://www.futurehorsepod.com/category/cynical-cartoons/) or [Tynami](http://www.futurehorsepod.com/category/tynami/). You can also [support him on Patreon](https://www.patreon.com/Futurehorse)! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > Rick and Morty is an American adult animated science-fiction sitcom created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon for Cartoon Network's late-night programming block Adult Swim. The series follows the misadventures of cynical mad scientist Rick Sanchez and his fretful, easily influenced grandson Morty Smith, who split their time between domestic life and interdimensional adventures. The series premiered on December 2, 2013, and the third season concluded on October 1, 2017. A fourth season has been mentioned, first by Harmon in a September 2017 interview, and later in the post-credits scene of the third season's finale. > > — [Wikipedia - Rick and Morty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_and_Morty) **Search Data:** [Interest in Rick and Morty is definitely on the rise](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=%2Fm%2F0z6p24j), overall (though is in a recent period of decline). It has had some huge spikes in interest, namely at the beginning of October 2015 (airing of season two premiere) and much more dramatically April 1, 2017 (Secret season three premiere) and during July to October 2017 (the remainder of season three). The top 10 countries, by search volume, are: Canada, Australia, United States, New Zealand, Ireland, Russia, Belarus, United Kingdom, Norway, and Israel. **Size of Fandom:** Based on the data... - There are over 700 000 subscribers to [r/rickandmorty](https://www.reddit.com/r/rickandmorty/) (the 75th most active subreddit, according to [this YouGov article](https://today.yougov.com/news/2017/10/23/dont-underestimate-rick-and-morty-fans/)) - It has [almost 200 000 ratings on IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2861424/ratings?ref_=tt_ov_rt) (and a score of 9.3 / 10) Based on the scant data available, we would estimate the number of fans to be in the **low millions**. **Fan Demographics:** According to a [data provided by YouGov](https://today.yougov.com/news/2017/10/23/dont-underestimate-rick-and-morty-fans/): > - 70% of fans are men > - 44% are ages 25-34 > - 36% make less than $30 000 annually > - 87% use the internet as their primary source of information > - 71% think that ads are a waste of time > - 68% consider themselves to be introverts > - 61% don't feel there's a sense of community where they live > > — [YouGov - Don't underestimate Rick and Morty fans](https://today.yougov.com/news/2017/10/23/dont-underestimate-rick-and-morty-fans/) [// Older male millenials ]: # **Fast Facts:** - Archive Of Our Own has over [2500 Rick and Morty fan works](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Rick%20and%20Morty/works) - ...Over 800 are rated as 'Explicit' - ...Over 1300 are categroized as M/M, over 500 as F/M, and almost 500 as Gen - ...The largest non-Rick and Morty fandom crossover: Gravity Falls (almost 400) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/overwatch-team-fortress-2-but-with-more-diversity-fight-me/) Famous Last Words **Z** Does the Sci-fi help Rick and Morty transcend English? **G** What makes people think that they're watching a 'smart' show? How does that influence how they feel about watching Rick and Morty? **T** Why did they greenlight the show based on the short, Doc and Mharti? [// In 2006, Roiland was fired from working on a television series he regarded as intensely creatively stifling, and funneled his creative energies into creating a webisode for Channel 101. The result was The Real Animated Adventures of Doc and Mharti, an animated short starring parodies of Doc Brown and Marty McFly, characters from the Back to the Future film trilogy. In the short, which Harmon would dub "a bastardization, a pornographic vandalization", Doc Smith urges Mharti that the solution to all of his problems is to give him oral sex. The audience reacted to it wildly, and Roiland began creating more shorts involving the characters, which soon evolved beyond his original intentions and their obvious origin within the film from which it was culled ]: # [// Harmon was briefly fired from Community. Adult Swim, searching for a more prime-time, "hit" show,[6] approached Harmon shortly afterward, who initially viewed the channel as unfit for his style. He also was unfamiliar with animation, and his process for creating television focuses more heavily on dialogue, characters, and story.[5] Instead, he phoned Roiland to inquire if he had any ideas for an animated series. Roiland immediately brought up the idea of using the Doc and Mharti characters, renamed Rick and Morty. ]: # ### The Verdict **G is in.** Has enjoyed all the episodes... **T is out.** Has a hard time associating with fans. Something to watch, like _American Dad_ or _Family Guy_. **Z is out.** Competed for attention and lost. **Tyler is in.** Came in guns blazing to take the show down... but wants to support it. Owes a lot to the show. ### This week's spotlight **[Take This](http://www.takethis.org/)** _Take this_ is a registered non-profit in the United States that was started in 2013 by veteran journalists Russ Pitts and Susan Arendt and clinical psychologist Dr. Mark Kline, Psy.D. in response to the tragic suicide of a colleague of theirs. The organization is known for running "AFK Rooms" at different conventions and in general hopes to help fans who are dealing with mental health issues (among other things). **[The 2018 Fandom Survey](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsdtskIFcb-m6BuZ8HwjsTDBApouWOdOO1HVVbAuY-cQBuhA/viewform)** We want to learn more about fans, regardless of fandom. Please help us, help you learn more about fans by completing the 2018 Fandom Survey! Results will be compiled towards the end of the year. [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Monty Python! **G** Why does reciting a thing that you're watching it make it better?? **Tyler** How important is it to a fan to have grown up watching it? **T** Why do so many groups ape Monty Python given a lot of their appeal is their absurdity and unpredictability? **Z** Is being a Monty Python fan being an Anglophile (or vice versa)? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Archive Of Our Own - Rick and Morty works](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Rick%20and%20Morty/works) - [Google Trends - Rick and Morty](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=%2Fm%2F0z6p24j) - [r/rickandmorty - Home](https://www.reddit.com/r/rickandmorty/) - [YouGov - Don't underestimate Rick and Morty fans](https://today.yougov.com/news/2017/10/23/dont-underestimate-rick-and-morty-fans/) - [Wikipedia - Rick and Morty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_and_Morty) - [AVClub - Rick And Morty’s worst fans don’t deserve Rick And Morty](https://www.avclub.com/rick-and-morty-s-worst-fans-don-t-deserve-rick-and-mort-1818667256) - [AVClub - Rick And Morty fans are going to war with each other over this Szechuan sauce thing](https://www.avclub.com/rick-and-morty-fans-are-going-to-war-with-each-other-ov-1819283376) - [Know your meme - To Be Fair, You Have To Have a Very High IQ to Understand Rick and Morty](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/to-be-fair-you-have-to-have-a-very-high-iq-to-understand-rick-and-morty) - [Lifehacker - Horrible Rick & Morty Fans Demonstrate How Not to Be a Fan](https://lifehacker.com/horrible-rick-morty-fans-demonstrate-how-not-to-be-a-1818972295) - [Al Araby - Serial Rick Wemorti: Why Not Have a Laugh?](https://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?dl=en&mkt=en-CA&ref=SERP&refd=www.bing.com&r=true&a=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaraby.co.uk%2Fjeel%2Fculture%2F2017%2F10%2F10%2F%25D9%2585%25D8%25B3%25D9%2584%25D8%25B3%25D9%2584-%25D8%25B1%25D9%258A%25D9%2583-%25D9%2588%25D9%2585%25D9%2588%25D8%25B1%25D8%25AA%25D9%258A-%25D9%2585%25D8%25A7%25D8%25B0%25D8%25A7-%25D9%2586%25D9%2585%25D9%2584%25D9%2583-%25D8%25BA%25D9%258A%25D8%25B1-%25D8%25A7%25D9%2584%25D8%25B6%25D8%25AD%25D9%2583) - [El Mundo - The 10 + 1 Reasons Why “Rick & Morty” is the Best (Animation) Series of the Moment](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.elmundo.es/f5/mira/2017/07/30/597b5e7b468aeb6b788b45f2.html&prev=search) - [IGN (Spain) - Why We Like “Rick and Morty”](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://es.ign.com/movies/72744/blog/por-que-nos-gusta-rick-and-morty&prev=search) - [Know Your Meme - Rick and Morty Fans](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/rick-and-morty-fans) - [Les Inrockuptibles - “Rick and Morty” The Most Sad and Poetic Comic Animated Series of the Moment](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=https://www.lesinrocks.com/2015/08/26/series/rick-and-morty-la-serie-animee-comique-la-plus-triste-et-poetique-du-moment-11769384/&prev=search) - [Quora - What Is so Addicting[sic] about “Rick and Morty”? Why?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-so-addicting-about-Rick-and-Morty-Why) - [r/RickAndMorty - Home](https://www.reddit.com/r/rickandmorty/) - [Silenzine - How Much Do You Know about Rick and Morty? [Quiz]](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=https://www.silenzine.com/cuanto-sabes-rick-y-morty/&prev=search) - [Topito - Top 15 Reasons to Watch “Rick and Morty,” The Best Animated Cartoon of Life](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.topito.com/top-raison-rick-et-morty-serie-peferction&prev=search) - [Vice - Is “Rick and Morty” as Smart as Its Fans Think It Is?](https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/59dba8/is-rick-and-morty-as-smart-as-its-fans-think-it-is) - [Vice - The Story Behind that “Rick and Morty” House](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8x8ajp/the-story-behind-that-rick-and-morty-house) - [Vice - Why Broke Millennials Love “Rick and Morty”](https://www.vice.com/en_id/article/bj8zyd/why-broke-millennials-love-rick-and-morty) - [Wikipedia - Rick and Morty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_and_Morty) - [YouTube - Werner Herzog Explains Human Culture](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw1cdRew-Zg) - [Zhihu - I Want to Go Crazy with You -- “Rick and Mortimer” Commentary](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/22005937&prev=search) ### Music / Sound - ["Rick and Morty Remix"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhdXgSUrCCI) by Leslie Wai - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Vortex”](https://thenounproject.com/icon/22970/) by [Eliricon](https://thenounproject.com/mordarius) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Drunk”](https://thenounproject.com/term/drunk/17063/) by [Matt Brooks](https://thenounproject.com/Mattebrooks) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Overwatch - Team Fortress 2, but with more Diversity (Fight Me)

The Nickscast — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 20:00:50 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, T is Tanking, G and Z take Offense as they all push the payload towards the goal: Discovering what is the appeal of Overwatch, and what makes people a fan of it. Are there fans that try to embody characters when they play? Why is Hanzo maining a bad thing? How did fan's react to Tracer's girlfriend? All this and more as we dig into the fandom! Next week, SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT: We'll be talking about fans of Rick and Morty (with a special guest)! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Overwatch is a class-based, online first-person shooter (FPS) developed by Blizzard Entertainment released in May 2016. Mechanically, the game consists of two teams of six "heroes" each working towards some objective depending on the game mode. There are over twenty heroes, each with their own unique abilities and skills broadly grouped into "offense", "defense", "tank", and "support" roles. As far as the story of the game: > Soldiers. Scientists. Adventurers. Oddities. > > In a time of global crisis, an international task force of heroes banded together to restore peace to a war-torn world: Overwatch. > > It ended the crisis and helped to maintain peace in the decades that followed, inspiring an era of exploration, innovation, and discovery. But after many years, Overwatch's influence waned, and it was eventually disbanded. > > Overwatch is gone… but the world still needs heroes. > > Now, conflict is rising across the world again, and the call has gone out to heroes old and new. Are you with us? > > — [Fanlore - Overwatch](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Overwatch) **Search Data:** Looking at the [search data for Overwatch](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=%2Fm%2F0128442n), search interest in the game has been on a slow decline since about August of 2016, but still remains fairly popular. The largest spike in popularity occurred in May 2016, which likely coincides with the open beta of the game. The top ten countries, by search volume, are: South Korea (by a large margin), Singapore, Finland, Sweeden, Norway, Canada, Australia, United States, Taiwan, and New Zealand. **Size of Fandom:** Looking at some of the data... - Approximately 1.1 million subscribers on [r/overwatch](https://www.reddit.com/r/Overwatch/) - Over 138 000 subscribers on [r/CompetitiveOverwatch](https://www.reddit.com/r/Competitiveoverwatch/) - Almost 120 000 subscribers on [r/OverwatchUniversity](https://www.reddit.com/r/OverwatchUniversity/) - As of last January, the game itself [had over 25 million players](https://www.polygon.com/2017/1/27/14417214/how-many-people-play-overwatch-25-million) Easily, the number of fans **is in the tens of millions**. **Fan Demographics:** There seems to be no shortage of sites that will give details on the _characters_, but not so much on the players. For example, [Overwatch Tracker](https://overwatchtracker.com/insights) offers data on hero playtime and skill rankings, and from that we can see some general data points about the _game_. However, we're more interested in the _players_. From [this thread in the Overwatch subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Overwatch/comments/4ngttm/overwatch_demographic_survey_lets_get_some_data/), we can get _some_ data from its over 3000 respondents: - **Gender:** 83.3% Male, 14.9% Female - **Age:** Almost 70% of respondents are under the age of 24 - **Frequency:** Almost 50% of respondents play every day; just over 30% play 3-5 times a week A slightly different investigation on [Gender Influence in Hero Choice](https://inkspire.org/post/does-gender-influence-hero-choice-in-overwatch-data-analysis/-KnvQU-V6c9xnp7RSxod) puts the number of female players closer to 21% (and provides some other interesting data). **Fast Facts:** - Overwatch has almost 22 000 fan works on [Archive Of Our Own](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Overwatch%20(Video%20Game)/works) - ...Just over half of which are categorized as M/M, and just under a quarter as F/F - Almost _all_ of the fan works have no crossover - The top three characters in the fan works: McCree (~ 38%), Reaper (~ 33%), Mercy (~ 29%) - The top three pairings: McCree / Hanzo (~ 19%), Reaper / Soldier: 76 (~ 16%), Pharah / Mercy (~ 8%) - Terry Crews stated in a [reddit AMA](https://www.reddit.com/r/Overwatch/comments/5dez6k/if_doomfist_becomes_a_hero_id_be_so_hyped_if/daa1d2g/) that he would love to voice Doomfist, one of the game's potential heroes at the time. The hero is now playable, though Crews does not voice the character. - Though many of the voice actors of the game were deliberately selected for being 'unknown', you may recognize anime voice actor Crispin Freeman (Alucard, _Hellsing_; Togusa, _Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex_; Kyon, _Haruhi Suzumiya_) as the voice of Winston. ([TVTropes - Overwatch](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/Overwatch)) - Overwatch has no servers in Africa ([Kotaku - It ain't easy being an Overwatch fan in Africa](https://kotaku.com/it-isn-t-easy-being-an-overwatch-fan-in-africa-1806133900)) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/the-olympics-5-rings-2-seasons-1-fandom/) Famous Last Words **G** Are there players who make a point of embodying the character they are playing over trying to win? **T** Will I play Overwatch before next week's episode?? [// Yes... probably ]: # Seriously though, why is Hanzo main a bad thing? ~~(I know almost nothing about Overwatch)~~ _(I know something about Overwatch now)_ [// Apparently, maining isn't very nice as a team, and Hanzo works best as lone wolf (and requires some skill to play well)]: # How wide is the divide between curative and transformative? [// #1 on fandometrics video games... so, sounds like there is an active transformative element in addition to the competitive ]: # **Z** In relation to the 2016 Blizzard comic, how did fans react to Tracer's girlfriend? ### The Verdict **G is out.** Kind of. Likes the asymmetric play and backstories. BUT not interested in playing. **T is in.** Asymmetric play is really good, teamwork, fun, good characters. Likes it better than TF2. **Z is out.** Lore is really neat. ### This week's spotlight **[AnyKey Organization](http://www.anykey.org/)** AnyKey Organization is a group dedicated to supporting diversity in eSports. Its mission (from its website): > To help create fair and inclusive spaces in esports for marginalized members of the gaming community. We pledge to: Provide competitive gamers with resources, support, and opportunities. Highlight positive role-models. Create knowledge and tools to help create more diverse communities and supportive networks. > > — [AnyKey Organization - About Us](http://www.anykey.org/about/) The organization does research, has its own pledge (that you can take), and has an affiliation program so that you too can help make eSports better for everyone! To take some notes from this week's episode: The world still needs heroes... Are you with us? [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Rick and Morty! **Z** Does the sci-fi help Rick and Morty transcend English? **G** What makes people think that they're watching a 'smart' show? How does that influence how they feel about watching Rick and Morty? **T** Why did they greenlight the show based on the short, Doc and Maerti? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Google Trends - Overwatch](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=%2Fm%2F0128442n) - [Archive Of Our Own - Overwatch (Video Game)](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Overwatch%20(Video%20Game)/works) - [Overwatch Tracker - Insights](https://overwatchtracker.com/insights) - [Kotaku - Overwatch now has 25 million players](https://www.polygon.com/2017/1/27/14417214/how-many-people-play-overwatch-25-million) - [Inkspire - Does Gender Influence Hero Choice in Overwatch: Data Analysis](https://inkspire.org/post/does-gender-influence-hero-choice-in-overwatch-data-analysis/-KnvQU-V6c9xnp7RSxod) - [r/overwatch - Overwatch Demographic Survey - Let's get some data from you guys, to learn more about our community!](https://www.reddit.com/r/Overwatch/comments/4ngttm/overwatch_demographic_survey_lets_get_some_data/) - [Mic - "Hanzo Main" Insult Explained: Here's what that viral 'Overwatch' tweet is all about](https://mic.com/articles/171482/hanzo-main-insult-explained-here-s-what-that-viral-overwatch-tweet-is-all-about#.evKrS0Dcr) - [Fandometrics - Video Games: Week Ending January 29th, 2018](https://thefandometrics.tumblr.com/post/170276609995/video-games-week-ending-january-29th-2018) - [Fanlore - Overwatch](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Overwatch) - [Wikipedia - Overwatch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overwatch_(video_game)) - [r/Overwatch - If Doomfist becomes a hero I'd be so hyped if Terry Crews voice acted for him](https://www.reddit.com/r/Overwatch/comments/5dez6k/if_doomfist_becomes_a_hero_id_be_so_hyped_if/daa1d2g/) - [TVTropes - Overwatch](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Trivia/Overwatch) - [Ranker - 15 Interesting Overwatch Fan Theories That Are Actually Plausible](https://www.ranker.com/list/overwatch-fan-theories/taeyura) - [TopShelfGaming - How the gender ratio in Overwatch affects its male players](http://topshelfgaming.net/how-the-gender-ratio-in-overwatch-affects-its-male-players/) - [Killscreen - Can Overwatch bridge the gender gap in esports?](https://killscreen.com/themeta/can-overwatch-bridge-gender-gap-esports/) - [Polygon - Overwatch's search for diversity](https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/3/20/14960924/overwatch-diversity-jeff-kaplan-interview-blizzard) - [FragHero - Blizzard Reveals Tracer is Lesbian and the Internet is Going Nuts](http://fraghero.com/blizzard-reveals-tracer-lesbian-internet-going-nuts/) - [GameCrate - How Popular Is Overwatch, Really?](https://www.gamecrate.com/how-popular-overwatch-really/14054) - [IGN - Overwatch Reveals Tracer’s Girlfriend, Emily](http://ca.ign.com/articles/2016/12/20/overwatch-reveals-tracers-girlfriend-emily) - [IGN Boards - Why Is Overwatch Getting Away with no Single Player?](http://www.ign.com/boards/threads/why-is-overwatch-getting-away-with-no-single-player.454773807/) - [Kill Ping - Here Is Why Overwatch Is Skyrocketing in Popularity](https://www.killping.com/blog/here-is-why-overwatch-is-skyrocketing-in-popularity/) - [Player.One - “Overwatch”’s Tracer is the New Iconic Lesbian: Fans React to “Reflections” Comic Reveal](http://www.player.one/overwatchs-tracer-new-iconic-lesbian-fans-react-reflections-comic-reveal-575116) - [Quora - How Should I Ask My Anti-Violence Parents for Overwatch?](https://www.quora.com/How-should-I-ask-my-anti-violence-parents-for-overwatch) - [Quora - Who Is Your Favorite Overwatch Hero?](https://www.quora.com/Who-is-your-favorite-Overwatch-hero) - [Quora - Why Did You Pick Your Overwatch Main?](https://www.quora.com/Why-did-you-pick-your-Overwatch-main) ### Music / Sound - ["Cyber Starting Area"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1334&Genre=Action) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - The Overwatch logo used [is in the public domain](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Overwatch_circle_logo.svg) as it consists of simple geometric shapes, _but_ it is a registered trademark of [Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.](https://www.blizzard.com/)

The Olympics - 5 Rings, 2 Seasons, 1 Fandom

The Nickscast — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 18:37:00 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, we're going to be... skiing and shooting targets? That's a real thing? In the Olympics?! ANYWAY, we're talking about fans about all the Olympics: Winter, Summer, Para- you name it! Next week, the cavalry's here! We'll be talking about fans... of Overwatch! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** > The modern Olympic Games or Olympics ... are leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games are considered the world's foremost sports competition with more than 200 nations participating. The Olympic Games are held every four years, with the Summer and Winter Games alternating by occurring every four years but two years apart. > > Their creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games, which were held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894, leading to the first modern Games in Athens in 1896. ... > > The evolution of the Olympic Movement during the 20th and 21st centuries has resulted in several changes to the Olympic Games. Some of these adjustments include the creation of the Winter Olympic Games for ice and winter sports, the Paralympic Games for athletes with a disability, and the Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes. The Deaflympics and Special Olympics are also endorsed by the IOC. The IOC has had to adapt to a variety of economic, political, and technological advancements. > > — [Wikipedia - Olympic Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games) **Search Data:** As a fandom, [Olympics fandom appears _highly periodic_](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F05nd_), which is not surprising. The largest spikes in interest in the Olympics occurred in... - August 2004 (Summer Olympics: Athens, Greece) - February 2006 (Winter Olympics: Turin, Italy) - August 2008 (Summer Olympics: Beijing, China) - February 2010 (Winter Olympics: Vancouver, Canada) - August 2012 (Summer Olympics: London, UK) - February 2014 (Winter Olympics: Sochi, Russia) - August 2016 (Summer Olympics: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) (In order of popularity: Summer 2008, Summer 2016, Summer 2004, Summer 2012, Winter 2014, Winter 2010, Winter 2006) It would appear that Winter Olympics are less popular, but are growing in popularity, whereas Summer Olympic popularity depends highly on the location. In terms of interest by region, the top 10 countries in order are: China, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Iran, Uruguay, Hong Kong, United States, Japan. **Size of Fandom:** Let's take a look at some of the data we have: - _510k_: Number of attendees to the 2016 Summer Olympics (10 500 athletes and 500 000 travellers) ([People - 4,900 Medals and 6,000 Hours of TV: The Rio Olympics by the Numbers](http://people.com/sports/rio-olympics-2016-facts-by-the-numbers/)) - _9 million_: Number of tickets sold for the 2012 Summer Olympics ([CNN - London Olympics by the numbers](https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/27/world/olympics-numbers/index.html)) - _3.6 billion_: Number of people expected to watch the 2016 Summer Olympics worldwide ([People - 4,900 Medals and 6,000 Hours of TV: The Rio Olympics by the Numbers](http://people.com/sports/rio-olympics-2016-facts-by-the-numbers/)) Based on these numbers, we estimate the fandom to be **somewhere in the hundreds of millions in terms of size**. **Fast Facts:** There _is_ a section on Archive Of Our Own for [Olympics Real-Person Fiction (RPF) with over 400 works](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Olympics%20RPF/works); For reference, this category is dwarfed by other sports-related RPF such as Figure Skating RPF (over 1200) and Hockey RPF (over 8900) Football RPF (over 10 000). Looking at Olympics RPF: - More than 75% of the works are categorized as M/M - The top three largest olympics sports fandoms represented in the works are: Swimming RPF (200+), Figure Skating RPF (70+), Speed Skating RPF (50+) - The top three most popular characters represented: Michael Phelps (swimmer, 200+), Ryan Lochte (swimmer, 190+), J. R. Celski (speed skater, 50+) Other fun facts: - Fans of BBC Merlin run a small festival in conjunction with the winter and summer Olympics: [The Merlin Olympics that have been running since 2012](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Merlin_Olympics) - The Doctor has (canon) and his companions have visited the Olympics [on multiple occasions](http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Olympic_Games) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/ghostbusters-if-someone-asks-if-youre-a-fan-you-say-yes/) Famous Last Words **Brily** When is Canada going to fund its fencing teams? [// Probably when they start winning ... any medals (have never won?). Actually did discover that 'senior carded' athletes receive $1500 a month in base funding from the federal government which can be augmented by the province or other organizations. In the UK, athletes receive $45 190 annually; approximately 2.5 times CDN. Also, receive medal bonus: Rio Gold 20k, Silver 15k, Bronze 10k. Sponsorships, Own the Podium ]: # **Adrianna** Predictions for the Winter games: Where will Canada place? [// T: Canada 2nd overall, most medals; 3rd for golds ]: # [// Z: 3rd for medal count ]: # [// G: 1st in medal count]: # **G** Are there people who only pay attention to the winter Olympics? **T** Why do we still do the Olympics? Is it like Daylight Savings Time? [// "This was supposed to be one of the reasons for holding the modern Olympics in the first place, at least as its founder Pierre de Coubertin envisioned it: to cast a spotlight on the amateur athlete. That vision went kaput in the late 1980s, after years of slow relaxation of the professionalism rules. ]: # [// What about the other elements that are supposed to make the Olympics a wondrous event, or at least one worth holding? The Games are supposed to promote international peace. They are a boon in prestige and economy for the host city. They encourage the greatest in athleticism by providing a world stage. At least, it is great TV entertainment.]: # **Z** How many people actively cheer for countries other than their own? ### The Verdict **T is out. Not particularly interested.** **G is in. Doesn't watch sports, but will watch the Olympics; just to watch it with the world.** **Z is out. If it's on, he'll watch it.** ### This week's spotlight **[Special Olympics Canada](http://www.specialolympics.ca/donate)** > Special Olympics is about sports, but it is also about so much more. For children, youth, and adults with an intellectual disability, Special Olympics becomes a place of welcome -- a place where they will be accepted for who they are and given the chance to be their best. > >Your support allows us to continue to provide the programs, mentorship, and resources required by our athletes, coaches, and volunteers to change the lives of thousands of individuals with an intellectual disability across Canada. >— [Special Olympics Canada](http://www.specialolympics.ca/donate) [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Overwatch! **G** Are there players who make a point of embodying the character they are playing over trying to win? **T** Will I play Overwatch before next week's episode?? Seriously though, why is Hanzo main a bad thing? (I know almost nothing about Overwatch) How wide is the divide between curative and transformative? **Z** In 2016 Blizzard comic, how did fans react to Tracer's girlfriend? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [National Post - How Canada funds Olympic athletes on the road to Rio](http://nationalpost.com/sports/olympics/how-canada-funds-olympic-athletes-on-the-road-to-rio) - [LA Times - All the reasons we still need the Olympics: Uhhh, can't think of any](http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-olympics-sochi-time-to-stop-20140121-story.html) - [The Ampersand - Nationalism and the Olympics](https://artsci.wustl.edu/ampersand/nationalism-and-olympics) - [Wikipedia - Olympic Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games) - [Google Trends - Olympics](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F05nd_) - [People - 4,900 Medals and 6,000 Hours of TV: The Rio Olympics by the Numbers](http://people.com/sports/rio-olympics-2016-facts-by-the-numbers/) - [CNN - London Olympics by the numbers](https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/27/world/olympics-numbers/index.html) - [Archive Of Our Own - Olympics (RPF)](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Olympics%20RPF/works) - [The Merlin Olympics that have been running since 2012](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Merlin_Olympics) - [TARDIS Data Core - Olympic Games](http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Olympic_Games) - [Inverse Science - Olympic Nationalism Unites Us in Irrational Hate](https://www.inverse.com/article/19792-2016-rio-olympics-nationalism-patriotism-xenophobia) - [Huffington Post - Country First: The Olympic Games, Nationalism and the Ultimate Displays of Fandom](https://www.huffingtonpost.com/chad-barr/london-olympics-fans-_b_1731698.html) - [The Ringer - The Summer Olympics Is the Height of Armchair Fandom](https://www.theringer.com/2016/8/16/16039484/summer-olympics-armchair-fandom-4ce6ba9c8c1d) - [Fanlore - Merlin Olympics](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Merlin_Olympics) - [Africanews - Refugees Olympics Team Draws Massive Fans](http://www.africanews.com/2016/08/12/refugees-olympics-team-draws-massive-fans/) - [Beams and Struts - Why Do People Cheer for Their Team?](http://beamsandstruts.com/articles/item/1001-sports-cheering) - [Bleacher Report - Should We Cheer for Our Country To Win in the Olympics?](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/345704-should-we-cheer-for-our-country-to-win-in-the-olympics) - [Facebook - Refugee Olympic Team](https://www.facebook.com/RefugeeOlympicTeam/) - [LoveHate.ru - Olympic Games](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://lovehate.ru/Olympic-Games/1/61630&prev=search) - [Psychology Today - Why We Love Watching the Olympics](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-stories-our-lives/201608/why-we-love-watching-the-olympics) - [Quora - Is it Considered Socially acceptable to Cheer for a Nation other than the One in which You Reside, With Regard to the Olympics?](https://www.quora.com/Is-it-considered-socially-acceptable-to-cheer-for-a-nation-other-than-the-one-in-which-you-reside-with-regard-to-the-Olympics) - [Quora - Olympic Games (Topic)](https://www.quora.com/topic/Olympic-Games) - [Quora - Why Do People Love the Olympics?](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-love-the-Olympics) - [r/Olympics - Hi Reddit, I'm Eritrea's First Winter Olympian! AMA](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/7ptcun/hi_reddit_im_eritreas_first_winter_olympian_ama/) - [r/Olympics - In the 70s it was Projected that the 2020 Olympics could be the First Interplanetary Olympics](https://www.reddit.com/r/olympics/comments/7pzqp7/in_the_70s_it_was_projected_that_the_2020/ ) - [r/Olympics - Who Do You Root For?](https://www.reddit.com/r/olympics/comments/7skxgy/who_do_you_root_for/) ### Music / Sound - [“Fanfare for the Common Man”](https://thehmc.bandcamp.com/track/fanfare-for-the-common-man-2) by the Halifax Music Co-op used under [CC BY-NC 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Olympics”](https://thenounproject.com/term/olympics/628979/) by [Nikita Kozin](https://thenounproject.com/kozinn) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Ghostbusters - If Someone Asks if You’re a Fan, You Say YES!

The Nickscast — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 18:37:00 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # This week, we _better_ not be a afraid of no ghost, because we've got the Ontario Ghostbusters helping us to get into the spirit of Ghostbusters fandom (and bustin' makes us feel good)! Next week, we'll be honing our routine in preparation to talk about fans... of the Olympics! ## Where can I learn more about Adrianna and Brily? Adrianna and Brily are co-presidents of the [Ontario Ghostbusters](http://www.ontarioghostbusters.ca/). If you want to learn more about them, check out the Ontario Ghostbusters on social media: - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OntarioGhostbusters - Twitter: https://twitter.com/ON_Ghostbusters - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ontarioghostbusters/ - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OntarioGhostbusters ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** _Ghostbusters_ is a supernatural comedy franchise created in 1984 by Ivan Reitman, Harold Ramis, and Dan Aykroyd about a group of eccentric parapsychologists who start a legit ghost-busting business (like exterminators) in New York City. The project was initially conceived as a "Ghostmashers" (starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi) with the cast traveling through space and time ... and something about magic wands — the script was drastically rewritten after it was deemed 'financially impractical' and after the death of Belushi. Since the first films release on June 8, 1984, the franchise has spawned a total of three movies, two television series, several video games, novelizations, comics, and is in the [top 50 grossing domestic films (adjusted for inflation) of all time](http://www.filmsite.org/boxoffice3.html). **Search Data:** The search data is a bit hard to track; though there is a search topic for the Ghostbusters franchise, it has very little data compared to search data compared to the 2016 and 1984 Ghostbuster films. Even looking at [just these two topics](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F025tlkg,%2Fm%2F01d2v1) is hard to analyze the broad trend because of the massive distortion in search data around the release of the 2016 movie. Taking a look at the data from a few different timescales, it is most likely that interest in the franchise has remained fairly flat, with the most notable spike in interest occurring in July of 2016 (release of _Ghostbusters (2016)_), and some much smaller spikes in August 2004 (_Ghostbusters: Legion_ comic, possibly), and June 2009 (_Ghostbusters: The Video Game_). Looking at the search data, Ghostbusters is popular in most parts of the world. Inexplicably, comparing the 2016 and 1984 search interest reveals slightly different popularity when looking at regions: _Ghostbusters (1984)_ top 5 countries by search data: Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, Italy, El Salvador _Ghostbusters (2016)_ top 5 countries by search data: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia The later entries start to overlap. **Size of Fandom:** Taking a look at some of the data we have, let's see what we can estimate for the fandom size: - [The Ghostbusters subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/ghostbusters/) has over 6000 subscribers - [The GBFans Forum](http://www.gbfans.com/forum/index.php) has over 29 000 members (with over 9000 online at once) That probably puts the size of the fandom (depending on your measure of fan-ness) somewhere in the **ten thousands** of fans. **Fast Facts:** Looking at Fanfics, there are over [2600 Ghostbusters fanfics on Archive Of Our Own](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Ghostbusters%20-%20All%20Media%20Types/works) - Most are _General Audience_ (900+) or _Teen and Up_ (800+) - The top three categories: F/F (1800+), Gen (500+), M/M (100+) - The top three fandoms: Ghostbusters (2016) (2000+), The Real Ghostbusters (300+), Ghostbusters I & II (100+) - The top three characters: Jillian Holtzmann (1800+), Abby Yates (1200+), Patty Tolan (1200+) There are over 39 000 results for [Ghostbusters on DeviantArt](https://www.deviantart.com/?section=&global=1&q=ghostbusters). A lot of the top results appear to be inspired by the 80's ghostbuster movies and cartoon. [// Then Kevin Beckman, then Egon, then Peter, Ray, and Winston ]: # Also worth noting: > In 2017, Royal Ontario Museum paleontologists Victoria Arbour and David Evans were studying a fossil of a newly discovered ankylosaur species, and decided that its head resembled that of Zuul from Ghostbusters. Accordingly, they named the species _Zuul crurivastator_ > > — [Wikipedia - Ghostbusters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostbusters) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/58-fans-and-frights-in-the-age-of-the-internet/) Famous Last Words **T** Is there something like the 501st legion for Ghostbusters? Like, a federation of Ghostbusters? (Are there ghost hunters inspired by the Ghostbusters?) [// Midwest Ghostbusters Coalition; not a governing body though: http://www.gbfans.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38753 There are cons and a messageboard and semi-approval from studio... so... maybe not necessary ]: # [// No... but there are a lot of ghostbuster groups: Alabama, Minnesota, Spokane, South Carolina, Carolina, Ontario, Chicago, Germany, UK, New England, South California, Houston, Hawaii, Louisiana, Louisville, Northeast Ohio ]: # [// YES! Ghost Corps); official ghost buster franchises; sony offers a lot of support ]: # [// Yes! There are ghosthunters inspired ]: # **Z** After the announcement and release of the latest Ghostbusters film, was there a notable drop off in the fandom because the Ghostbusters are women? Or was there a rise in folks who only liked the old Ghostbusters? **G** Is there a significant chunk of Ghostbusters fans who have not seen the movies? ### The Verdict **Z is out. Meh?** **T is in. Tried to make a proton pack...** **G is out. Will see a new movie if it comes out.** **Adrianna is in. Ontario Ghostbusters wouldn't let her out.** **Brily is in. He can't imagine doing better things with better people.** [// Animated movie coming out in 2019]: # ### This week's spotlight **[Ontario Ghostbusters](http://www.ontarioghostbusters.ca/)** As it turns out, the Ontario Ghostbusters are the top result for "Ghostbusters Charity"! > The Ontario Ghostbusters are a fan costuming group who's purpose is to give fans an up close experience with screen accurate equipment and memorabilia as well as raise money and attention for charitable organizations. > ... > We come loaded with authentic screen accurate gear ready to bust and entertain the young and old. We also have hands on table displays so fans can get up close with our gear and even check out a little slime. No Ghostbuster display would be complete without an 8 foot Stay Puft, 6 foot Slimer and life size Vigo portrait. You can even suit up in a Rookie jump suit (GB1, GB2 or Reboot) and feel what it is like to strap on a Proton Pack (Please note, features may vary from event to event depending on venue). > > — [Ontario Ghostbusters - About Us](http://www.ontarioghostbusters.ca/about.html) ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Olympics! **Brily** When is Canada going to fund its fencing teams? **Adrianna** Predictions for the Winter games: Where will Canada place? **G** Are there people who only pay attention to the winter Olympics? **T** Why do we still do the Olympics? Is it like Daylight Savings Time? **Z** How many people actively cheer for countries other than their own? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [The Telegraph - Female Ghostbusters? Fans Don’t Want It, Says Ernie Hudson](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/11151713/Female-Ghostbusters-Fans-dont-want-it-says-Ernie-Hudson.html) - [Vox - How the All-Female Ghostbusters Reboot Became a Lightning Rod of Controversy](https://www.vox.com/2016/6/30/12027882/ghostbusters-reboot-all-female-backlash-sexism-sony) - [Google Trends - “Ghostbusters”](https://trends.google.ca/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=Ghostbusters) - [Cinemassacre - Ghostbusters 2016. No Review. I Refuse.](http://cinemassacre.com/2016/05/17/ghostbusters-2016-no-review-i-refuse/) - [AV Film - Ghostbusters, Frozen, and the Strange Entitlement of Fan Cultre](https://film.avclub.com/ghostbusters-frozen-and-the-strange-entitlement-of-fa-1798247870) - [Quora - Which Movie had Greater Cultural Significance: Blazing Saddles or Ghostbusters](https://www.quora.com/Which-movie-had-greater-cultural-significance-Blazing-Saddles-or-Ghostbusters) - [Quora - Why is Ghostbusters Widely Regarded as One of the Best Comedies Ever?](https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Ghostbusters-widely-regarded-as-one-of-the-best-comedies-ever) - [Quora - Why do people love Ghostbusters so much?](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-love-the-Ghostbusters-so-much) - [r/Ghostbusters - I’m Tired of Taking the Backseat as a Hardcore Fan of the Ghostbusters Franchise](https://www.reddit.com/r/ghostbusters/comments/4wc7gw/im_tired_of_taking_the_backseat_as_a_hardcore_fan/) - [r/Ghostbusters - Should Ghostbusters Fans have Bit the Bullet?](https://www.reddit.com/r/ghostbusters/comments/4z1k55/should_ghostbusters_fans_have_bit_the_bullet/) - [Wikipedia - Ghostbusters (franchise)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostbusters_(franchise)) - [Wikipedia - Ghostbusters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostbusters) - [Inverse - Why Fans Adore Kate McKinnon As Holtzmann In 'Ghostbusters'](https://www.inverse.com/article/18515-ghostbusters-kate-mckinnon-jillian-holtzmann-character) - [Buzzfeed - 30 reasons Ghostbusters is the greastest movie ever](https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisserico/30-reasons-ghostbusters-is-the-greatest-movie-ev-povl?utm_term=.rq22mqxxj#.rlAnQNWW7) - [Bustle - 11 reasons why I'll always love Ghostbusters](https://www.bustle.com/articles/146953-11-reasons-why-ill-always-love-ghostbusters) - [FilmSite - ALL-TIME TOP 100 FILMS (Domestic Gross, Inflation-Adjusted)](http://www.filmsite.org/boxoffice3.html) - [r/Ghostbusters](https://www.reddit.com/r/ghostbusters/) - [The GBFans Forum](http://www.gbfans.com/forum/index.php) - [FiveThirtyEight - Ghostbusters is a perfect example of how internet ratings are broken](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/ghostbusters-is-a-perfect-example-of-how-internet-ratings-are-broken/) - [AV/Film - Ghostbusters, Frozen, and the strange entitlement of fan culture](https://film.avclub.com/ghostbusters-frozen-and-the-strange-entitlement-of-fa-1798247870) - [NewsWeek - Why the original Ghostbusters was awful](http://www.newsweek.com/why-original-ghostbusters-was-awful-480673) - [Time - Sorry, But the Original Ghostbusters Isn't Even That Good](http://time.com/4404569/ghostbusters-nostalgia/) - [r/Ghostbusters - Any other women feeling very ostracised from the fan community right now?](https://www.reddit.com/r/ghostbusters/comments/3pp0y7/any_other_women_feeling_very_ostracised_from_the/) ### Music / Sound - [Ghostbusters theme cover](https://superherosecondline.bandcamp.com/track/ghostbusters) by [Superhero Second Line](https://superherosecondline.bandcamp.com). - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Stay Puft”](https://thenounproject.com/term/stay-puft/219355/) by [Vincent Montagnana](https://thenounproject.com/vmontagnana) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Creepypasta - Fans and Frights in the Age of the Internet

The Nickscast — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 18:37:00 +0000

[// Pregenerate link to episode ahead of time: - clicktotweet.com- sharelinkgenerator.com]: # What's 6 foot tall, has no face, an is RIGHT BEHIND YOU?! We don't know, but we heard a story from a friend of a friend of ours... but that doesn't matter because this week, we're talking about fans of that unique online horror phenomenon, Creepypasta (and hopefully, we don't get too scared)! Next week, we take on a definitely less creepy fandom (with special guests from the [Ontario Ghostbusters](http://ontarioghostbusters.ca)), Ghostbusters fans! Share this week's episode: ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **History and Origins:** Creepypasta is a kind of online horror fiction that crosses over many different fandoms, and takes its name from the internet term "copypasta" (where something would be copy-pasted from website to website). Creepypasta comes in many different forms from lost episode myths (for example, the Simpsons "Dead Bart" episode) or urban legends like Slender Man or Polybius. Creepypasta likely dates back to the late 1990s and early 2000s with stories like _Ted the Caver_, and gained more popularity with communities like [creepypasta.com](http://creepypasta.com), the [Creepypasta wiki](http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Creepypasta_Wiki), and reddit's [r/nosleep](https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/) ([Fanlore - Creepypasta](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Creepypasta)). [// Links to SCP foundation; supposed to be a real organization talking about events and creatures]: # **Search Data:** Looking at the [Google Trends Data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=creepypasta,%2Fm%2F0fq0d6m) for Creepypasta and Slenderman gives us an interesting quick history. There was almost no interest at all until June 2012 where interest in both terms started rising quickly (Slenderman in particular spiked to its most interest ever in August 2012; probably corresponding to the release of [Slender: The Eight Pages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slender:_The_Eight_Pages)). Interest has been a slow decline ever since. Looking at the search data also gives us some idea of some of the most popular creepypastas. For example _Jeff the Killer_, _Pokemon_, _Slenderman_, and _Ben Drowned_ (a legend of Zelda creepypasta). **Size of Fandom:** This week is a really challenging one to estimate. Here is some of the data we have: - _Slender: The Eight Pages_ has almost 15 000 votes on [softonic](https://slender.en.softonic.com/) and over 6 million downloads so far - The Creepypasta wiki has [over 13 000 contributors](http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Special:ListUsers) - `r/nosleep` has over 12 million subscribers Given that, we can probably estimate about **fans in the millions**, but it is tricky to narrow down creepypasta fans from general horror fans. ### The Verdict **T could not nope fast enough. Nuke it from orbit.** **Z is in. Still nopes hard... spine tingles, but loves them.** **G is out. Hell no.** ### This week's spotlight Could not find an active charity related to Creepypasta. That being said... **[Ronald McDonald House](http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Ronald_McDonald_House)** A creepypasta _about_ a charity. An unfortunate result while trying to find a creepypasta related charity. **[Narrators U-nighted Charity Drive](https://www.creepypasta.com/narrators-unighted-charity-drive-streaming-project/)** Doesn't appear to be an active charity any more, but came about as a result of the murder of a young girl by her two friends over a disagreement about Slenderman. **[Race Against Time 3.5: Secret of Mana Edition](http://raceagainsttime.io/stream)** Our (now) semi-annual charity livestream! This time, we'll be attempting to beat _Secret of Mana: Remastered_ in less than 24 hours to raise money for the [Organization for Transformative Works](http://www.transformativeworks.org/) (Fanlore, Archive Of Our Own). Details are still coming together, but subscribe on Twitch in preparation! The event will be sometime between February 17 and 18th (exact time TBD). [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, (Fandom name)! **T** Is there something like the 501st legion for Ghostbusters? Like, a Federation? (Alternatively, are there ghost hunters inspired by the Ghostbusters?) **Z** After the announcement and release of the latest Ghostbusters film, was there a notable drop off in the fandom because the Ghostbusters are women? Or was there a rise in folks who only liked the old Ghostbusters? **G** Is there a significant chunk of Ghostbusters fans who have not seen the movies? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative (dare we say, the _most_ creative). *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [creepypasta.com](http://creepypasta.com) - [Creepypasta wiki](http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/Creepypasta_Wiki) - [r/nosleep](https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/) - [Fanlore - Creepypasta](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Creepypasta) - [Wikipedia - Slender: The Eight Pages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slender:_The_Eight_Pages) - [Slender: The Eight Pages - Download](https://slender.en.softonic.com/) - [Wikipedia - Marble Hornets](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marble_Hornets) - [Google Trends - creepypasta vs Slenderman](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=creepypasta,%2Fm%2F0fq0d6m) - [AVClub News - New study breaks down what makes creepypasta so creepy](https://news.avclub.com/new-study-breaks-down-what-makes-creepypasta-so-creepy-1798248056) - [Venngage - Creepypasta: The Secret Recipe For a Viral Horror Story [INFOGRAPHIC]](https://venngage.com/blog/creepypasta/) - [Quora - Why do people like to watch Creepypasta?](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-like-to-watch-Creepypasta) - [Gizmodo - The Best Creepypasta Stories to Give You Nightmares Forever](https://gizmodo.com/the-best-creepypasta-stories-to-give-you-nightmares-for-1737840921) - [Youtube - Monsters in Our Memes - Creepypasta Series ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mBobX9C8KE) - [Quora - What Is the Difference Between a Creepypasta and an Urban Legend?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-a-creepypasta-and-an-urban-legend) - [Creepypasta Rants - Chapter 2 Explanation/Leaving the Fandom](https://www.quotev.com/story/6731618/Creepypasta-Rants/11) - [Creepypasta Rants - Creepypasta Fangirls (The Bad Kind!)](https://www.quotev.com/story/6731618/Creepypasta-Rants/7) - [r/Creepypasta - Home](https://www.reddit.com/r/creepypasta/) - [Tumblr - Search: Creepypasta Shipping](https://www.tumblr.com/search/creepypasta%20shipping) - [Youtube - Slender Man Trailer (2018) Exclusive - IGN First](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akdZ4ff4SVE&feature=youtu.be) - [TechCrunch - The Story of Slender Man: The Internet’s Own Monster](https://techcrunch.com/2014/06/30/the-story-of-slenderman-the-internets-own-monster/) - [ScreenRant - Father of Slender Man Attacker Accuses Film of ‘Popularizing a Tragedy’](https://screenrant.com/slender-man-popularizing-tragedy/) ### Music / Sound - ["Abandoned Cemetery"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1111&Genre=Halloween) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Man”](https://thenounproject.com/term/man/38144) by [T BABS](https://thenounproject.com/nordi) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#57 - Legend of Zelda Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 29 Dec 2017 19:08:58 +0000

*\*various grunting / shouting sounds\** That's right, this week, we're talking about fans of that long-running much beloved Nintendo series: *The Legend of Zelda*! Why are fans so fixated on the timeline, and what is it exactly that reels in fans both new and old? All that and more with this week's special guest, Andy Spiteri of [Zelda Informer](http://www.zeldainformer.com) / [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net)! ...And that's it for this season! We'll be taking a brief holiday break and come back in the new year with all new, exciting episodes about fans and fandoms you've probably never even heard of! Thanks for listening and stay tuned! ## Where can I learn more about Andy? You can learn more about Andy Spiteri through his work at [Zelda Informer](http://www.zeldainformer.com) / [Zelda Dungeon](https://www.zeldadungeon.net)! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** > The Legend of Zelda is a high-fantasy action-adventure video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments have been outsourced to Capcom, Vanpool and Grezzo. The series' gameplay incorporates elements of action, adventure and puzzle-solving games. > The series centers on Link, the playable character and chief protagonist. Link is often given the task of rescuing Princess Zelda and the kingdom of Hyrule from Ganon, who is the principal antagonist of the series; however, other settings and antagonists have appeared in several titles. The games' plots commonly involve a relic known as the Triforce, a set of three omnipotent golden triangles. The protagonist in each game is usually not the same incarnation of Link, but a few exceptions exist. > Since the original The Legend of Zelda was released in 1986, the series has expanded to include 19 entries on all of Nintendo's major game consoles, as well as a number of spin-offs. An American animated TV series based on the games aired in 1989 and individual manga adaptations commissioned by Nintendo have been produced in Japan since 1997. The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most prominent and successful franchises, selling over 80 million copies as of 2017. > > — [Wikipedia - The Legend of Zelda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda) [// Zeldorks? LOZers? Zerds? Zovers?]: # **Fandom Activity / Interest** In general, interest in the series has been on the decline, [by search traffic](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F07d5v): Until March 2017 (Release of _Breath of the Wild_), interest in the series was about half as much as in 2014. There have been some notable spikes in interest in December 2006 (Release of _Twilight Princess_), December 2009 (Release of _Spirit Tracks_), December 2011 (Approximate release of _Skyward Sword_). **Fan Demographics:** As it turns out, Zelda Informer ran a Zelda fan survey for a few years; [the latest set of data from 2015](http://www.zeldainformer.com/zelda-survey-2015-results-story-and-exploration-on-top-twilight-princess-ha/) gives us something to go off of: - **Gender**: 74% male, 24% female, 1% other, 1% prefer not to answer - **Age**: Largest group of respondents was age 18-24 (49%); almost 75% of respondents were under the age of 24 Plus, some other interesting results: - **First Zelda game played**: Ocarina of Time (39%), Link to the Past (14%), Legend of Zelda (14%), Wind Waker (7%), Twilight Princess (7%) - 90% of Zelda fans consider themselves gamers - **The top three most owned consoles were**: Wii (91%), Nintendo DS (82%), Nintendo 3DS (80%) - **Top three most played Zelda games**: Twilight Princess (93%), Ocarina of Time (92%), Majora's Mask (87%) - **Worst Zelda game experience**: Tingle's Balloon Trip of Love (91%) - **Most important parts of Zelda games**: Story (47%), Exploration (30%) - **Favourite Art Style**: Twilight Princess (56%) - **Would you play a Zelda game starring a female hero?** Yes (65%), Indifferent (23%), No (12%) - **Should future games include a gender option for link?** Yes (27%), Indifferent (33%), No (40%) [// Many mobile games did poorly]: # **Around the world:** According to [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F07d5v), the top 10 regions searching for the _Legend of Zelda_ are: El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Japan, Chile, France, and Canada (United States is 13th). **Fanfics:** Archive of our own has over 4000 fanfics related to the _Legend of Zelda_ franchise. Some interesting data about those fanfics: - Top 3 Categories represented: M/M (1610), F/M (1584), Gen (1166) - Top 3 Largest individual franchise represented: Breath of the Wild (1297), Ocarina of Time (805), Twilight Princess (629) - Top 3 Characters represented: Link (2837), Zelda (1697), Ganondorf (855) - Top 3 Relationships represented: Link / Zelda (787), Link / Prince Sidon (465), Link / Shiek (235) - Top 3 Tags represented: Fluff (520), Angst (400), Romance (300) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/56-escape-room-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z** What is the oldest fan-made timeline? **G** When did people start caring about what the Zelda timeline was? **T** Is there a band that only has instruments from the Zelda games? [// Couldn't find anything; no indigo-go's ]: # ### The Verdict **T is in.** **G is out. Most fascinated with timeline.** **Z is in.** **Andy is in. Loved Zelda since being a kid.** ### This week's spotlight **[Zeldathon](https://zeldathon.net/)** The Zeldathon marathons all of the games of the Legend of Zelda franchise, however long it takes, twice a year, to raise money for Direct Relief — an organization devoted to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty and emergencies. So far, they have raised over $1.5 million since 2009. [// As of this release, they have probably already been at it for 2 days ]: # [// Plugs go here ]: # [// Andy's fandom: Metroid! Reboot! ]: # ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Andy for taking time out of his schedule to chat with us about his experiences with Zelda! ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - The Legend of Zelda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda) - [Google Trends - The Legend of Zelda](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F07d5v) - [Archive Of Our Own - Works in The Legend of Zelda & Related Fandoms](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/The%20Legend%20of%20Zelda%20*a*%20Related%20Fandoms/works) - [ZeldaInformer - ZELDA SURVEY 2015 RESULTS: STORY AND EXPLORATION ON TOP, TWILIGHT PRINCESS HAS BEST COMBAT, AND MORE](http://www.zeldainformer.com/zelda-survey-2015-results-story-and-exploration-on-top-twilight-princess-ha/) - [Quora - Why do people like The Legend of Zelda?](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-like-The-Legend-of-Zelda) - [Den of Geek - The Zelda Timeline](http://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/zelda/21236/the-zelda-timeline) - [Zelda Universe - The Stone Tower: Why Termina was Doomed](https://zeldauniverse.net/2006/11/03/the-stone-tower-why-termina-was-doomed/) ### Music / Sound - End music, ["Enchanted Forest Temple"](https://rebeccatripp.bandcamp.com/track/Enchanted-Forest-Temple), by Rebecca Tripp - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#56 - Escape Room Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 21:35:44 +0000

What if you only had 60 minutes to _escape from this podcast_? To unravel the puzzles of _Crimson Room_ or the (surprisingly) lucrative business of locking people in a room? Well, you'd probably fail (but so would we). Listen in as we talk about fans of an even more puzzling experience: Escape Rooms! Next week, we wrap up the season with a Nickscast favourite (and a special guest) as we talk about fans... of the _Legend of Zelda_ series! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins and history:** Escape rooms, also known as _room escape_, _escape games_, _escape the room_, and so on, are physical adventure games where participants are required to solve a variety of puzzles using riddles, clues, and hints contained in the room within a fixed time limit. Sometimes, the rooms are thematically linked (e.g. a museum heist) or they can be a series of abstract puzzles with no linking theme. The concept of an escape room is heavily inspired by the similarly named video game genre where players are required to escape a room by pointing and clicking around a room to exploit their surroundings. The earliest example of this style of game is likely the 1988 text adventure, _Behind Closed Doors_, where the player has to escape a restroom, but some better known examples might include _MOTAS_ (Mystery Of Time And Space, 2001), _Crimson Room_ (2004), and _Viridian Room_. Arguably... fans of escape rooms are fans of this genre of video games, but that remains to be seen! The first escape room was created in Japan by SCRAP in 2007 and the concept later spread to other parts of Asia, then Europe... then, the world! There are now almost 2000 escape rooms in the United States _alone_. **Most Active:** The concept of an escape room didn't really start to solidify until _Crimson Room_ was released as Adobe Flash freeware... which conveniently was released in 2004 (the first year where Google Trends data is available). Examining that data, it is clear that the fandom is [the most active it has ever been](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=Escape%20Room). While there was some spike in interest in the term around 2007, it has been on a meteoric rise ever since approximately 2015. **Size of Fandom:** Since escape rooms are more business-oriented, it's a bit harder to dig into the size of the fandom. Still, we have a few metrics we can use as rough estimators: - The `escaperooms` subreddit has almost 2000 subscribers - There are almost 2000 escape room companies in the US - If the average group size is 4, and each room has at least one group a week, that would be about 416 000 fans (this is likely a grossly conservative estimate) Complicating matters is that participation does not imply fandom. [// Most in one city: 182 (Beijing, China); top non-asian city, Budapest (63). Top Canadian: Markam (36), Top US: LA (23)]: # **Fan Demographics:** From a variety of different surveys, we can get a rough idea of the kinds of folks who participate in escape rooms. We managed to find three surveys: Escape [Room Demographic Survey](https://escaperoomplayer.com/Escape_Room_Demographics.html) (~600 respondents), [Peeking Behind the Locked Door: A Survey of Escape Room Facilities](http://scottnicholson.com/pubs/erfacwhite.pdf) (~175 respondents), and [2017 Escape Room Enthusiast Survey](https://thecodex.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2017EscapeRoomEnthusiastSurveyV1.1.pdf) (~250 respondents). Broadly speaking, these appear to be the demographics: - **Gender:** Roughly equal representation of male / female genders - **Age:** Largest category is folks between ages of 26-30. The majority of respondents are under 35 (approximately two-thirds; more or less consistent between surveys) - Most groups who participate are mixed gender (70-80%) - Largest group (48%) identify as ambiverts; 36% as extraverts, and 20% as introverts [// most escape rooms only have one location ]: # [// TOO MUCH FUCKING DATA; I COULD PORE OVER THIS SHIT ]: # ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/55-board-game-geeks/) Famous Last Words **Z** What is the biggest escape room? (e.g. is there a house where its entirety is an escape room) **G** The first escape room was inspired by _red room simulator_. [// Not quite, but close enough ]: # **T** Is there a survival horror escape room (where you think you're going to die)? Is there a super realistic museum heist? [// Museum? Yes. Survival horror? Kind of? Trap House (LA); No way out in mississauga ]: # [// "NOWAYOUT's missions are much more physically engaging - you'll have to crawl, run, jump and climb obstacles, and be forced to use certain elements in the rooms to survive. The missions are also not one-dimensional, which means every single decision you make will affect the final outcome." "13 Sedah Ave. is about a dare gone completely wrong - you and your friends break into the allegedly haunted house only to find out that there's nothing haunted about the house at all. You've been trapped into a game conceived by a sick mastermind, and you must work together to escape the house before it's too late." ]: # **kaitou_al** > the 999 DS/3DS games :) and there's going to be a Detective Conan themed escape room at Universal Studios Japan next year as part of their Cool Japan promo [// Looked it up, couldn't find any details on the escape room... it ties into an upcoming movie ]: # [// Development of the game began after Uchikoshi joined Chunsoft to write a visual novel for them that could reach a wider audience; Uchikoshi suggested adding puzzle elements that are integrated with the game's story. The inspiration for the story was the question of where inspiration comes from; while researching it, Uchikoshi came across Rupert Sheldrake's morphic resonance hypothesis, which became the main theme of the game. The music was composed by Shinji Hosoe, while the characters were designed by Kinu Nishimura. The localization was handled by Aksys Games; they worked by the philosophy of keeping true to the spirit of the original Japanese version, opting for natural-sounding English rather than following the original's exact wording. Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors was positively received, with reviewers praising the story, writing and puzzles, but criticizing the game's tone and how the player is required to re-do the puzzles every time they play through the game. Reception of the game's presentation was mixed. The Japanese release was a commercial failure, but the game sold better than expected for the genre in the United States. ]: # ### The Verdict **G is in. Looking for more! (But no horror stuff; kthx)** **T is in.** **Z is in... Until someone makes a Twin Peaks escape room like the black lodge. Then he is out.** ### This week's spotlight [// Geek and sundry ]: # [// Chris Evans auctioned himself off to raise money for Christopher's Haven, Boston based chaity that provides young cancer patients with fully furnished apartments near hospitals they are treated in. The winner would be flown to Boston, hotel, eat with Chris and ESCAPE A ROOM (maybe); ]: # [// As part of Metro Vancouver's Homelessness Action Week, Union Gospel Mission is trying to show the public how difficult it is to escape homelessness. "There are innumerable obstacles and barriers that pop up that keep our homeless British Columbians on the street," said Jeremy Hunka, spokesperson for Union Gospel Mission. ]: # **[Room Escape Divas](http://www.inversegenius.com/roomescapedivas/)** The Room Escape Divas is a podcast about escape rooms by Mike Yuan, Ruby Yuan, Manda Whitney, and Errol Elumir. Errol also runs [The Codex](https://thecodex.ca/) which is a blog about escape rooms (which is also where you can find the [2017 Escape Room Enthusiast Survey](https://thecodex.ca/2017-escape-room-enthusiast-survey/)). [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Zelda fans! **Z** What is the oldest fan-made timeline? **G** When did people start caring about what the Zelda timeline was? **T** Is there a band that only has instruments from the Zelda games? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Escape the Room](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_the_room) - [Wikipedia - Escape Room](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_room) - [Wikipedia - Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Hours,_Nine_Persons,_Nine_Doors) - [LockAcademy - History and Origin of Escape Games](https://lockacademy.com/en/history-and-origin-of-escape-games/) - [Google Trends - Escape Room](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=Escape%20Room) - [Escaperoomplayer.com - Room Demographic Survey](https://escaperoomplayer.com/Escape_Room_Demographics.html) - [Scott Nicholson - Peeking Behind the Locked Door: A Survey of Escape Room Facilities](http://scottnicholson.com/pubs/erfacwhite.pdf) - [The Codex - 2017 Escape Room Enthusiast Survey](https://thecodex.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/2017EscapeRoomEnthusiastSurveyV1.1.pdf) - [Room Escape Artist - Three Years of Room Escapes: The Growth of the US Market](https://roomescapeartist.com/2017/07/30/three-years-of-room-escapes-the-growth-of-the-us-market/) - [Narcity - This Horror-Themed Escape Room In Ontario Is The Real Life Version Of “Saw"](https://www.narcity.com/ca/on/toronto/travel/this-horror-themed-escape-room-in-ontario-is-the-real-life-version-of-saw) - [The Verge - The Future of Fear: I was eaten alive by an escape room cannibal](https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/22/13364882/escape-rooms-the-basement-trap-house-la-adam-milicevic-interview) - [RoomEscapeArtist - Three Years of Room Escapes: The Growth of the US Market](https://roomescapeartist.com/2017/07/30/three-years-of-room-escapes-the-growth-of-the-us-market/) - [MarketWatch - The unbelievably lucrative business of escape rooms](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-weird-new-world-of-escape-room-businesses-2015-07-20) - [CBC - Escape room designed by charity replicates barriers faced by homeless](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/escape-room-homelessness-barriers-1.4342753) - [Geek and Sundry - ESCAPE A ROOM WITH CHRIS EVANS… OR DON’T](https://geekandsundry.com/escape-a-room-with-chris-evans-or-dont/) - [Brooklyn Paper - Stuck in the Riddle: Escape Room Challenges Players to Puzzle a Way Out](https://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/38/34/24-escape-the-room-2015-08-21-bk.html) - [Boston Business Journal - I Paid Someone $30 to Lock Me in an Office for an Hour, and I Liked It](https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2015/08/21/i-paid-someone-30-to-lock-me-in-an-office-for-an.html) - [CNBC - Escape Games and Immersive Experiences are the Latest Entertainment Trend](https://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/17/escape-games-and-immersive-experiences-are-the-latest-entertainment-trend.html) - [MarketWatch - The Unbelievably Lucrative Business of Escape Rooms](https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-weird-new-world-of-escape-room-businesses-2015-07-20) - [IGN - Room Escapes: What it’s Like When a Video Game Becomes Real](http://ca.ign.com/articles/2015/07/21/room-escapes-what-its-like-when-a-video-game-becomes-real) - [89.3 KPCC: Off-Ramp - Escape Rooms Deliver Video Game-Level Immersive Fun, But with Real People and Situations](http://www.scpr.org/programs/offramp/2015/08/11/44065/escape-rooms-deliver-video-game-level-immersive-fu/) - [Quora - What is the largest escape room in the world, and how many people can play it?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-largest-escape-room-in-the-world-and-how-many-people-can-play-it) - [Quora - What is the Worst Experience You’ve had in an Escape Room?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-worst-experience-youve-had-in-an-escape-room) - [Quora - Are Escape Rooms Fun?](https://www.quora.com/Are-escape-rooms-fun) - [Quora - Are There Whole Day Escape Rooms?](https://www.quora.com/Are-there-whole-day-escape-rooms) - [Quora - What Determines a Quality Escape Room?](https://www.quora.com/What-determines-a-quality-escape-room) - [The Atlantic - Educational Escape Rooms Engage Students with Innovative Puzzles and Tasks](https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/07/the-rise-of-educational-escape-rooms/493316/) - [Escape-Rooms.com - An Interview with Tom Robinson](https://www.escape-rooms.com/articles/meet-the-enthusiast-tom-robinson) - [Escape-Rooms.com - An Interview with Georgi Papucharov](https://www.escape-rooms.com/articles/meet-the-enthusiast-tom-robinson) - [Escape-Rooms.com - An Interview with Errol Elumir](https://www.escape-rooms.com/articles/a-blogger) - [Escape-Rooms.com - An Interview with Jorge Correia](https://www.escape-rooms.com/articles/meet-the-enthusiasts-jorge-correia) - [Ottawa Tourism - Diefenbunker: New Home of World’s Largest Escape Room](https://www.ottawatourism.ca/ottawa-insider/diefenbunker-new-home-of-worlds-largest-escape-room/) ### Music / Sound - End theme, ["Further Investigation"](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1246&Genre=Suspense) by TeknoAXE used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Escape Game"](https://thenounproject.com/term/escape-game/218353) by [Arthur Shlain](https://thenounproject.com/ArtZ91) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#55 - Board Game Geeks

The Nickscast — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 18:37:00 +0000

What is it about little bits of cardboard, plastic, and wood that draw people in so much? This week, we're talking about fans of board games: AKA Board Game Geeks! Next week, will we escape the podcast in 60 minutes or less? Probably not, but that won't stop us from uncovering the mystery of escape room fans! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins and history:** Board games are... broad, and historically date back quite a ways. Wikipedia provides a succinct description not unlike a description of life: > A board game is a tabletop game that involves counters or pieces moved or placed on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Some games are based on pure strategy, but many contain an element of chance; and some are purely chance, with no element of skill. > > Games usually have a goal that a player aims to achieve. Early board games represented a battle between two armies, and most modern board games are still based on defeating opponents in terms of counters, winning position, or accrual of points. > > — [Wikipedia - Board game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_game) While it is unclear what the _first_ board game was, many early games date back as far as 5000 years ago; some examples of the early board games include Senet (Egypt, ~5000 years ago), Go (China, ~2500 years ago), and Backgammon (Persia, ~5000 years ago). **Size of Fandom:** Using a few proxies of popularity, we can try to estimate the number of fans (and level of involvement of fans): - BoardGameGeek had approximately 360k registered in 2010, with 100k active per month ([BoardGameGeek - Geek Analytics 2010](https://boardgamegeek.com/article/6071127#6071127)) - The most backed board game on Kickstarter, Exploding Kittens, had almost 220 000 backers **Fan Demographics:** The demographic data we managed to obtain comes from [The Daily Worker Placement](http://dailyworkerplacement.com/2016/02/19/survey-results-1-who-are-we/). Of the almost 2400 respondents... - **Country**: Over 56% were from the USA - **Age**: 42% are 25-35, 33% are 35-44, 16% are 45+ - **Marital Status**: 52% are married, 15% are in a relationship(s) - **Gender**: The majority are male, and 24% identified as female, 1.1% as non-binary, and 0.6% as trans - **Education**: Almost two-thirds have a bachelor's degree or higher - **Tenure**: Less than 25% of respondents had been playing board games for two years or less; almost half of respondents have been playing games between three and ten years **Search Data** [Interest in board games is highly periodic (by search volume)](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F015ll). Every year, around December, interest in board games spikes to the highest point in that year. That being said, ignoring the peak, it looks like board games are back on the upswing after a gradual decline in interest from 2004 to 2010, and is slowly recovering to 2004-ish levels. Other data, like sales, suggests that growth is more substantial: > Global sales of games and puzzles have grown from $9.3 billion in 2013 to $9.6 billion in 2016, according to Euromonitor International, with expected year-on-year growth of more than 1 percent this year. > > — [CNBC - Millennials are driving the board games revival](https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/22/millennials-the-board-games-revival-catan-pandemic.html) The top ten countries for board games by search volume are: Canada, Estonia, Australia, United Kingdom, Poland, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Greece, and the United States. The top five rising related topics are: Words with Friends, Pandemic, Dominion, Kickstarter, and Descent: Journeys in the Dark **Fanfics:** Believe it or not, we managed to find some board game fanfic on Archive of our own. There are approximately 100 game categories in the "other media" section of Archive of our own (including 7 for Settlers of Catan). ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/#-name) Famous Last Words **Z** The boom in board game creation over the last decade comes from people remembering unsatisfying board game experiences with Life, Trouble and Monopoly as a kid. **Caitlin** What board game has the most detailed, complicated, esoteric rules? [// Hard to quantify; if you search for board games with complexity between 4.5 and 5 on BGG.... get different results depending on how many people have played. Advanced Squad Leader (1985) has a complexity of 4.7 and over 3000 votes ]: # [// Advanced Squad Leader is the completely reorganized and re-designed version of the original Squad Leader system. While ASL is "advanced," it actually is a simpler game than the original Squad Leader became after the three follow-on gamettes. This three-ring binder is the basic rules for the entire system, and provides the ultimate combination of playability and detail. Full-color charts and beautiful pictures make this the most readable of rulebooks - and includes a full-service index as well for quick reference. ]: # **T** What is the most expensive non-monopoly board game (commercially available)? [// found a thread on board game geek with some unexciting answers: chess (2), monopoly (3), dominoes (4)... top was 'outrage! steal the crown jewels', deluxe edition. Recognized bu guinness book of records as most expensive board game in the world ]: # [// Outrage! Deluxe is recognised in the Guinness Book of Records as ‘The most expensive board game in the world’. It retails at £7,995 for which connoisseurs can play on a hand finished board set into a solid mahogany cabinet. Cards are edged with gold leaf. Playing pieces are made from hallmarked sterling silver and the jewels are fashioned in solid gold studded with rubies, sapphires, diamonds and emeralds.]: # [// Depends on what you want though...]: # **G** ...The change occured when Monopoly became public domain (and we started having dumb -opoly games) Board games helped popularize Kickstarter. [// 494.66 m from 2009 to 2016: Games category on kickstarter. in 2015, a quarter of that was video games. Second highest category: technology with 448.47 million]: # [// Kickstarter is helping to drive the board game boom. The amount of money pledged last year, for example, represents almost a fifth of the total hobby games market by retail sales in North America, according to Griepp’s estimates, which currently don’t include Kickstarter projects. In other categories, like technology, the amounts raised on Kickstarter are tiny compared to the size of the market. “For board games, there was a big need for [Kickstarter],” says Thomas Bidaux, who runs video-game market research firm ICO Partners. “The industry was kind of dying.” ]: # ### The Verdict **Z is out. BUT it is a fairly friendly, fairly positive community.** **T is in.** **G is in: can't see a way out.** ### This week's spotlight [// Quantic Lab Gamer Motivation Profile: Gamer + Board Games + Quick Game Reccomentations: https://apps.quanticfoundry.com/ ]: # [// Honorable mention: Charity: The generous game (1999) "You have earned a fortune, and you want to give it away to charity, but you can't help acquiring more money. don't give it all away though, or you are back where you started!"]: # **[The Spiel Foundation](http://thespielfoundation.com/)** The Spiel Foundation is dedicated to donating quality card and board games to senior citizen's centers and children's hospitals... five games at a time. > Each year, we assemble bundles of five games and donate these bundles to organizations that fit our mandate. To date, we have donated over 2,000 board and card games to kids and seniors around the country. > > — [The Spiel Foundation](http://thespielfoundation.com/) [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, escape rooms! **Z** What is the biggest escape room? (e.g. is there a house where its entirety is an escape room) **G** The first escape room was a red room simulator. **T** Is there a survival horror escape room (where you think you're going to die)? Is there a super realistic museum heist? **kaitou_al** the 999 DS/3DS games :) and there's going to be a Detective Conan themed escape room at Universal Studios Japan next year as part of their Cool Japan promo ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Board game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_game) - [Wikipedia - Go (game)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_(game)) - [Wikipedia - Senet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senet) - [BoardGameGeek - Geek Analytics 2010](https://boardgamegeek.com/article/6071127#6071127) - [BoardGameGeek - Math Trade Guide](https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/93555/math-trade-guide) - [BoardGameGeek - Why Do You Design Board Games?](https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1165370/why-do-you-design-board-games) - [BoardGameGeek - Charity: the generous game](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/200016/charity-generous-game) - [BoardGameGeek- The 21 most expensive games for sale right now](https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/52818/21-most-expensive-games-sale-right-now) - [Geek & Sundry - How Independent Game Designers (and YOU) Get Games to the Table](https://geekandsundry.com/how-independent-game-designers-and-you-get-games-to-the-table/) - [New Statesman - How Board Games Became a Billion-Dollar Business](https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/games/2017/01/how-board-games-became-billion-dollar-business) - [Quora - What Is the Most Complex Board Game on the Planet?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-most-complex-board-game-on-the-planet) - [Quora - Why Are Board Games Particularly Popular in Germany?](https://www.quora.com/Why-are-board-games-particularly-popular-in-Germany) - [r/Boardgames - AskBoardgames: Why Do You Play So Many Different (New) Games?](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/4ec6l3/askboardgames_why_do_you_play_so_many_different/) - [r/Boardgames - Buying Boardgames for Friends - How to Not Look Like an Arshole](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/3t01ch/buying_boardgames_for_friends_how_to_not_look/) - [r/Boardgames - Fanboy-ism and the Boardgame Community](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/6qp8v4/fanboyism_and_the_boardgame_community/) - [r/Boardgames - Have You Regretted Buying Any Boardgames? Why and Did You Get Rid of It?](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/3seu0g/have_you_regretted_buying_any_boardgames_why_and/) - [r/Boardgames - Those of You With Boardgame Acquisition Disorder: Why Do You Keep Buying Games?](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/3c0dqs/those_of_you_with_boardgame_acquisition_disorder/) - [r/Boardgames - What Are Your Favorite Boardgame Reviewers and Why?](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/6mm0i6/what_are_your_favorite_boardgame_reviewers_and_why/) - [r/Boardgames - Why I Love the Boardgame Community](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/63e4kw/why_i_love_the_boardgame_community/) - [r/Boardgames - Why I Think Getting New People into Boardgames is Hard](https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/3jbwbg/why_i_think_getting_new_people_into_boardgames_is/) - [SashaBarab.org - The Design and Testing of the Board Game - Lord of the Rings](https://sashabarab.org/syllabi/games_learning/LOTR_ROP2004.pdf) - [Time - This Board Game Designer Isn’t Sorry About Taking a Big Risk](http://time.com/4385490/board-game-design/) - [USC Institute for Creative Technologies - The Hegemony of Play](http://ict.usc.edu/pubs/The%20Hegemony%20of%20Play.pdf) - [YouTube - "The Board Game Boom" Documentary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYedXMq-R6I) - [The Daily Worker Placement - SURVEY RESULTS #1: WHO ARE WE?](http://dailyworkerplacement.com/2016/02/19/survey-results-1-who-are-we/) - [The Daily Worker Placement - SURVEY RESULTS #2: WHO WE PLAY WITH](http://dailyworkerplacement.com/2016/02/25/survey-results-2-who-we-play-with/) - [The Daily Worker Placement - SURVEY RESULTS #3: BUYING, STORING, AND PLAYING](http://dailyworkerplacement.com/2016/03/04/survey-results-3-buying-storing-and-playing/) - [The Daily Worker Placement - SURVEY RESULTS #4: COLLECTIONS, TEACHING, AND LEARNING](http://dailyworkerplacement.com/2016/03/11/survey-results-4-collections-teaching-and-learning/) - [The Daily Worker Placement - SURVEY RESULTS #5: THE GAMES WE PLAY](http://dailyworkerplacement.com/2016/03/21/survey-results-5-the-games-we-play/) - [The Daily Worker Placement - SURVEY RESULTS #6: GAMING EVENTS, CAFES, AND BOARDGAMEGEEK](http://dailyworkerplacement.com/2016/03/28/survey-results-6-gaming-events-cafes-and-boardgamegeek/) - [The Daily Worker Placement - SURVEY RESULTS #7: GOING DIGITAL - APPS, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIAL MEDIA](http://dailyworkerplacement.com/2016/04/04/survey-results-7-going-digital/) - [Outrage! - Game Formats](http://www.outrage-game.com/gameformats/index.html) - [Quantic Foundry - Quantic Lab](https://apps.quanticfoundry.com/) - [CNBC - Millennials are driving the board games revival](https://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/22/millennials-the-board-games-revival-catan-pandemic.html) - [Quartz - Old-fashioned board games, not tech, are attracting the most money on Kickstarter](https://qz.com/688843/old-fashioned-board-games-not-tech-are-attracting-the-most-money-on-kickstarter/) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Wool"](https://thenounproject.com/term/wool/53278) by [Callum Taylor](https://thenounproject.com/callumctaylor) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#54 - Manga & Anime For Girls

The Nickscast — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 17:37:00 +0000

What if all Marvel movies were only targeted at men / boys? That's a sort of weird thing that we think about as we get into this week's topic: Fans of anime and manga "for girls" (aka: Shoujo and Josei). What is the most popular shoujo / josei title? Do men read / watch it? How successful is it? All this and more on this week's episode with special guest, Caitline Moore ([I Have a Heroine Problem](https://heroineproblem.com/), [Anime Feminist](https://www.animefeminist.com/author/caitlinmoore/))! Next week, we'll overthrow a dystopian goverment (WAKE UP, MEEPLE!) and probably grow a bunch of fields to feed our family to _not_ die in some medieval time; that's right, we'll be talking about fans of board games! ## Where can I learn more about Caitlin Moore? Caitlin is the author of [I Have a Heroine Problem](https://heroineproblem.com/), a blog about critically examining media (particularly, shoujo and other anime / manga) from a feminist perspective. Right now, she is running a column examining abusive relationships in Shoujo, which is on week eleven as of this writing. She is also a contributor to the [Anime Feminist](https://www.animefeminist.com/author/caitlinmoore/) as a columnist and ocassional Chatty AF (the Anime Feminist's podcast) guest. She is also a multiple-time panelist at a variety of conventions, tackling topics such as _Awesome Women Making Anime_, _Romance and Abuse in Shoujo Manga_, _Isekai Shoujo of the 1990s_, and _Is This Feminist or Not?_ AND, if that's not enough, you can find her on Twitter: [@alltsun_nodere](https://twitter.com/alltsun_nodere) ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins and history:** Anime and manga (animation and comics) are very broad categories of media, originating in Japan. Shoujo (_young girl_) is one of four main categories of anime and manga targeted at different groups also including shounen (for boys), josei (for women) and seinin (for men). Shoujo and josei are not so much a genre unto themselves as they are target demographics for reader/viewership. Shoujo dates back to the earliest 20th century when magazines specifically for girls first appeared in Japan. The wide-eyed look commonly associated with shoujo dates back to early illustrations in these magazines. Until the mid-1960s, men vastly outnumbered women in terms of mangaka, and between 1950 and 1969 large audiences for manga emerged in Japan, as did a flood of young female mangaka. ([Wikipedia - Shōjo manga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Djo_manga)) Josei began to appear during the 1980s during a different manga boom when girls who grew up reading shoujo manga in the 50s and 60s wanted manga for adult women. ([Wikipedia - Josei manga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josei_manga)) The history of shoujo and josei would be an episode in itself, so we'll leave it at that for now! Broadly, shoujo _tends_ to focus on romance and interpersonal relationships, and includes titles that you may know of like _Revolutionary Girl Utena_, _Sailor Moon_, _Fushigi Yuugi_ and _Ouran Host Club_. Josei _tends_ to focus on slice-of-life stories and more realistic relationships (as compared to idealized ones) and includes titles like _Kuragehime / Princess Jellyfish_, _Loveless_, _Paradise Kiss_, and _Honey and Clover_. [// I also saw Yuri on Ice listed as Josei on My Anime List?? ]: # **Most Active:** Anecdotally, it would be easy to say now-ish is the time that Shoujo and Josei fandoms are most active with shows like Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, Sailor Moon Crystal, and the [boom of Josei titles being released in North America](http://www.animefeminist.com/feature-josei-renaissance/). ...And [Google Trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0751y) would mostly support that hypothesis. Interest in Shoujo and Josei manga by search volume had been mostly flat since 2004 until around 2013 where interest starting creeping up, with some large peaks around October 2014, May 2016, and April 2017. **Size of Fandom:** To give very rough approximations of size of the fandom (at varying levels of interest): - The Sailor Moon series (highest selling shoujo series ever) has sold over 35 million copies worldwide - In Japan, the top-selling Shoujo manga magazine has an average circulation of almost 1 000 000 - In Japan, the top-selling Josei manga magazine has an average circulation of almost 200 000 - In North America, Shojo Beat had an average circulation of almost 40 000 copies before being discontinued in 2009 **Fan Demographics:** We have limited demographic information this week due to the large surface area of the topic. That being said, we did manage to find some data on anime fans from the [International Anime Research Project](https://sites.google.com/site/animeresearch/past-results/2016-results). Of the more than 700 participants in the 2016 survey: - 54.8% of participants identified as male - The median age of participants was ~25 - Participants were fairly split on interest in interest in Josei: the largest group (~25%) did not know of the "genre", and roughly equal groups liked the genre and did not like the genre - Participants overall liked Shoujo to some degree (~45%) - Participants also indicated some of their other interest being: gamer (73.1%), sci-fi fan (50.1%), writer (38.1%), artist (33.2%), musician (23.3%), brony (7.9%), and furry (5.7%) - The largest group preferred subtitles (49.5%), followed by folks who like both equally (40.4%) [// interesting bit about significantly less hostile sexism and significantly less sexism ]: # **Changes in Fandom:** **Around the world:** [Google Trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0751y) lists the following countries as the top ten by search volume: Japan, Taiwan, Macau, Hong Kong, Phillipines, Chile, El Salvador, Singapore, Malaysia, Peru (Canada is 36th, and the United States of America is 46th). ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/53-tales-of-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z** In Japan, is Josei / Shoujo (Anime / Manga for girls) regarded as something filled with aspirational messages, or as a cultural edifice that tries to teach more traditional values? **T** Sailor Moon is the most popular Shoujo / Josei series. [// I WAS RIGHT; ON BOTH COUNTS. Shoujo is generally more popular than Josei, and by sales, Sailor moon is TOPS ]: # **G** Is there a notable portion of the audience who are grown men (similar to Bronies)? If so, what's their deal? **Jesi** What is the ratio of success of shoujo / josei to shonen (male equivalent) (by whatever measure)? [// Shonen and Seinen are signficantly more successful by metrics such as sales, or magazine readership: ~2.7:1 for shonen / shojo manga magazine circulation by top groups, ~5:2 seinen / josei, of manga that has sold over 100 million copies, none are shoujo OR josei, and only 2 crack the 50 - 100 million copies ]: # **mixter_leach** I'm wondering if it's very well regarded or if it's seen as something silly and frivolous in Japanese culture. [// Just as serious as anything else? Hard to verify ]: # [// "In Clothes Called Fat", Fumi Oshinaga "Ooku" ]: # [// "All My Darling Daughters" Fumi Oshinaga]: # [// Descending Stories: Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju ]: # [// Yona of the Dawn ]: # ### The Verdict **T is in. Has some reading to do, especially josei.** **G is in. Character driven stories is appealing.** **Z is out.** **Caitlin is in. DEEP in. There is no way out. Forever.** ### This week's spotlight [// Women in Sakuga Programme... wrapped up by now? ]: # [// might want to find an alternative? Anime Feminist! ]: # **[Anime Feminist](http://www.animefeminist.com/)** > Anime Feminist explores Japanese pop culture through a feminist lens. This includes interviews, roundtable discussions, and visual analysis, broaching topics like gender, sexuality and representation. We have regular discussion posts, links round-ups, features and podcasts. We review new anime premieres every season, making sure to highlight any potential dealbreakers we can see for a feminist audience. > > — [Anime Feminist - About](http://www.animefeminist.com/about/) **[Anime for Humanity](http://animeforhumanity.org/about/)** > The mission of Anime For Humanity is to expand the awareness of Japanese animation to inspire the community to create good. > > We use Anime and Cosplay as tools to make a change for a good cause. Through hospitals, orphanages and disability center visitations, we engage children to express themselves artistically by providing joyful experiences and entertainment. > > — [Anime for Humanity - About](http://animeforhumanity.org/about/) [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Board Games! **Z** The boom in board game creation over the last decade comes from people remembering unsatisfying board game experiences with Life, Trouble and Monopoly as a kid. **Caitlin** What board game has the most detailed, complicated, esoteric rules? **T** What is the most expensive non-monopoly board game (that is commercially available)? **G** ~~...The change occured when Monopoly became public domain (and we started having dumb -opoly games)~~ Board games help popularize kickstarter. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Thanks again to Caitlin Moore for taking the time to chat with us and share her knowledge and experience with us about shoujo and josei! We definitely have some recommendations to follow-up on, and it was informative to get more details about the shoujo boom in North America in the early 2000s (among other things). ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Shōjo manga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sh%C5%8Djo_manga) - [Wikipedia - Josei manga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josei_manga) - [Wikipedia - Sailor Moon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sailor_Moon) - [Wikipedia - List of best-selling manga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_manga) - [Fanlore - Shoujo](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Shoujo) - [Fanlore - Josei](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Josei) - [Kotaku - How to Identify the Basic Types of Anime and Manga](https://kotaku.com/how-to-identify-the-basic-types-of-anime-and-manga-1538285518) - [Anime Feminist - (Feature) The Josei Renaissance](http://www.animefeminist.com/feature-josei-renaissance/) - [International Anime Research Project - Anime Survey 2016 Preliminary Results](https://sites.google.com/site/animeresearch/past-results/2016-results) - [r/anime - DAE prefer josei anime despite not being the target audience?](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/koftr/dae_prefer_josei_anime_despite_not_being_the/) - [THAT SHOUJO MANGA BLOG - MAN UP! THE ROLE OF SHOUJO IN DEPICTING MEN, MASCULINITY AND RELATIONSHIPS](https://thatshoujomangablog.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/man-up-the-role-of-shoujo-in-depicting-men-masculinity-and-relationships/) - [Black Nerd Problems - A Love Letter to Josei...](http://blacknerdproblems.com/a-love-letter-to-josei-manga/) - [AnimeNewsNetwork - Why Are Anime Fans Obsessed with Steven Universe?](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2015-07-31/why-are-anime-fans-obsessed-with-steven-universe/.91130) - [Wayback Machine - Sailormoon: Manga (Comics) and Anime (Cartoon) Superheroine Meets Barbie: Global Entertainment Commodity Comes to the United States](http://web.archive.org/web/20120617030124/http://www.yorku.ca/jjenson/4303/readings/comics/sailormoon.pdf) - [Wikipedia - List of Best-Selling Manga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_manga) - [Goboiano - Here’s How Money Is Actually Made in Anime](http://goboiano.com/heres-money-actually-made-anime/) - [Google Books - Shojo Manga and Its Acceptance: What Is the Power of Shojo Manga](https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=tFLLCQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT45&dq=%22shojo+manga+and+its+acceptance%22+nozomi+masuda&ots=qFqPWZSk28&sig=DAa42xtF6kyxT32-yJtBwOeZSLc#v=onepage&q=%22shojo%20manga%20and%20its%20acceptance%22%20nozomi%20masuda&f=false) - [IGN - Shojo Showdown](http://ca.ign.com/articles/2005/12/13/shojo-showdown) - [The Japan Foundation - Japanese Book News (56): Shojo (Girls) Manga](www.jpf.go.jp/JF_Contents/GetImage/img_pdf/JBN56.pdf?ContentNo=9&SubsystemNo=1&FileName=img_pdf/JBN56.pdf) - [Committee for the Revival & Promotion of Shojo Manga - The Magnificent Forty-Niners](https://www.en.matt-thorn.com/single-post/2017/05/31/The-Magnificent-Forty-Niners) - [Chikushi U Repository - Problems of Gender in Shoujo Manga : A Critique of a Female Category](https://chikushi-u.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=811&item_no=1&attribute_id=21&file_no=1) - [NECSUS - Representation or Misrepresentation?: British Media and Japanese Popular Culture](http://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/aup/necsus/2014/00000003/00000001/art00006?crawler=true) - [OhioLINK Electronic Theses & Dissertations Center - Gender and Sexuality in Shoujo Manga: Undoing Heteronormative Expectations in Utena, Pet Shop of Horrors, and Angel Sanctuary](https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=bgsu1250882984&disposition=inline) ### Music / Sound - Outro music, [“Deep Space Ballet”](http://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_4.php?q=1338&Genre=Piano) by TeknoAXE, used under [CC BY 4.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Business Women"](https://thenounproject.com/icon/751113/) by [zidney](https://thenounproject.com/zidney0721) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Manga"](https://thenounproject.com/icon/1285340/) by [Risa Nakajima](https://thenounproject.com/lsnk) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#53 - Tales of Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:40:30 +0000

What exactly is the significance of gel, and what is it that ties together a series that shares only two words (Tales of)?? This week, we're talking about fans of the _Tales of_ series (e.g. Tales of Phantasia, Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Zestiria, Tales of Berseria) with special guest (and Maple Gel Con organizer) Jesi McMulkin! Next week, we'll be demystifying the world of anime and manga fans a bit as we discuss fans of josei and shoujo... or in layman's terms, anime and manga "for women and girls". ## Where can I learn more about Jesi McMulkin? If you enjoyed listening to our special guest, Jesi, and want to learn more about the _Tales of_ series, you should definitely checkout [Maple Gel Con](http://maplegelcon.squarespace.com/) in Burlington, Ontario! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** The _Tales_ or _Tales of_ series is a video game series that has been running since 1995 with the release of _Tales of Phantasia_ on the Super Famicom. While there are sixteen main titles, many spin-offs, manga, anime, and audio dramas, the different entries in the series are fairly independent of each other and are mostly linked by their similar gameplay style (in particular, the "Linear Motion Battle System"), and its anime/manga art style. In English-speaking regions, it is generally seen as a niche series but is in the top-running for RPG series in Japan (behind Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest). **Most Active:** [By Google search volume](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F038sbw), interest in various Tales-series games has been on a slow decline, with the most interest in the game series occuring between 2003 and 2004 (corresponding to the releases of _Tales of Symphonia_ and _Tales of Rebirth_). **Size of Fandom:** One estimate for the size of the fandom would be the number of games sold: > As of December 2013, the series has sold 16 million units worldwide. > > — [Wikipedia - Tales (series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_(series)) This gives us at least some watermark of the dedication of fans, and puts the rough number of fans at something like one million fans (16 million units over 16 games = 1 million fans per game). Another metric might be the "Tales of" festival in Japan. The seventh such festival in 2014 managed to draw out over 22 000 fans over two days to fill the Yokohama Arena. Also worth mentioning, the Tales of subreddit boasts an impressive ~11 000 subscribers. **Fan Demographics:** We weren't able to get numbers on fan demographics. A rough estimate, in Japan, at least, from the 2014 Tales of Festival: > Far from the stereotype of a game otaku sausage party, the crowd at the 2014 event is almost exclusively female. > "Players of the Tales of series are 70% male and 30% female in Japan, but for events like this it's about 90% female," series producer Hideo Baba tells me at the end of the first day. "Women tend to be more interested in the story and the characters, while men are more interested in the games themselves and messing around with game hardware. So when their favorite game character appears on stage, the sound of screaming female fans is really something." > > — [IGN - WHY 90% OF FANS AT TALES OF FESTIVAL ARE FEMALE](http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/06/26/why-90-of-fans-at-tales-of-festival-are-female) **Around the world:** The top 10 countries for search volume around the "Tales of" series are: Japan (by a large margin), Phillipines, Singapore, Puerto Rico, Canada, Malaysia, Hong Kong, France, South Korea, and Indonesia. **Famous fan works:** Arguably, the fan translation of "Tales of Phantasia" by DeJap: > "I bet Arche \*\*\*\*\* like a tiger" > > — [TVTropes - Tales of Phantasia](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Funny/TalesOfPhantasia) **Fanfics:** According to Archive Of Our Own, there are approximately 4500 fanfics related to the Tales of Series (the majority of which are Tales of Zestiria — approximately 1200); FanFiction.net has over 10 000 (the majority of which are Tales of Symphonia — approximately 6 300). ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/#-name) Famous Last Words **T** What is it that ties the games together, exactly? (And as such, makes a fandom) **G** The popularity of Tales of Phantasia in North America grew out of its inability to get it released in North America. **Z** As a series of JRPGs and a fandom around that... how many fan games (e.g. RPG Maker) are there? Which one is most beloved by fans? **Amin** Has this fandom gone to other mediums: Books, Manga, Artwork (other adaptations)? ### The Verdict **Z is in. Tales is great.** **T is out. Too much of a time commitment.** **G is in. Knew nothing at first... but the characters and mythology are drawing him in.** **Jesi is in. Would recommend folks play Tales of Symphonia (or Graces) first.** ### This week's spotlight [// http://www.tales-for-tales.org/ Stopped in 2015 ]: # **[Maple Gel Con](http://maplegelcon.squarespace.com/)** Soon to be in its 3rd year, Maple Gel Con is a convention held in Oakville, Ontario for fans of the series to meet each other and celebrate the various different titles! There are panels, games, a library, karaoke, and more! [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Anime / Manga! **Z** In Japan, is Josei / Shoujo (Anime / Manga for girls) regarded as something filled with aspirational messages, or as a cultural edifice that tries to teach more traditional values? **T** Sailor Moon is the most popular Shoujo / Josei series. **G** Is there a notable portion of the audience who are grown men (similar to Bronies)? If so, what's their deal? **Jesi** What is the ratio of success of shoujo / josei to shonen (by whatever measure)? **mixter_leach** I'm wondering if it's very well regarded or if it's seen as something silly and frivolous in Japanese culture. [// Asalia Con, Radiant Northwest ]: # ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Jesi McMulkin for taking the time to chat with us and to help us sort out the technical difficulties of livestreaming with a guest! ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Tales (series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_(series)) - [IGN - WHY 90% OF FANS AT TALES OF FESTIVAL ARE FEMALE](http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/06/26/why-90-of-fans-at-tales-of-festival-are-female) - [TVTropes - Tales of Phantasia](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Funny/TalesOfPhantasia) - [r/tales - Why do you like the Tales series?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/6h6wf6/why_do_you_like_the_tales_series/?sort=top) - [TheGamer - 15 Reasons The Tales Series Is BETTER Than Final Fantasy](https://www.thegamer.com/15-reasons-the-tales-series-is-better-than-final-fantasy/) - [r/tales - Being a big Tales fan, but I've only finished one Tales game...](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/7ebpoz/being_a_big_tales_fan_but_ive_only_finished_one/) - [r/tales - Should the next Tales finally add blood?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/7c43o8/should_the_next_tales_finally_add_blood/) - [r/tales - How is the combat supposed to "flow"?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/79yjmb/how_is_the_combat_supposed_to_flow/) - [r/tales - How often do you not use the main character in combat?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/78so58/how_often_do_you_not_use_the_main_character_in/) - [AlternateHistory.com - Could Tales of Phantasia have been popular in the US?](https://www.alternatehistory.com/forum/threads/could-tales-of-phantasia-have-been-popular-in-the-us.416200/) - [Retro Junk - Hidden Treasures of 16-Bit: Tales of Phantasia](http://www.retrojunk.com/article/show/5088/hidden-treasures-of-16bit-tales-of-phantasia) - [Abyssal Chronicles - A List of Tales Fangames](http://abyssc.proboards.com/thread/3627/list-tales-fangames) - [Facebook - Tales Series](https://www.facebook.com/tales/) - [Freedom Planet Forums - (FANGAME) Tales of Majestica](http://www.galaxytrail.com/forum/index.php?topic=572.0) - [Game Jolt - Tales of Heroes](https://gamejolt.com/games/tales-of-heroes/17759) - [GameFAQS - Petit Computer: Tales of Arcanium (A Fan Game)](https://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/663843-petit-computer/67128807) - [GamesBeat - The Tales Series is in Danger of Becoming Irrelevant](https://venturebeat.com/2015/11/18/the-tales-series-is-in-danger-of-becoming-irrelevant/) - [IGN - Why 90% of Fans at Tales of Festival are Female](http://ca.ign.com/articles/2014/06/26/why-90-of-fans-at-tales-of-festival-are-female) - [Kinephanos - Kawaii Japan: Defining JRPGs through the Cultural Media Mix](http://www.kinephanos.ca/Revue_files/2015_Schules.pdf) - [Kotaku - Japanese Fans Weigh in on Their Favorite Tales Games](https://kotaku.com/japanese-fans-weigh-in-on-their-favorite-tales-games-511818875) - [Kotaku - Tales Fans Vote for Their Favorite Characters and More](https://kotaku.com/tales-fans-vote-for-their-favorite-characters-and-more-1584649278) - [Kotaku - Tales RPGs are like Gumdrops, Says the Guy who Makes Them](https://kotaku.com/tales-rpgs-are-like-gumdrops-says-the-guy-who-makes-th-470869380) - [r/JRPG - How is Tales of Xillia 2 Perceived by Fans of the Tales Series?](https://www.reddit.com/r/JRPG/comments/6xj5bo/how_is_tales_of_xillia_2_perceived_by_fans_of_the/) - [r/Tales - (Discussion) Thoughts on Why Tales Doesn’t Work in the West?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/3gxdzl/discussion_thoughts_on_why_tales_doesnt_work_in/) - [r/Tales - Do You Guys Like this Specific Aspect of Tales Games?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/45gwhd/do_you_guys_like_this_specific_aspect_of_tales/) - [r/Tales - Opinion: Why Tales of Symphonia is so Beloved](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/56vzfi/opinion_why_tales_of_symphonia_is_so_beloved/) - [r/Tales - Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Eternia, Tales of the Abyss, Tales of Vesperia, and even Tales of Graces which People Give a Hard Time, not just some of the best Tales Games I've ever Played, but some of the Best Games I've Played Ever. I don't understand Why this Series is so Underrated.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/5mtwny/tales_of_symphonia_tales_of_eternia_tales_of_the/) - [r/Tales - Why Do We Love Tales so much When They're not Even Critically Acclaimed or not Amazing Games Objectively?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/37erdl/why_do_we_love_tales_so_much_when_theyre_not_even/) - [r/Tales - Why do You Like the Tales Series?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tales/comments/6h6wf6/why_do_you_like_the_tales_series/) - [Siliconera - Tales Games Aren’t RPGs, Says Tales of the Abyss Producer](http://www.siliconera.com/2011/06/23/tales-games-arent-rpgs-says-tales-of-the-abyss-producer/) - [Tales of | News - Exciting announcements awaits ‘TALES OF’ fans!](http://www.talesofgame.com/en/exciting-announcements-awaits-tales-of-fans/) - [The Gamer - 15 Reasons the Tales Series is Better than Final Fantasy](https://www.thegamer.com/15-reasons-the-tales-series-is-better-than-final-fantasy/) - [TV Tropes - Fan Myopia](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FanMyopia) - [YouTube - ACS Tales of Fangame / Jade Curtiss / Tales of the Abyss / No Me Aguante](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilfgv3FgYJM) - [Youtube - Tales of a Twist--ToS Fangame](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlXy1YOoWX0) ### Music / Sound - End music _"Fighting Spirit"_ from various entries in the _Tales of_ series performed by [Arny Undercover](https://soundcloud.com/arnyundercover/fighting-of-the-spirit-cover) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Fantasy”](https://thenounproject.com/term/fantasy/1190615) by [lastspark](https://thenounproject.com/lastspark) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Interview: Tabletop RPGs at the Watchtower Restaurant

The Nickscast — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 22:37:00 +0000

We had the chance to sit down with Devin Hutchinson (General Manager) and Myles Hilliard (Head Chef) at the [Watchtower Restaurant](http://www.watchtowerrestaurant.com/), a local geeky restaurant, to talk about their experiences with Tabletop RPGs and the gaming community. What is it like as a fan of Tabletop RPGs? If you want to learn more about the Watchtower Restaurant, check out... - Their website: http://www.watchtowerrestaurant.com/ - Their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/watchtowerkw/ - Their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WatchtowerRestaurant/ And if you want to know why we're talking about Tabletop RPGs, [check out our original episode on the subject](http://fanthropological.com/e/51-tabletop-rpg-fans/). ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Special Thanks Special thanks to the [Watchtower Restaurant](http://www.watchtowerrestaurant.com/) for taking the time to chat with us, and for letting us record in their space! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["D20 Dice"](https://thenounproject.com/term/d20-dice/763027) by [Andrew Doane](https://thenounproject.com/andydoane) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#52 - Game of Thrones Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 18:37:00 +0000

This week, _Arya_ ready for our look at fans of Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire! We are! _And_ you definitely don 't learn Dothraki to enjoy it! Plus, we have a special guest from the award-winning [A Podcast of Ice and Fire](http://podcastoficeandfire.com/), Amin! Next week, we'll be keeping the fantasy setting (sort of) to talk about one of the most popular RPG series in Japan; we'll be talking about fans of the _Tales_ series of video games! ## Where can I learn more about Amin? If you want to learn more about Amin, you should definitely check out the aforementioned [A Podcast of Ice and Fire](http://podcastoficeandfire.com/); they even provided us with [some slides](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4fkEcWiuGpCV0t6anU3WTAyMW8/view) from their panel at San Diego Comic Con (which we brought up in this week's episode)! You can also find him on his other podcasts, [The Bastards of Kingsgrave](https://bastardsofkingsgrave.wordpress.com/), which covers anime, manga, western animation and other pop culture, and [Vassals of Kingsgrave](https://vokpodcast.wordpress.com/)! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Introduction, Origins, and History:** Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television adaptation of George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" epic fantasy novels. For the purposes of the fandom, we'll be referring to both of them interchangeably. _A Game of Thrones_ , the first volume in the series, was written in 1991 and published in 1996. Since then, four other volumes have been released, with a total of seven volumes planned. The series follows the adventures of a wide cast of different characters of the continents of Westeros and Essos. Though there are many different perspectives, the books and TV show follow three main plot lines: an epic war among several families for control of Westeros; the rising threat of the supernatural _Others_ to the north; and "the ambition of Daenerys Targaryen, the deposed king's exiled daughter, to assume the Iron Throne" ([Wikipedia - A Song of Ice and Fire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire)). The books have sold over 60 million copies worldwide, has been translated into 47 different languages, have been adapted into comics, card games, board games, and video games (and the television show, of course). The television show (which first aired in 2011) has won 38 Emmies, is the most pirated TV series every year since 2012, and an unnamed episode was downloaded over 4 million times (roughly equal to broadcast viewers) ([Wikipedia - Game of Thrones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_Thrones#Copyright_infringement)). **Fandom Origins:** While no doubt fans of the series existed when the books were initially being released, fandom started buzzing closer to the announcement of the cast of the TV show (early 2011). **Most Active:** The fandom is most active [now](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0524b41). Almost definitely now. Game of Thrones has never been as popular as it is today, according to Google Trends data. More than any other fandom we've observed to date, the data is highly periodic (i.e. it spikes whenever a new season is released) and each spike, for the most part, is higher than the last. If you look at the chart, there is a very clear upward trend in interest. **Size of Fandom:** Using some of the data we have on hand, it is possible to get a few different estimates: - 60 million (assuming every book purchase is a new fan) - 12 million (assuming every fan buys a full set of books) - Almost 9 million views (based on [the season 6 finale](http://variety.com/2016/tv/ratings/game-of-thrones-ratings-season-6-finale-record-1201805035/)) - Over 8 million (assuming all broadcast views and pirated episode downloads per episode are unique) - Over 4 million (assuming episode downloads or broadcast view as a rough proxy) Regardless of how you estimate, there are a lot of fans. **Fan Demographics:** Based on data from [A Time Capsule of Ice and Fire](https://atimecapsuleoficeandfire.wordpress.com/2017/01/10/the-asoiafgot-survey-results/), there are some interesting demographics results of the over 4 000 surveyed Game of Thrones fans: - Age: Most fans (71.9%) are 18-29 years old. The next largest group is folks 30-44 (18%) - Gender: The majority of respondents identified as Male (81.8%), with 17.3% identifying as Female - Books vs Show: Most fans have seen both (90.5%) Some other unique results: - The _vast_ majority of fans started reading the books after the TV show started airing - The largest group of folks started watching the show in 2014; next largest cohorts were 2012, then 2013 - Most fans started with the TV show (62.2%) - Most fans like the books more (64.6%) or think it is equally good (30.6%); 83.6% of fans think the show does a good job adapting the books - The fandom is split as to how bothered they are about the show overtaking the books Other sources, such as Nielson, put the percentage of women at a much more even 42% ([Wired - YES, WOMEN REALLY DO LIKE GAME OF THRONES (WE HAVE PROOF)](https://www.wired.com/2013/06/women-game-of-thrones/)). **Around the world:** As the books have been translated into 47 different languages, it should be no surprise that the books and show are popular around the world. The top ten countries (by search volume) for the Game of Thrones TV show are: Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Czechia, Ireland, Australia, Greece. (The United Kingdom is 15th in the list, Canada at 18th, and United States at 32nd) **Fan terms** > - Sexposition: the use of sexual scenes to provide information about backstory and character motivations > - Ser Twenty of House Goodmen or Ser Ten of House Goodmen: characters jokingly created by fans, after Ramsay said he only needed "twenty good men" to infiltrate Stannis' camp > - The Purple Wedding: the wedding between King Joffery Barathon and Margaery Tyrell, name chosen by fans because purple is a royal color > - Pink Letter: letter sent to Jon from Ramsay, so named because it had a pinkish hue > - Cleganebowl: name given to the ultimate fight, fans believe is coming, between Sandor Clegane and Gregor Clegane > > -- [Fanlore - Game of Thrones](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Game_of_Thrones) **Fanfics:** _A Song of Ice and Fire_ (and related fandoms) has over 28 000 fanfics on [Archive of our Own](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/A%20Song%20of%20Ice%20and%20Fire%20%2aa%2a%20Related%20Fandoms/works). Some other fun fanfic facts (try saying that 5 times fast!): - Top 3 characters: Sansa Stark (over 12474), Jon Snow (over 9390), and Arya Stark (over 6574) - Top 3 crossovers: Harry Potter (267), Supernatural (67), The Avengers (64)… but the vast majority of fic is just within the Game of Thrones unverse - Top 3 pairings: Jon Snow / Sansa Stark (3273), Jaime Lannister / Brienne of Tarth (2723), Arya Stark / Gendry Waters (2287) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/51-tabletop-rpg-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z** Have fans tried to make up supplemental material and pass it off as "real" Game of Thrones work? **G** Why is the popular baby name that came out of Game of Thrones "Khaleesi" and not "Daenerys"? **T** As rated by fans, what is the most delicious recipe in a _Feast of Ice and Fire_? ### The Verdict **G is in.** Neck-and-neck with Doctor Who. **Amin is in.** Try it out! Show is good, books are better. **Z is in.** **T is out.** Will check out some of the graphic novels though. ### This week's spotlight **[International Rescue Committee](http://feature.rescue.org/gameofthrones/)** The IRC is a charity to help refugees who are displaced, to help them recover. > The International Rescue Committee responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. > > -- [Rescue,org - Who we are](https://www.rescue.org/who-we-are) What's the tie-in to _Game of Thrones_? Well, many members of the cast are longtime supporters of the IRC: in particular, Lana Headey (Cersei Lannister) and Maisie Williams (Arya Stark). ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around _next week's_ fandom, (Fandom name)! **T** What is it that ties the games together, exactly? (And as such, makes a fandom) **G** The popularity of Tales of Phantasia in North America grew out of its inability to get it released in North America. **Z** As a series of JRPGs and a fandom around that… how many fan games (e.g. RPG Maker) are there? Which one is most beloved by fans? **Amin** Has this fandom gone to other mediums: Books, Manga, Artwork (other adaptations)? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Amin for taking the time to meet with us! It was great having him on the show to share his experiences and expertise! We really appreciate when we have mega-fans on the show, and especially fellow podcasters! ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - A Song of Ice and Fire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire) - [Wikipedia - Game of Thrones](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_Thrones) - [Fanlore - Game of Thrones](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Game_of_Thrones)] [Fanlore - A Song of Ice and Fire](https://fanlore.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire) - [Fanlore - A Song of Ice and Fire](https://fanlore.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire) - [Variety - 'Game of Thrones' Season 6 Finale Ratings Hit Series High](http://variety.com/2016/tv/ratings/game-of-thrones-ratings-season-6-finale-record-1201805035/) - [A Time Capsule of Ice and Fire - THE ASOIAF/GOT DEMOGRAPHIC SURVEY RESULTS](https://atimecapsuleoficeandfire.wordpress.com/2017/01/10/the-asoiafgot-survey-results/) - [Archive of our Own - Works in A Song of Ice and Fire & Related Fandoms](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/A%20Song%20of%20Ice%20and%20Fire%20%2aa%2a%20Related%20Fandoms/works) - [The Inn at the Crossroads](http://www.innatthecrossroads.com) - [CheatSheet - Top Reasons Why Many People Absolutely Hate 'Game of Thrones'](https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/game-thrones-why-we-refuse-to-watch-anymore.html/?a=viewall) - [The Tab - Why is everyone so obsessed with Game of Thrones?](https://thetab.com/us/uta/2016/05/06/everyone-obsessed-game-thrones-2362) - [io9 - Guess How Many Deaths There Have Been So Far on Game of Thrones](https://io9.gizmodo.com/guess-how-many-deaths-there-have-been-so-far-on-game-of-1796055237) - [Ranker - Famous People Who Don't Like Game of Thrones](https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-people-dont-like-game-of-thrones/rydavis) - [Wired - YES, WOMEN REALLY DO LIKE GAME OF THRONES (WE HAVE PROOF)](https://www.wired.com/2013/06/women-game-of-thrones/) - [Watchers on the Wall - George R.R. Martin's Original Plan for Game of Thrones](http://watchersonthewall.com/george-r-r-martins-original-plan-game-thrones/) - [The Verge - This Season of Game of Thrones Feels Like Fan Fiction](https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/20/16125490/game-of-thrones-fan-service-jonerys-benioff-weiss-versus-grrm) - [Game of Thrones Research Project - About This Research](http://questeros.org/About) - [DigitalSpy - Game of Thrones Fans Think They can fix Controversial Season 7 Storyline with One Simple Change](http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/game-of-thrones/news/a837945/game-of-thrones-season-7-wight-storyline-fixed-with-one-simple-change/) - [Vanity Fair - Are Cameos Like Ed Sheeran's Really Ruining Game of Thrones?](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/07/game-of-thrones-ed-sheeran-controversy-twitter-jim-broadbent) - [Transformative Works and Cultures - Case Study of French and Spanish Fan Reception of Game of Thrones](http://journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/view/608/493) - [Tower of the Hand - The Nature and Controversy of GRRM and His Fandom](https://towerofthehand.com/blog/2014/03/31-nature-and-controversy-grrm/noscript.html) - [Wikipedia - A Song of Ice and Fire Fandom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire_fandom) - [Feministing - George R.R. Martin, Come Get Your People](http://feministing.com/2012/08/22/george-r-r-martin-come-get-your-people/) - [Westeros.org - The Prophecies are False/Fake/Wrong; Wait, What?](http://asoiaf.westeros.org/index.php?/topic/137724-the-prophecies-are-falsefakewrong-wait-what/) - [r/A Song of Ice and Fire - (Spoilers All-Speculation) Prophecies in ASOIAF](https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/comments/10rtm3/spoilers_allspeculation_prophecies_in_asoiaf/) - [Salon - Stop Defending "Game of Thrones": How HBO Gutted the Stories I Love](https://www.salon.com/2015/06/14/stop_defending_game_of_thrones_how_hbo_gutted_the_stories_i_love/) ### Music / Sound - End music is used [this performance of the Game of Thrones theme](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=50&v=X6a9odk6b_c) as composed by Ramin Djawadi - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Jon Snow"](https://thenounproject.com/term/jon-snow/180849) by [Nive Kekra](https://thenounproject.com/Nive) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#51 - Tabletop RPG Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 20:21:25 +0000

This week, we're (_rolls d20_) talking about fans of miniatures, monsters, magic and mayhem (and much much more); we're talking about fans of Tabletop RPGs! What is it, exactly, about these fictional worlds that draw people in, and why are they becoming so popular? Next week, we'll have special guest, Amin, of [a Podcast of Ice and Fire](http://podcastoficeandfire.com/) joining us to talk about fans of the Game of Thrones / A Song of Ice and Fire series! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) have a long and storied history starting with wargaming... which itself has its roots in even older strategy games like Chess (which originated from Chaturanga, an ancient Indian game). Chess gave way to variants of Chess, which gave way to more modern wargames like Kriegsspiel (literally "war game" in German; used for training German and Prussian armies)... which eventually gave way to games like Chainmail, the precursor to Dungeons and Dragons — the archetypical tabletop RPG. Depending on how you want to measure history, that puts the origin of Tabletop RPGs somewhere between 1974 (the first published edition of Dungeons and Dragons) and the 6th century AD. For our purposes, we'll use Dungeons and Dragons as the origin of Tabletop RPGs. Most Tabletop RPGs use some set of rules (that vary in complexity) where participants describe their character's actions (different from wargaming where each participant takes the role of military). Sometimes there are dice. Sometimes there are lots of tables. Sometimes pen and paper are necessary. There is a _lot_ of variation. And is no shortage of gaming systems, like Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, Call of Cthulu, GURPS, BESM, Vampire: The Masquerade, or Shadowrun, to name a few. **Most Active:** Given that Tabletop RPGs are a class of games that have existed since the 70s, it is a bit harder to get an idea of the popularity and activity of them over time. Using [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F026q9,%2Fm%2F04dzk1_,%2Fm%2F0mbr2,%2Fm%2F081yd) data for Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, Warhammer 40k, and War gaming gives us some approximation though. Dungeons and Dragons was probably most popular around the time of its 'moral panic', but using the data we have, it has been on the decline since 2004 (most popular period)... but is back on the upswing since approximately 2012. **Around the world:** The top 10 countries searching for Dungeons and Dragons, but the same Google Trends data, are: Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Sweeden, and the United Kingdom. **Size of Fandom:** It is extremely hard to estimate the size of the fandom given how loosely we've defined it. That being said, it can still be estimated: - In _What happened to Dungeons and Dragons?_ it is estimated that 20 million people have played the game - [Obsidian Portal](https://www.obsidianportal.com/), a site where you can create your own campaign online, has over 100 000 campaigns - Roll20, a popular tabletop gaming tool, had a sample size of over 73 000 players for its [Q1 2017 industry report](http://blog.roll20.net/post/159952619415/the-orr-group-industry-report-q1-2017) - Attendance at Gen Con (the largest Tabletop Game convention in North America) had over 60 000 attendees in 2016 **Fan Demographics:** We came across several fan surveys, all of which seemed limited. The most recent one, which we stumbled upon via the RPG subreddit, had some demographic information in its 307 responses (you can find the survey [here](http://msmcilvride.com/the-big-rpg-survey/)). - **Age:** Most gamers were between 18-25 (42.3%); the second largest group was folks ages 26-35 (39.7%) - **Gender:** The majority of respondents (88.3%) identified as male, with 9.8% identifying as female - **Tenure:** The largest group of respondents have been playing for 11-20 years (23.5%) but folks with 6-10 years experience (22.1%) and with 3-5 years (22.8%) were not far behind - Surprisingly, the majority of respondents identified as Role players (79.6%), with characters who are motivated by social causes (49.8%) and focussed on their character's backstory (64.5%) A different survey (itself compiled from other sources, like a 1999 Wizards of the Coast survey) on [Darkshire.net](http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/gender/disparity.html#survey) puts 19% of tabletop-rpg respondents as female. This data can also be found in more detail on [Sean K Reynold's website](http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/WotCMarketResearchSummary.html). If you have a better source for demographics data, or any quantifiable data in general, let us know! We love it! > “A whole new kind of game. No board - just dice, just probabilities. It allowed me to enter the world of the books I was reading.” — Stephen Colbert > > — [Unpossible Journeys - Why People Play](http://unpossiblejourneys.com/about-roleplaying-games/why-people-play/) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/50-they-might-be-giants-fans/) Famous Last Words **G** Has stranger things given a resurgence to tabletop gaming? **Z** Is there much (if any) crossover between fans of things like Warhammer and Pathfinder? Do people tend to play one or the other? **T** Has anyone adapted Dragon Ball as tabletop game? (Not a Big Eyes Small Mouth) [// Yes! as it turns out there was a pen and paper RPG released called "Dragon Ball Z: The Anime Adventure game" published by R. Talsorian games that uses the 'Fusion D6' system. Also, a fan system available online that uses a D10 based system ]: # ### The Verdict **T is in. So in.** **G is in. Love it.** **Z is in.** ### This week's spotlight **[Gaming as Other](http://www.strixwerks.com/gaming/)** Gaming as Other is a minority advocacy group headed by Whitney Beltrán (AKA Strix) whose goal is to make the gaming community more inclusive and welcoming towards minority members. There is a related [video series of the same name on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJyUXI7hzVWef0HB-Z9zQk5iKESrlxQg9) which discusses some of the different issues in gaming, like erasure, and discussions of fantasy races and race conflation. [// Plugs go here ]: # [// Interview with the Watchtower folks ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Game of Thrones! **Z** Have fans tried to make up supplemental material and pass it off as "real" Game of Thrones work? **G** Why is the popular baby name that came out of Game of Thrones fandom "Khaleesi" and _not_ "Daenerys"? **T** As rated by fans, what is the most delicious recipe in a _Feast of Ice and Fire_? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Dungeons & Dragons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons#Game_history) - [Wikipedia - Tabletop role-playing game](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabletop_role-playing_game) - [Wikipedia - Chaturanga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturanga) - [Wikipedia - Kriegsspiel (wargame)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kriegsspiel_(wargame)) - [Wikipedia - Gen Con](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gen_Con) - [r/rpg - Dragon Ball Z Pen & Paper Role-Playing Game](https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/comments/30b6w1/dragon_ball_z_pen_paper_roleplaying_game/) - [Dragonball Wiki - Dragon Ball Z: The Anime Adventure Game](http://dragonball.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_Ball_Z:_The_Anime_Adventure_Game) - [The Angry GM - Running Your Most Horrible D&D Adventure Ever](http://theangrygm.com/running-your-most-horrible-dd-adventure-ever/) - [msmcilvride.com - The Big RPG Survey: Results](http://msmcilvride.com/the-big-rpg-survey/) - [Darkshire.net - Gender Disparity in RPGs](http://www.darkshire.net/jhkim/rpg/theory/gender/disparity.html#survey) - [SeanKReynolds.com - Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0](http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/WotCMarketResearchSummary.html) - [Tor.com - Gaming’s Race Problem: GenCon and Beyond](https://www.tor.com/2014/08/13/gamings-race-problem-gen-con-and-beyond/) - [Unpossible Journeys - Why People Play](http://unpossiblejourneys.com/about-roleplaying-games/why-people-play/) - [Lifehacker - The Surprising Benefits of Role-Playing Games (and How to Get Started)](https://lifehacker.com/the-surprising-benefits-of-role-playing-games-and-how-1684582789) - [Tabletop Tribe - 5 Reasons Why Tabletop Gaming Is The Best Mid-Life Crisis You Can Have](https://medium.com/tabletop-tribe/5-reasons-why-tabletop-gaming-is-the-best-mid-life-crisis-you-can-have-6e0438489695) - [Inkwell Ideas - Overview of Tabletop Roleplaying Games](http://inkwellideas.com/images/overview-map-lettersize.jpg) - [Design Patterns of Successful Role-playing Games](http://legendaryquest.netfirms.com/books/RPG_Design_Patterns_9_13_09.pdf) - [The Mary Sue - Roll A Strength Check: Why Tabletop Games Are Awesome For Women (and Everybody Else)](https://www.themarysue.com/roll-a-strength-check-why-tabletop-games-are-awesome-for-women-and-everybody-else/) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["D20 Dice"](https://thenounproject.com/term/d20-dice/763027) by [Andrew Doane](https://thenounproject.com/andydoane) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#50 - They Might Be Giants Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 17:37:00 +0000

This week, you're all gonna be in this experimental film! Provided, of course, that you're a fan of They Might Be Giants (TMBG) (and are OK with film being... tape? Nevermind). What is it about this quirky musical group that has kept fans interested for over 30 years? Next week, we'll put on our robes and wizard hats to talk about fans of tabletop RPGs! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** > They Might Be Giants (often abbreviated as TMBG) is an American alternative rock band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years, Flansburgh and Linnell frequently performed as a duo, often accompanied by a drum machine. In the early 1990s, TMBG expanded to include a backing band. > > — [Wikipedia - They Might Be Giants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Might_Be_Giants) TMBG is known for having an unconventional, experimental kind of music, has released 19 studio albums (including _Flood_ which has been certified platinum), has created theme music for several television shows, and has produced children's music. Think you haven't heard of them? Try one of the following: - Boss of Me (theme song of _Malcolm in the Middle_) - Dog On Fire (opening theme of _The Daily Show with Jon Stewart_) - The theme song for _Oblongs_, and _The Wrong Coast_ - Birdhouse in your Soul, Istanbul (Not Constantinople), and Particle Man **Most Active:** Given that They Might Be Giants has been a band since the 1980s, it's not surprising that the [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F07n3s) data shows a pretty low amount of interest over time. To be fair, unlike many of the fandoms we've covered, interest in TMBG was already quite low in 2004. There was a huge spike in interest in July 2004 which corresponds to the the release of their album _The Spine_, and some smaller bursts of interest probably related to different album releases. Interest now is about 1/10th of the interest from 2004. **Size of Fandom:** They Might Be Giants has sold over 4 million records. Given that information and their 19 studio albums, a rough estimate of fans would give us between ~200 000 and 4 million. A different (much lower estimate) that gives an idea of the dedication of fans might be the _They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club_: > The Instant Fan Club returned for 2015 with an announcement in November 2014. There were initially 2,500 subscriptions available, which were meant to be available until January 5, 2015. All 2,500 spots were filled by December ... In addition to the regular level of membership ($98) and the Super-President tier ($250) introduced in 2012's fan club, the 2015 IFC offers a third option "for folks on a budget", Dial-A-Song Direct ($30). > > — [this might be a wiki - They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club](http://tmbw.net/wiki/They_Might_Be_Giants_Instant_Fan_Club) TMBG has [over 330 000 likes on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/theymightbegiants/), over [65 000 followers on Twitter](https://twitter.com/tmbg?lang=en), and over [2200 subscribers on r/tmbg](https://www.reddit.com/r/tmbg/). **Around the world:** From the [Google Trends data again](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F07n3s), most fans of They Might Be Giants hail from English speaking countries: By and large, fans are from the United States, but there is also some interest in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and New Zealand. **Did you know that...** - TMBG is [the unofficial band of the TV Tropes Wiki](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Music/TheyMightBeGiants)? - Melissa Joan Hart (_Clarissa Explains It All_, _Sabrina: The Teenage Witch_) got a job because of TMBG: > "I actually got the job for Clarissa Explains It All because of They Might Be Giants. The producer asked me about music, and I told them I liked TMBG (instead of popular bands like New Kids on the Block). He loved it, I got the job and then they worked TMBG into the show by putting the poster in the room." > > — [this might be a wiki - Famous Fans](http://tmbw.net/wiki/Famous_Fans) - You now know that the band started as two John's, but did you know that there was a period when there were only Johns and Dans? From 1998 to 2004, the band consisted of the two Johns plus Dan Miller, Danny Weinkauf, and Dan Hickey ([Wikipedia - They Might Be Giants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Might_Be_Giants#Members)) - They might be big big fake fake lies? (What're we gonna do unless they are?) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/49-megaman-fans/) Famous Last Words **T** What percentage of They Might Be Giants fans became fans via Tiny Toons? [// Came across a thread on reddit with over 280 comments with the title "As a child, Tiny Toons introduced and made me a fan of They Might Be Giants". I couldn't find anyway to back this up, but it sounds like there are a lot. ]: # **Z** How many fan made music videos are there on YouTube? [// Like, 67 000. Boo ]: # **G** After TMBG success with their dial-a-song service, has any band or musical act followed? ### The Verdict **T is in.** > If anthropologists of the future ever sit down to categorize the sundry varieties of nerd and require as precise a definition for “spaz” as possible, they need only listen to the drum machine/guitar intro to “Don’t Let’s Start.” If you close your eyes and listen closely, a crystal-clear mental image of a skinny kid getting his head dipped in a flushing toilet materializes in the mind’s eye and repeats for the duration of the song. Maybe this is the difference between how a They Might Be Giants fan relates to the song and how a non-fan does: fans swell with pride and imagine their own heads being dunked, and the non-fans become enraged and picture themselves administering the swirlies. > > — [Something Awful - They Might Be Giants](http://www.somethingawful.com/your-band-sucks/they-might-be/) **G is in. 100% in.** **Z is in.** ### This week's spotlight **[Mink Car Cover](https://minkcarcover.bandcamp.com/)** At midnight on September 11th, 2001, They Might Be Giants released their album _Mink Car_. Unfortunately, some terrible thing happened later that day. Ten years later, a variety of internet-famous folks released a full cover album with the proceeds going to the FNDY Foundation. > Funds raised from Mink Car Cover will go to the FDNY Foundation, the official not-for-profit foundation of the Fire Department of New York, established to provide resources for the professional development, education, and training of members of the FDNY. > > — [Mink Car Cover](https://minkcarcover.bandcamp.com/) Some of the artists on the album include Hank Green, The Doubleclicks, brentalfloss, and MC Frontalot. [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Tabletop RPGs! **G** Has stranger things given a resurgence to tabletop gaming? **Z** Is there much (if any) crossover between fans of things like Warhammer and Pathfinder? Do people tend to play one or the other? **T** Has anyone adapted Dragon Ball as tabletop game? (Not a Big Eyes Small Mouth) ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Any special thanks; usually to guest. ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - They Might Be Giants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Might_Be_Giants) - [this might be a wiki - They Might Be Giants Instant Fan Club](http://tmbw.net/wiki/They_Might_Be_Giants_Instant_Fan_Club) - [TVTropes - They Might Be Giants](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Music/TheyMightBeGiants) - [r/videos - As a child, Tiny Toons introduced and made me a fan of They Might Be Giants](https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/49abwl/as_a_child_tiny_toons_introduced_and_made_me_a/) - [The A.V. Club - The A.V. Club compresses They Might Be Giants’ 30-year career into 60 minutes](https://music.avclub.com/the-a-v-club-compresses-they-might-be-giants-30-year-1798282421) - [Rolling Stone - They Might Be Giants at 33: We're (Still) Here, We're Weird, Get Used to Us](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/they-might-be-giants-at-33-were-still-here-were-weird-get-used-to-us-20150219) - [Vanity Fair - Q&A: They Might Be Giants Aren’t Just for Kids and Still Aren’t the Proclaimers](https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2011/07/they-might-be-giants-qa) - [Something Awful - They Might Be Giants](http://www.somethingawful.com/your-band-sucks/they-might-be/) - [The Hard Times - They Might Be Giants Fandom Cautiously Broached with New, Cooler Friend Group](http://thehardtimes.net/news/might-giants-fandom-cautiously-broached-new-cooler-friend-group/) - [Rolling Stone - They Might Be Giants at 33: We’re (Still) Here, We’re Weird, Get Used to Us](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/they-might-be-giants-at-33-were-still-here-were-weird-get-used-to-us-20150219) - [mxdwn.com - They Might Be Giants Bringing Back Dial a Song for 2018](https://music.mxdwn.com/2017/09/27/news/they-might-be-giants-bringing-back-dial-a-song-for-2018/) - [Vanity Fair - Q&A: They Might Be Giants Aren’t Just For Kids and Still Aren’t The Proclaimers](https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2011/07/they-might-be-giants-qa) - [Kiwi Farms Forum - Quinn Collard / Selfcallednowhere / Smallgirlafterall They Might Be Giants Fangirl, Actual IRL Stalker of John Linnell](https://kiwifarms.net/threads/quinn-collard-selfcallednowhere-smallgirlafterall.24910/) - [Paste - They Might Be Giants: Original Recipe](https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/07/they-might-be-giants-original-recipe.html) - [r/TMBG - Readers of TMBG! I Got it in my Head to Introduce a Lady Friend to TMBG...](https://www.reddit.com/r/tmbg/comments/247i3g/readers_of_tmbg_i_got_it_in_my_head_to_introduce/) - [r/TMBG - Why Isn’t This Group Bigger?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tmbg/comments/4bucbf/why_isnt_this_group_bigger/) - [r/TMBG - Why do you like They Might Be Giants?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tmbg/comments/2bv79l/why_do_you_like_they_might_be_giants/) - [Quora - TMBG fans: What are Some Things That Make They Might Be Giants a Great Band?](https://www.quora.com/TMBG-fans-What-are-some-things-that-make-They-Might-Be-Giants-a-great-band) - [Quora - How did They Might Be Giants end up Being Featured on Tiny Toons Adventures?](https://www.quora.com/How-did-They-Might-Be-Giants-end-up-being-featured-on-Tiny-Toons-Adventures) - [YouTube - They Might Be Giants John Flansburgh Interview Part 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9ePBvz3L0Y) - [YouTube - They Might Be Giants John Flansburgh Interview Part 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX_0HVEbyUc) - [YouTube - THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS - Groovin The Moo 2013 Interview BPMTV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rddrXfbyV8) - [YouTube - They Might Be Giants: Fans on the Road](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cft6ItrS8e8) - [YouTube - They Might Be Giants of OZ (full movie)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yya9gsFMYos) - [YouTube (Search) - “They Might Be Giants Fan Video”](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=They+Might+Be+Giants+fan+video) - [YouTube (Search) - “‘They Might Be Giants’ Fan Video”](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%22They+Might+Be+Giants%22+fan+video) - [YouTube - Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxzU6kNW0DE) - [This Might Be a Wiki - Why We Love TMBG](http://tmbw.net/wiki/Why_We_Love_TMBG) - [This Might Be a Wiki - Fan Videos](http://tmbw.net/wiki/Fan_Videos) - [This Might Be a Wiki - I Might Be Giants, Too](http://tmbw.net/wiki/I_Might_Be_Giants,_Too) - [The Hard Times - They Might Be Giants Fandom Cautiously Broached with New, Cooler Friend Group](http://thehardtimes.net/news/might-giants-fandom-cautiously-broached-new-cooler-friend-group/) ### Music / Sound - End credits clip from "The End of the Tour" by They Might Be Giants on their Album _John Henry_ - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Saxaphone”](https://thenounproject.com/term/saxaphone/1201784) by [Creaticca Creative Agency](https://thenounproject.com/creaticca) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Violin”](https://thenounproject.com/term/violin/1278226) by [Eucalyp](https://thenounproject.com/ratch0013) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#49 - Megaman Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 17:37:00 +0000

We start off Season 5 with a mega-blast! It's all of our hosts favourites fandoms this season starting off with fans of the Blue Bomber: Mega Man! Why haven't there been any new games lately, and how have the fans adapted? How is a game from more than 25 years ago still relevant to fans today? Tune in and find out! Next week, we'll be doing the things a particle can and talking about two rockin' musicians (John and John) and their fans as we talk about They Might Be Giants fandom! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Rockman (also known as Mega Man, outside of Japan) is a video game franchise created by Akira Kitamura and designed by Keiji Inafune by (and owned by CAPCOM). Originally released for Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987, the franchise has over 50 games on multiple systems, and, by March 2015, over thirty million copies have been sold worldwide. The original game follows the story of Rock (Mega), an android created by Doctor Light and his assistant, Doctor Wily. Doctor Wily reprograms Doctor Lights other robots in an act of treachery, and Rock volunteers to defend the world from Wily's violent robotic threats. Other main series within the game's history: - Mega Man X - Mega Man Legends - Mega Man Battle Network **Most Active and Fandom Trends:** Based on [Google Trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F016vdf), interest in the Mega Man series of games has been on a steady decline since Google has started tracking trend data (current interest is about one fifth of data back in 2004). The most popular point in this history is around July 2004, which likely corresponds to the release of Mega Man X: Command Mission, a turn-based RPG. **Size of Fandom:** It's especially challenging to try to get estimates on fandoms that have been on the decline for a while. To get a rough sense of scale and level of community: - The [Mega Man Subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Megaman/) has over 10 000 subscribers - Mighty No 9, a game developed a sort of spiritual successor to Mega Man (and directed by longtime Mega Man director, Keiji Inafune) [has over 67 000 backers](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mightyno9/mighty-no-9) - Over 30 million copies of the various games have been sold worldwide. A rough estimate taking the number of sales and dividing by the number of games (131) yields a rough estimate of over 220 000 game buyers **Famous fan works:** - [Mega Maker](https://mega-maker.com/), a fan game about creating your own Mega Man levels (like Mario maker) - [Mega Man x Street Fighter](http://www.capcom-unity.com/mega_man), a fan game that puts Mega Man (circa Mega Man 2) in stages reminiscent of the characters in Street Fighter 2 and featuring them as bosses - [Mega Man 2.5D](http://petersjostrand.com/), [20XX](http://store.steampowered.com/app/322110/20XX/), [Azure Striker Gunvolt](http://gunvolt.com/en/), [The Megas](http://www.themegas.com/), [BrentalFloss](https://www.brentalfloss.com/)... the list goes on **Fanfics and Fanart** - DeviantArt has almost 100 000 works for [Mega Man](https://www.deviantart.com/?section=&global=1&q=mega+man) - FanFiction.net has over 5000 works for [Mega Man](https://www.fanfiction.net/game/Mega-Man/) - Archive of Our Own has over 700 fan works for [Mega Man](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Rockman%20%7C%20Mega%20Man%20-%20All%20Media%20Types/works) ### The Verdict **G is in. Would like to play more Mega Man games.** **T is in. 100% in.** **Z is out. Would try Battle Network or Command Mission.** [// Modern Mega Man fandom is the millenial generation's response to intellectual property. CAPCOM has been slowly killing off Mega Man titles or releasing things that fans (and gamers don't like). So the fans take it upon themselves to take the formula, remix it, and make something new. ]: # ### This week's spotlight **[Mega Man-athon](https://megamanathon.com/)** What would happen if you took a bunch of Mega Man fans and they wanted to raise money? It might sound something like this: > In the year 20XX, a team of super-fighting robots join forces with one mission: to improve the lives of children and defeat Dr. Wily once and for all... The Mega Man-athon is an annual 72 hour marathon that takes place at Super Magfest to raise money for Child's Play (a charity that is set up to improve the lives of children with toys and games at hospitals). It is run by Half Empty Energytank and, has been running since 2013, and has raised over $10 000 USD so far! [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, They Might Be Giants! **T** What percentage of They Might Be Giants fans became fans via Tiny Toons? Are They Might Be Giants fans more likely to be hipsters (is the reverse true)? **Z** How many fan made music videos are there on YouTube? **G** After TMBG success with their dial-a-song service, has any band or musical act followed? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Mega Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mega_Man#Original_series) - [Reddit - Mega Man](https://www.reddit.com/r/Megaman/) - [Kickstarter - Mighty No 9](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mightyno9/mighty-no-9) - [Fanlore - Mega Man](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Mega_Man) - [Game Skinny - What Even is Capcom's Motive Behind the New Mega Man Cartoon?](https://www.gameskinny.com/s31ko/what-even-is-capcoms-motive-behind-the-new-mega-man-cartoon) - [Kotaku - How fan-made games keep Mega Man alive in the face of Capcom’s neglect](https://games.avclub.com/how-fan-made-games-keep-mega-man-alive-in-the-face-of-c-1798265899) - [YouTube - Sequelitis - Mega Man Classic vs. Mega Man X](https://youtu.be/8FpigqfcvlM) - [Fanlore - Mega Man](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Mega_Man) - [MechaDrake - Fanart](http://www.mechadrake.com/fanart.html) - [Kotaku Australia - The Internet Reacts to the New Mega Man Cartoon](https://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/05/the-internet-reacts-to-the-new-mega-man-cartoon/) - [Polygon - Street Fighter X Mega Man is part apology to Mega Man fans, part proof of life, says Capcom](https://www.polygon.com/2012/12/11/3756478/street-fighter-x-mega-man-part-apology-to-mega-man-fans-says-capcom) - [Kotaku Australia - Mega Man Fans Want to Know the Origin of this Out of Place Concept Art](https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/08/mega-man-fans-want-to-know-the-origin-of-this-out-of-place-concept-art/) - [Rockman Corner - Home](http://www.rockman-corner.com/) - [r/Megaman - I Might be the Only One Left Not Hurt by Capcom](https://www.reddit.com/r/Megaman/comments/72a4ui/i_might_be_the_only_one_left_not_hurt_by_capcom/) - [FanFiction.net - Search: Megaman](https://www.fanfiction.net/search/?keywords=megaman&ready=1&type=story) - [FanFiction.net - Search: Mega Man](https://www.fanfiction.net/search/?keywords=mega+man&ready=1&type=story) - [Archive of Our Own - Megaman](https://archiveofourown.org/works/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&work_search%5Bquery%5D=Megaman) - [Quora - What Are Some of the Greatest Marketing Disasters in History?](https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-the-greatest-marketing-disasters-in-history/answer/Aqshat-Seth?srid=ngWL) - [Facebook - 100,000 Strong For Bringing Back Mega Man Legends 3](https://www.facebook.com/GetMeOffTheMoon/) - [Youtube - Why Most Mega Man Fans Hate Capcom](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYbCpHyh80I) ### Music / Sound - Ending music from [The Megas - Melody from the Past](https://themegas.bandcamp.com/track/melody-from-the-past) - All other music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Gear”](https://thenounproject.com/term/gear/18498) by [Lucian Novosel](https://thenounproject.com/lucian.novosel) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#48 - Cosplay Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 17:37:00 +0000

This week, the season finale of our whirlwind tour around the globe searching fandoms far and wide. This week, we've left the globe to ascend to the _stars_ to talk about fans... of cosplay! Next week? Who knows! Season 6 is right around the corner. ## Where can I learn more about Lumpy Space Cosplay or SMZeldaRules? If you enjoyed our chat with these two fantastic cosplayers, you can learn more about them below! **Lumpy Space Cosplay** - Instagram: http://instagram.com/lumpyspacecosplay - Facebook: http://facebook.com/lumpyspacecosplay **SMZeldaRules** - Instagram: http://instagram.com/smzeldarules - Facebook: http://facebook.com/smzeldarulesartandcosplay ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Cosplay, a portmanteau of the words "costumed play", is a hobby where people, known as cosplayers, wear costumes to represent a specific character. Cosplay is quite diverse: cosplayers may create costumes, be part of photoshoots, attend masquerades, get 'into character', 'genderbend' characters, mash up known characters with other genres or intellectual property, or much, much more. **Fandom Origins:** The origins of cosplay are fascinating because of how it has changed, evolved, and traveled. The act of fan costuming predates the term cosplay: In 1939, Myrtle Rebecca (Morojo) and Forry Ackerman work some of the first fan costumes, "futuricostumes" at Worldcon 1939 (The world science fiction convention): > Morojo was the person who single-handedly brought fantasy into real physical space when she created and wore her own costume. Given modern cosplay’s intense focus on individual creativity and craft, it’s bizarre that Ackerman is the one most often credited as being the O.G. cosplayer in fan literature. Morojo, who made the futuristicostumes, deserves the bulk of the credit. To crush the next few decades of history into a single sentence: the idea of dressing up like your favorite fictional characters caught on and gained traction. After 1939, costume contests became an annual tradition at Worldcon, drawing more and more participants with each passing year. > > — [Fanlore - Cosplay](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Cosplay) It wasn't until much later that the term was coined, and the coinage varies in terms of who it is attributed to. Some sources claim that "cosplay started after a Japanese fan, Nov Takahashi, attended the 1984 Worldcon in Los Angeles and reported on the costuming activity there in Japanese SF magazines" ([Fanlore - Cosplay](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Cosplay)), however Nov Takahashi was using the term cosplay as early as June 1983, and there are other instances of fans in cosplay outside of North America. In any case, regardless of the origin of the term, because of the growing popularity in Japan and things like anime and manga becoming popular in North America during the 1990s, cosplay was re-imported to North America, assumed to be Japanese in origin. **Most Active:** [Google trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F014ht3) gives the impression that cosplay has been increasing in interest since 2004, but has some waviness to it: Overall, interest has increased, but it we seem to be in a local lull in interest. More than many of the other fandoms we've covered, the data is, unsurprisingly, periodic: There is a spike every year around July-ish that persists until October (which roughly corresponds to convention season). (Google trends data was attempted using 'costume' as the search, but the data was too noisy, a much different magnitude than that of 'Cosplay', and spiked every year in October.) **Fan Demographics** In an unexpected twist, [Cosplay Calamity](https://cosplaycalamity.com/2017/03/20/cosplay-demographics-01/), someone we have encountered at ConBravo!, has conducted a cosplay survey for 2017. The data is admittedly from a small sample size (just under 300 respondents), but gives us some approximation: - Age: The largest group of respondents were between 20-25 (39.2%) with the next largest group being between 26-30 (26.7%), then 31-35 (13.5%) and so on. - Gender: The majority of respondents were female (82.1%) - Sexual Orientation: 56.1% identified as straight (which means almost 44% identified as LGBTA) - Ethnicity: 79.4% identified as Caucasian - Education: Most respondents have an undergraduate degree (37.5%), with the next largest group having some undergraduate (19.6%), followed by trade school education (13.2%) - Income: 48.6% of respondents earn under 20k USD, with the next largest group earning between 20-40k USD (26.7%) [A separate survey](http://amp.dailydot.com/parsec/fandom/psychology-cosplay-survey-results/) run by clinical psychologists Dr. Andrea Letamendi and Dr. Robin Rosenberg of over 900 participants paints a similar picture. **Around the world:** Cosplay is popular around the world, but is most popular in... Japan. Other popular countries (by search trend data): Phillippines, South Korea, Singapore, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, Chile, Indonesia, and Mexico (United States is 14th place). It's unclear whether the lack of North American and European representation is a bias on our part, or reflecting of those who search (versus those who are fans). In this case, we defer to the data. **Where does fandom live:** The fandom lives necessarily in real life; in particular, at conventions. However, communities of cosplayer can be found all over the net in places like cosplay.com or CosplayAmino (an app). ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/47-brazilian-k-pop-fans/) Famous Last Words **G** Cosplay is the most popular now than its ever been. **Z** There are rules to the internet (e.g. Rule 34). Should there be a new rule about cosplay that states: "If there is an IP, there is cosplay of it". Alternatively, Is there anything for which there hasn't been a cosplay. **T** Is there a competition for the worst cosplay (like the Razzies)? [// Fortunately, there is not. Just a lot of assholes. ]: # ### The Verdict **T is in. So in. AN Idol / Masq.** **Z is out... insofar as not seeing cosplay in his future.** **G is in... no interest in making a costume though.** ### This week's spotlight **[Cosplay for a Cure](https://www.facebook.com/CosplayForACure/)** A group that we've actually had the chance to chat with before ([at Toronto Sailor Moon Celebration](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oikr_dxPJw))! Started in 2012 by Casey Brown and Gina Greco, Cosplay for a Cure is a non-profit, photo-booth style event that runs at a variety of different convention in the Greater Toronto Area (and surrounding areas) whose goal is to raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. [// Plugs go here ]: # ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Fanlore - Cosplay](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Cosplay) - [Fanlore - Masquerade: The Magazine of Science Fiction Costuming](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Masquerade:_The_Magazine_of_Science_Fiction_Costuming) - [Fanlore - Doesn't This Outfit Just Scream for Accessories...](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Doesn%27t_This_Outfit_Just_Scream_for_Accessories...) - [In Media Res - WoMEN’s Work: Representing Fan Labor on Heroes of Cosplay](http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/imr/2015/05/29/women-s-work-representing-fan-labor-heroes-cosplay) - [Racked - Meet the Woman Who Invented Cosplay](https://www.racked.com/2016/5/9/11451408/cosplay-inventor-morojo-myrtle-r-douglas) - [Gamervescent - Historic Moments in Cosplay](http://www.gamervescent.com/historic-moments-in-cosplay/) - [Vox - Cosplay: Why People Dress Up Like Comic Book Characters](https://www.vox.com/2014/7/23/5916509/cosplay-explained) - [Google Image Search - Missingno Cosplay](https://www.google.ca/search?q=missingno+cosplay&dcr=0&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjx4CM0PHWAhUr74MKHeIVDHYQ_AUICigB&biw=1696&bih=738) - [Cosplay.com Forum - Impossible Cosplays](http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=143141) - [Cosplay.com Forum - Anime/Game Characters That Are Rarely Cosplayed?](http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=131176) - [Smosh - 6 Comic Book Characters Who Never Get Cosplayed](http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/articles/6-comic-book-characters-who-never-get-cosplayed) - [Cosplay.com Forum - What Cosplays Are Not Seen Often?](http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=296324) - [Cosplay.com Forum - Christian Cosplayers?](http://www.cosplay.com/showthread.php?t=192413) - [Robin S. Rosenberg’s Website - Expressions of Fandom: Findings from a Psychological Survey of Cosplay and Costume Wear](http://www.drrobinrosenberg.com/resources/Cosplay-Expressions%20of%20Fandom.pdf) - [Wikipedia - Cosplay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosplay) - [Cosplay Calamity - I LIKE BIG DATA & CANNOT LIE – 01](https://cosplaycalamity.com/2017/03/20/cosplay-demographics-01/) - [The Daily Dot - Investigating the ‘Psychology of Cosplay’](http://amp.dailydot.com/parsec/fandom/psychology-cosplay-survey-results/) - [Kotaku - Cosplayers Are Passionate, Talented Folks. But There's A Darker Side To This Community, Too.](https://kotaku.com/5975038/cosplayers-are-passionate-talented-folks-but-theres-a-darker-side-to-this-community-too/amp) - [HuffPost - The Psychology Behind Cosplay](https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5818b95be4b0390e69d2a11b/amp) - [NPR - Cosplayers Use Costume To Unleash Their Superpowers](http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/07/23/486769691/cosplayers-use-costume-to-unleash-their-superpowers) - [The Establishment - We Need To Talk About Racism And Sexism In The Cosplay Community](https://theestablishment.co/unmasking-the-cosplay-communitys-sexism-and-racism-problem-3ca9431f58c0) - [The Week - Why the rise of cosplay is a bad sign for the U.S. economy](http://theweek.com/articles/443181/why-rise-cosplay-bad-sign-economy) - [Forbes - No, The Rise Of Cosplay Is Not A Bad Sign For The U.S. Economy](https://www.forbes.com/sites/modeledbehavior/2014/10/14/no-the-rise-of-cosplay-is-not-a-bad-sign-for-the-u-s-economy/amp/) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Cosplay"](https://thenounproject.com/term/cosplay/28553) by [Claire Jones](https://thenounproject.com/hivernoir) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#47 - Brazilian K-Pop Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 21:27:46 +0000

This week, we say "anyong haseyo" as we dive into fans of Korean Pop (K-Pop)... in Brazil?? Why is it so popular there, of all places? And what is it about this unique musical style? Is it riding out the Korean Wave?? Next week, our final episode of the season, takes us to fans of something a bit more global: Fans of cosplay! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Korean pop, abbreviated to 'K-pop', is a musical genre that originates in South Korea. The term is often used to describe a modern form of South Korean pop music drawing inspiration from a range of styles and genres around the world. K-pop's origins begin in the late 1980s and early 1990s with groups such as Seo Taiji and Boys being among the earliest in 1992. > The French Institut national de l'audiovisuel defines K-pop as a "fusion of synthesized music, sharp dance routines and fashionable, colorful outfits." ... Songs typically consist of one or a mixture of pop, rock, hip hop, R&B and electronic music genres. > > — [Wikipedia - K-pop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-pop) There is also a ton of history about K-pop that relates to Japan, and the West, Korean Culture in general, and even _enka_... but we only have a short time to do the research, so we would highly recommend reading more about it! **Fandom Origins:** Modern K-pop idol culture began with the band H.O.T in 1996, and another generation of fans started with TVXQ and BoA which broke into the neighbouring Japanese market (and the world). However, with the advent of social media and Korean TV shows, K-pop and its fandom may just be a small part of the Korean Wave. **Most Active:** For the first time in _Fanthropological's_ history, the answer to the question "when was this fandom most active" is _now_. Since January 2004, interest in K-pop (using [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F02yh8l) as a proxy) is the highest it has ever been and has been on a huge trend upwards since approximately January 2010. Interest is still rising, those it has been less dramatic of an increase in interest since approximately March 2012 (For reference, _Gangnam Style_ debuted on Youtube in July 2012). **Fandom Demographics:** Thank goodness for fans! The [kpop subreddit has conducted a census](https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/55g79h/reddit_kpop_census_2016_results/) which gives us an interesting (if rough sense) of the fandom demographics of North American K-pop fans. Based on this data (and that caveat): - Age: The majority of fans are between 18-24 (61.5%), with the next largest group being fans aged 25-34 (20%) and fans aged 13-17 (15.6%) - Gender: The majority of fans from this survey are male (56%) compared to female (42.6%) - Ethnicity: The majority of fans are Asian (46%), Caucasian (44.5%), or Hispanic (8.4%) However, a Master's student, Maur-Anne Griffonnet-Barge, conducted a survey as part of her thesis and may give a [more 'global' dataset](http://beyondhallyu.com/k-pop/what-are-k-pop-fans-like-according-to-this-survey-theyre-actually-pretty-cool/): - Age: The majority are age 19 or younger with a close second being fans age 20-29 - Gender: Differing from the reddit survey, the vast majority identify as female - Ethnicity: The majority of respondents were white, with the next largest group being fans who are Asian. While it is difficult to estimate the number of fans, the Hallyu (Korean Wave) index, [gives a conservative estimate of 35 million "hardcore" fans of Korean Pop Culture worldwide](https://www.quora.com/How-many-Kpop-fans-are-there-in-the-world-divided-into-America-Europa-Asia-Africa-Australia-and-South-America) and there are 60 million registered Hallyu fan club members in 109 countries. Assuming K-pop is a subset of that, it would still put K-pop fans in the millions. **Around the world:** We know that K-pop has gained some popularity around the world, but using the same google trends data, it appears that K-pop is popular in particular in countries such as Brunei, Myanmar, Phillipines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia, and... South Korea. **Fan terms:** - Sasaeng (_private life_): fans who pry into the private lives of K-pop fans and exhibit stalker-like behaviour. Fun fact: "a new law introduced in February 2016 in Korea saw the penalty for stalking rise to around US$17,000 as well a possible two-year jail sentence" ([Wikipedia - K-pop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-pop#Culture)) ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/46-lucha-libre-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z** K-pop is so popular in Brazil ... after door was opened by K-dramas. **G** K-pop is popular in Brazil because of a song or band uses Brazillian rhythms (or that appeal to Brazillian listeners). **T** K-pop became popular in Brazil because of a legal ban that was lifted, and K-pop happened to be popular among that. [// Brazil is hugely multi-ethnic: While the majority identify as white (47.7%), the next largest group identifies as 'Pardo' (brown; Multiracial; 43.1%); Probably owes more to the Korean Wave - The Hallyu Index, the state-funded, annual index measuring the reach of the Korean Wave puts Brazil in the 'minority interest stage' with medium growth. Probably has more to do with US, Britain, and Japan being major exporters of culture and Korea being a newcomer to that arena. As it turns out, there are more Koreans in Brazil than anywhere else in Latin America (about 50 000) and about 1.5 million people of Japanese descent in Brazil... so, a lot of Asian folks and probably Korean Wave ]: # [// https://www.soompi.com/2011/07/08/kpop-in-south-america-why-so-famous/ ]: # ### The Verdict **T is out (but will still listen to K-pop. It's good).** **G is in... and recommends TVXQ's Something.** **Z is in?** ### This week's spotlight **[Reddit K-Pop Census 2017](https://www.reddit.com/r/kpop/comments/756lov/reddit_kpop_census_2017/)** Are you a fan of K-pop? You should take part in the r/k-pop census and be counted! **[Fan Rice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_rice)** Not so much a charity as a unique K-pop phenomenon where fans donate rice to their favourite artists. Often times, the rice is then donated to a charity of the idol's choice. Apparently, this trend started after Shin Hye-sung's concert on August 11, 2007. > Donating rice indicates that fans take greater social responsibility besides showing their respect and support to their favourite artists. ... > As of 2013, the record of fan rice donated for a celebrity event is held by the fan club of 2PM, where fans from different countries donated 28.088 tonnes of rice for their finale concert. > > — [Wikipedia - Fan Rice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_rice) [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words [// World tour is over. We're going to the STARS! ]: # This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Cosplay! **G** Cosplay is the most popular now than its ever been. **Z** There are rules to the internet (e.g. Rule 34). Should there be a new rule about cosplay that states: "If there is an IP, there is cosplay of it". Alternatively, Is there anything for which there hasn't been a cosplay. **T** Is there a competition for the worst cosplay (like the Razzies)? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - K-pop](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-pop) - [Wikipedia - Brazil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil#Race_and_ethnicity) - [Wikipedia - Korean Brazilians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Brazilians) - [Wikipedia - Japanese Brazillians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Brazilians) - [Wikipedia - Fan Rice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_rice) - [Time - Forget Politics, Let’s Dance: Why K-Pop Is a Latin American Smash](http://world.time.com/2013/08/01/forget-politics-lets-dance-why-k-pop-is-a-latin-american-smash/) - [Mind Equals Blown: K-Pop and J-Pop: A Comparison](http://mindequalsblown.net/editorials/k-pop-and-j-pop-a-comparison) - [Quartz - Why it was so easy for Korea to overtake Japan in the pop culture wars](https://qz.com/21468/why-it-was-so-easy-for-korea-to-take-over-japan-in-the-pop-culture-wars/) - [Quora - Why do people like K-pop?](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-like-K-pop) - [Lifehack.org - Wondering Why K Pop is So Popular? Here are 10 Reasons](http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/wondering-why-pop-popular-here-are-10-reasons.html) - [Fanlore - K-Pop](https://fanlore.org/wiki/K-Pop) - [Stanford Magazine - The Persecution of Daniel Lee](https://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=40913) - [Fail. Fandom. Anon. - Re: Kpop?](http://fail-fandomanon.livejournal.com/17923.html?thread=79371779#t79371779) - [KPop Secrets! - Dedicated Trainees or Not](http://kpopsecrets.tumblr.com/) - [Soompi - K-Pop in South America. Why So Famous?](https://www.soompi.com/2011/07/08/kpop-in-south-america-why-so-famous/) - [allkpop Forums - BTS’s Popularity in Brazil is No Joke](https://www.allkpop.com/forum/threads/btss-popularity-in-brazil-is-no-joke.62262/) - [Next Shark - Racist Brazilian Host Berates K-Pop Group KARD on TV, Audience Cheers](https://nextshark.com/racist-brazilian-host-berates-k-pop-group-kard-tv-audience-cheers/) - [OneHallyu - KPop Idols/Groups vs Brazilian Idols/Groups](https://onehallyu.com/topic/253477-kpop-idolsgroups-vs-brazilian-idolsgroups/) - [Remezcla - How Latinos Became K-Pop’s Second Biggest Fanbase in the US](http://remezcla.com/features/music/k-pop-latinos/) - [Seoul National University - Landing of the Wave: Hallyu in Peru and Brazil](http://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/94084/1/08.pdf) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Psy"](https://thenounproject.com/term/psy/1133134) by [Yeong Ron Kim](https://thenounproject.com/yeongrong.kim.5) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#46 - Lucha Libre Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 17:37:00 +0000

What is it about those high-flying, high-energy performers that get fans so worked up? And why isn't there more of this amazing sport elsewhere in the world (perhaps there is)? This week, we're talking about fans of Lucha Libre! Next week, we'll be looking at the Korean Wave, specifically, at fans of K-pop (in Brazil)?! [// Vámonos cabrón! ]: # [// Va-monos cabron]: # ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Lucha Libre, literally "Free fight" in English, refers to a form of professional wrestling developed in Mexico. It is often characterized by its colourful masks, rapid moves, and "high-flying" maneuvers. Lucha libre wrestlers are known as luchadores (literally, wrestlers). Lucha libre wrestling dates back to 1863 during the French intervention into Mexico, developed by Enrique Ugartechea (the first Mexican wrestler) from Greco-Roman wrestling. However, it probably wasn't until the 1930s with the foundation of the Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (Mexican Wrestling Enterprise) that the sport gained a national foothold. It wasn't until the 1940s when the iconic idea of the masked wrestler entered into the sport. In 1942, a silver-masked wrestler, El Santo (The Saint) made his debut in Mexico City and won an 8-man battle royal. His career spanned nearly five decades and he became a folk hero and symbol of justice for the common man. **Fandom Origins:** **Names:** - Lucha Libre - Luchador - Mexican Wrestling [// Most matches feature a battle between two main archetypes: “rudos,” with stocky, brutish frames, versus “técnicos,” who are generally more athletic to make up for their smaller size. Bad versus good. .. But perhaps most unique about lucha libre is the advent of a particular type of técnico: wrestlers dressed in drag, as seen above, known as “exóticos.” ]: # **Most Active:** It's always hard to measure the activity of a fandom; looking at [Google Trends data since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F03zd5x,lucha%20libre), the sport has enjoyed a lot of variation in popularity. It would make sense to guess that it is less popular now than towards the 1950s and 1960s (given the proliferation of media around characters such as El Santo), but even looking at the Google Trends data, there have been ebbs and flows in popularity. In particular, a rise in interest around October 2006, and again in January 2016. **Size of Fandom:** > ... the biggest two or three lucha libre events of the year can attract crowds of 17,000, most weekly fights see attendances of between 1,000 and 3,000 people, with tickets costing about 300 pesos. > > — [BBC - Mexican wrestling grapples to secure a bright future](http://www.bbc.com/news/business-33064625) As a rough estimate, there are probably at least a hundred thousand fans of Lucha Libre. However, there may be overlap with other wrestling fandoms. **Around the world:** Interest in Lucha Libre is likely more global than from its outset. Though the majority of interest in the sport stems from Mexico, there is a lot of interest from other tropical (and in particular, latin) parts of the world: Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Bolivia, for example. **Related fandoms:** - WWE - Japanese Wrestling [// Fast forward 26 years, and Mexican wrestlers still don't get paid very much, particularly in comparison with the stars of the US behemoth that is World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). For while WWE wrestlers can easily pocket $2m (£1.3m) a year, the best lucha libre fighters earn about $1,600 at the largest weekly events, and most are paid significantly less. ]: # [// As a result, Lucha Libre AAA's annual turnover is about $20m, compared with $500m at WWE. ]: # ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/45-hatsune-miku-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z** Why are masks important to Lucha Libre? **T** In mask, out of mask... Bruce Wayne like character, never in the same place at the same time. **G** In American Wrestling, working on a limb ... always the left side. Lucha Libre: always the right side. Why? ### The Verdict **T is out.** **Z is out... but is going to check out Lucha Underground** **G is in!** ### This week's spotlight **[Wrestling for Charity](https://wfcwrestling.wordpress.com/)** Located in North Carolina and founded in 2005, WFC is a not-for-profit that raises money for a variety of different organizations. > The mission of Wrestling For Charity LLC is to bring a positive fan and family experience to wrestling enthusiasts, while raising money and awareness for community organizations and causes. > > — [Wrestling for Charity - Homepage](https://wfcwrestling.wordpress.com/) [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, K-pop (in Brazil)! **Z** K-pop is so popular in Brazil ... after door was opened by K-dramas. **G** K-pop is popular in Brazil because of a song or band uses Brazillian rhythms (or that appeal to Brazillian listeners). **T** K-pop became popular in Brazil because of a legal ban that was lifted, and K-pop happened to be popular among that. ## Where can I learn more about (Guest)? More information about guest ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Lucha Libre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucha_libre) - [BBC - Mexican wrestling grapples to secure a bright future](http://www.bbc.com/news/business-33064625) - [ThinkProgress - A Night At ‘Lucha Libre,’ Wrestling That Makes WWE Seem Like Sesame Street](https://thinkprogress.org/a-night-at-lucha-libre-wrestling-that-makes-wwe-seem-like-sesame-street-5c2a1dc34493/) - [NPR - In Mexico, The Crowd Loves To Hate Pro Wrestler Who Plays Trump Supporter](http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/02/07/513883586/in-mexico-the-crowd-loves-to-hate-pro-wrestler-who-plays-trump-supporter) - [The Culture Trip - The Lucha Libre: A Brief History Of Mexican Wrestling](https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/the-lucha-libre-a-brief-history-of-mexican-wrestling/) - [Vantage - The Grisly Spectacle of Lucha Libre Extrema](https://medium.com/vantage/the-grisly-spectacle-of-lucha-libre-extrema-cb4b60213af4) - [CoachMag.co.uk - Why Lucha Libre is better than the WWE](http://www.coachmag.co.uk/entertainment/5523/why-lucha-libre-is-better-than-the-wwe) - [NPR - In Mexico, The Crowd Loves to Hate Pro Wrestler Who Plays Trump Supporter](http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/02/07/513883586/in-mexico-the-crowd-loves-to-hate-pro-wrestler-who-plays-trump-supporter) - [How Stuff Works - How Mexican Wrestling Works](http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/mexican-wrestling.htm) - [ABC7 - The History of the Lucha Libre Mask Traces Back Hundreds of Years](http://abc7ny.com/society/the-lucha-libre-mask-traces-back-hundreds-of-years/1412999/) - [Mexican Poncho - Mexican Wrestling Masks History](https://www.mexicanponcho.com.au/history-mexican-wrestling-masks/) - [Quora - What Does the Mask Symbolize in Mexican Wrestling?](https://www.quora.com/What-does-the-mask-symbolize-in-Mexican-wrestling) - [LaAficion.com - Why Do We Like Wrestling?](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://laaficion.milenio.com/firmas/cuachara_luchagor/gusta-lucha-libre_18_288751161.html&prev=search) - [YouTube - Lucha Libre Wrestling in the Bronx](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpNzER4qvqI) - [Wikipedia - Santo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo) - [r/ SquaredCircle - What does it mean to "work the right side" as a style?](https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/t4mtu/what_does_it_mean_to_work_the_right_side_as_a/) - [Could anyone explain some the differences between Japanese and Mexican wrestling?](https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/1fciwc/could_anyone_explain_some_the_differences_between/) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Wrestling Mask"](https://thenounproject.com/term/wrestling-mask/197443) by [Javier Triana](https://thenounproject.com/Javier.Reborn) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#45 - Hatsune Miku Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 17:37:00 +0000

Our fandom journey this season takes us all the way to Japan to talk about fans of the world's most famous _virtual_ pop idol: Hatsune Miku! How did such a relatively niche thing become a global phenomenon? And who is pulling the strings?? Next week, we're off to Mexico to talk about fans of that exciting sport: Lucha Libre! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Hatsune Miku is a VOCALOID. What is a VOCALOID? A VOCALOID is a singing synthesizer application developed by YAMAHA. It was an international effort to create a synthesizer to act as a replacement singer. The original VOCALOID engine was release in 2004. Hatsune Miku was the second VOCALOID released as part of the VOCALOID2 engine and the first member of the Character Vocal Series created by Crypton Future Media Inc. Her name literally means "the first sound from the future." She is also a humanoid persona: a 16-year-old girl with long turquoise twintails and her voice is modelled after Saki Fujita. In September of 2007, Amazon.co.jp reported over 57 million yen (Over a half-million USD) in sales for the Hatsune Miku software, and she has recorded over 100 000 songs. She has since been portrayed in many different media, and is also a Japanese pop idol, among other things. [// A SPREAD IN JAPANESE PLAYBOY??? ]: # **Size of Fandom:** The vocaloid subreddit has over 15000 subscribers, and the Hatsune Miku subreddit has over 2600. The actual number of fans is probably somewhere in the low hundreds of thousands though: > She’s beautiful, she’s talented, she’s immensely popular…and she’s not real. Hatsune Miku the virtual popstar creation of Crypton Future Media in Japan, has sold out another concert. Her much anticipated second annual March 9th (39) performance was seen live by over 2000 attendees, watched by thousands more in theaters screening the concert around the country, and streamed in real time to over 160,000 fans via Nico Nico Douga. That is a level of attendance reserved for world class entertainment, and Hatsune Miku didn’t fail to deliver. Her nearly three hour show featured multiple encores, special guest appearances, and was met by fervent enthusiasm by her fans attending live in Tokyo. > > — [SingularityHub - 160,000+ Watch Virtual Popstar Hatsune Miku Return to the Stage (video)](https://singularityhub.com/2011/04/12/160000-watch-virtual-popstar-hatsune-miku-return-to-the-stage-video-2/) **Changes in Fandom:** Interest in Hatsune Miku has been steady, with a slight decline in the last few years (according to [Google Trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F0cp0qm1,%2Fm%2F05p812,vocaloid)). There was a huge spike in interest around the time of her release (Oct 2007), and interest in her (and other VOCALOIDs) has been pretty stable ever since. **Around the world:** While Hatsune Miku enjoy fans from around the world, the most interest in her stems from Japan, and, to a lesser degree, from countries such as Taiwan, Vietnam, Chile, Hong Kong, and South Korea. ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/44-starcraft-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z** Hatsune Miku is popular in part due to dating sims. **G** A portion of her fanbase does not know that she is not a real person **T** Are there male counterparts? Is Hatsune Miku peak moe? [// Definitely not peak moe. I think that there's only going to be more and more moe as time goes on, and as men continue to isolate themselves more (and as society continues the way that it does]: # [// That being said... I literally searched for Hatsune Miku peak moe, nothing. ]: # [// As for male vocaloids... I did find some: Yuezheng Longya, Arsloid, and Yohioloid. ]: # [// In terms of classification, it is generally considered that "VOCALOIDs" earn their classification when: They have a VOCALOID™-powered vocal released. This includes characters from games with vocals powered by the VOCALOID™ software, as well as privately obtained licensed vocals. AND They officially are confirmed as having a licensed vocal in development or planning stage has begun. ]: # [// Derivatives are not classified as "VOCALOIDs" nor are characters powered by other software such as UTAU and neither are supported by YAMAHA Corporation. ]: # ### The Verdict **Z is out.** **G is out (Hatsune Miku). 1000% in on vocaloid technology.** **T is mostly out.** ### This week's spotlight Nothing this week. Sorry. [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Lucha Libre! **Z** Why are masks important to Lucha Libre? **T** In mask, out of mask... Is there a Bruce Wayne-like character, who is never in the same place at the same time? **G** In American Wrestling, working on a limb ... is always the left side. In Lucha Libre: it's always the right side. Why? [// Ask people on stream ]: # ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Vocaloid Wikia - Vocaloid (mascot)](http://vocaloid.wikia.com/wiki/Vocaloid_(mascot)) - [Vocaloid Wikia - Hatsune Miku](http://vocaloid.wikia.com/wiki/Hatsune_Miku) - [Vocaloid Wikia - Character Vocal Series](http://vocaloid.wikia.com/wiki/Character_Vocal_Series) - [Vocaloid Wikia - VOCALOID2](http://vocaloid.wikia.com/wiki/VOCALOID2) - [Vocaloid Wikia - VOCALOID](http://vocaloid.wikia.com/wiki/VOCALOID) - [Fanlore - Hatsune Miku](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Hatsune_Miku_(Vocaloid)) - [Wikipedia - Hatsune Miku](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsune_Miku) - [Polygon - What to expect at a Hatsune Miku concert](https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/31/11818548/hatsune-miku-concert-review-nyc-may-2016) - [NewStatesman - Crowd-sourced pop singer Hatsune Miku reveals the true nature of stardom](https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/observations/2017/03/crowd-sourced-pop-singer-hatsune-miku-reveals-true-nature-stardom) - [Kotaku - The Crowd Went Wild For Hatsune Miku, The Virtual Anime Pop Star](https://kotaku.com/the-crowd-went-wild-for-hatsune-miku-the-virtual-anime-1773633946) - [Vulture - Hatsune Miku Is a Piece of Software. She May Also Be the Future of Music.](http://www.vulture.com/2014/11/hatsune-miku-the-future-of-music.html) - [Polygon - Is Hatsune Miku a better pop star than Justin Bieber? A video explainer on the future of pop stardom](https://www.polygon.com/2014/6/24/5834596/who-is-hatsune-miku-video) - [Fanlore - Vocaloid](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Vocaloid) - [Youtube - Hatsune Miku - Rolling Girl - Live in Sapporo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyTmXLWCazw) - [Youtube - Hatsune Miku - World is Mine/ryo (supercell) (初音ミク)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhl5afLEKdo) - [PRI - Japan’s Biggest Pop Star Right Now is a Fetishized Hologram](https://www.pri.org/stories/2014-04-10/japan-s-biggest-pop-star-right-now-fetishized-hologram) - [r/Vocaloid - Why Do You Like Vocaloid?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Vocaloid/comments/5uij7e/why_do_you_like_vocaloid/) - [Yahoo Japan - Why Are You Treated Like Geeks If You Like Hatsune Miku](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q12175043127&prev=search) - [Yahoo Japan - Does Liking Hatsune Miku Make You an Otaku?](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ja&u=https://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q11100859876&prev=search) - [RocketNews24 - Japanese Magazine’s Checklist for the Ideal Girl has a Whopping 23 Points](http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/02/28/japanese-magazines-checklist-for-the-ideal-girl-has-a-whopping-23-points/) - [Buzzfeed - How Did A CGI Anime Character Named Hatsune Miku End Up Performing On The "Late Show"?](https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/who-the-heck-is-hatsune-miku) - [RojakDaily - Who Is This Virtual Singer Hatsune Miku And How Did She Make Over 2.5 Million Fans Fall For Her?](http://www.rojakdaily.com/entertainment/article/3424/who-is-this-virtual-singer-hatsune-miku-and-how-did-she-make-over-2-5-million-fans-fall-for-her) - [MikuFan.com - Today is Miku’s 5th “Disappearance Day” Anniversary](http://www.mikufan.com/today-is-mikus-5th-disappearance-day-anniversary/#sthash.ayU5VBHn.dpbs) - [Vocaloid Wiki - Legal Implications](http://vocaloid.wikia.com/wiki/Legal_Implications) - [Kotaku - Fans Crowdfund A Hatsune Miku Shrine For Over $40,000](https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/09/fans-crowdfund-a-hatsune-miku-shrine-for-over-40000/) - [YouTube - Design at Large - Tara Knight, Miku: The Open Source Girl Who Conquered the World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5inrCgSGDg&t=1040s) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Woman Hairstyle"](https://thenounproject.com/term/woman-hairstyle/1026778) by [habione 404](https://thenounproject.com/habione.404) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Singing"](https://thenounproject.com/term/singing/1126348) by [Tomasz Pasternak](https://thenounproject.com/tomekpst) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#44 - Starcraft Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 18:14:39 +0000

This week, we're continuing our journey around the world, venturing to South Korea to up our actions per minute (APM) as we learn more about fans of Starcraft! What is it about this almost-twenty-year-old game that is still so captivating to fans? Or has it lost its allure since the sequel (and many competitors) have been released? And why is it so popular in South Korea, of all places? Next week, we'll be heading off to Japan to learn about the world's most famous virtual idol, Hatsune Miku! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** > StarCraft is a military science fiction media franchise ... owned by Blizzard Entertainment. The series, set in the beginning of the 26th century, centers on a galactic struggle for dominance among four species—the adaptable and mobile Terrans, the ever-evolving insectoid Zerg, the powerfully enigmatic Protoss, and the "god-like" Xel'Naga creator race. > ... > The original game [released in 1998] and its official expansion have been praised as one of the benchmark real-time strategy games of its time. The series has gathered a solid following around the world > > — [Wikipedia - StarCraft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft) **Size of Fandom:** As of December 2010 (admittedly, not the most recent data) StarCraft II had sold over 4.5 million copies, and had over 2 million illegal downloads (setting a record for most data transferred by a single torrent in only three months). By June 2007, Starcraft and its expansion, Brood War, had sold nearly 10 million copies combined (4.5 million, of which, were sold in South Korea alone). The StarCraft reddit has over 190 000 subscribers, and the StarCraft II subreddit has over 10 000. **Changes in Fandom:** [Interest in StarCraft has been on the decline](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F06nh1,%2Fm%2F02qty_5,starcraft) with interest reaching its height in August 2010 (the release of Starcraft II), and some other spikes in (Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm's release) and May 2007 (the Blizzard World Wide Invitational hosted in Korea). [// Worth noting that google trends show relative interest to itself, not relative to other fandoms / search terms ]: # [// (apparently 150 apm, effectively 2.5 actions per second, is what it takes to be proficient in StarCraft II) ]: # ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/43-cricket-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z** In the game StarCraft, there are three races you can choose: which is most popular in South Korea and why? **G** Is StarCraft an expression of Korea's interest in sci-fi in general (compared to China and Warcraft)? **T** StarCraft 2 is less popular than StarCraft 1 because it sucks. [// I mean... not wrong. Lots of people _said_ this, but didn't back it up. One quora question cited that StarCraft II is younger (balance not as resolved) and StarCraft I is a slower game, which makes it more interesting (and is harder to master). ]: # [// THIS was an interesting quote though: ]: # [// > Starcraft 2 drastically reduces all of this. It has autocontrol groups meaning you can just select you entire huge army and command at once, It has Automine rally point, Shift click for multiple build order, stacking of researches => basically less for the player to do. ]: # [// > **But the problem is exactly this. Starcraft 2 managed to remove what differentiated the great Starcraft players from others.** ]: # ### The Verdict **T is out** **G is out. Doesn't need anymore.** **Z is out.** ### This week's spotlight No spotlight this week. Sorry folks. [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, *Hatsune Miku*! **Z** Hatsune Miku is popular in part due to dating sims. **G** A portion of her fanbase does not know that she is not a real person. **T** Are there male counterparts? Is Hatsune Miku peak moe? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Ars Technica - Build, gather, brawl, repeat: The history of real-time strategy games](https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/09/build-gather-brawl-repeat-the-history-of-real-time-strategy-games/) - [Wikipedia - StarCraft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft) - [Wikipedia - StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StarCraft_II:_Wings_of_Liberty) - [Quora - Why do some people prefer the original Starcraft to Starcraft 2?](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-people-prefer-the-original-Starcraft-to-Starcraft-2) - [Kotaku - Why is StarCraft so popular in Korea?](https://kotaku.com/5595262/why-is-starcraft-so-popular-in-korea) - [Kotaku - The End Of An Era For StarCraft and South Korea](https://kotaku.com/the-end-of-an-era-for-starcraft-and-south-korea-1787917075) - [Youtube - Starcraft - A Blank Canvas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eetGJMLrFwE&feature=youtu.be) - [IGN - THE RISE AND FALL OF STARCRAFT II AS AN ESPORT](http://ca.ign.com/articles/2016/03/22/the-rise-and-fall-of-starcraft-ii-as-an-esport) - [Cracked - 5 Insane True Facts About StarCraft: The Professional Sport](http://www.cracked.com/article_18763_5-insane-true-facts-about-starcraft-professional-sport.html) - [RankedFTW - 1v1 Race Distribution](http://www.rankedftw.com/stats/races/1v1/#v=2&r=2&l=0) - [Quora - How did StarCraft get so popular in South Korea? Why did it not become hugely popular in Japan, where a lot of similar cultural forces are in effect?](https://www.quora.com/How-did-StarCraft-get-so-popular-in-South-Korea-Why-did-it-not-become-hugely-popular-in-Japan-where-a-lot-of-similar-cultural-forces-are-in-effect) - [Ask a Korean! - Why is StarCraft Popular in Korea?](http://askakorean.blogspot.ca/2010/02/why-is-starcraft-popular-in-korea.html) - [Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada - Zergling Rush: A Look at the Assailing South Korean Gaming Industry](https://www.asiapacific.ca/blog/zergling-rush-look-assailing-south-korean-gaming-industry) - [SC2VN - Home](http://www.sc2vn.com/) - [decal.org - Game Theory With Applications to Starcraft](http://www.decal.org/file/1202) - [Scientific American - How a Computer Game is Reinventing the Science of Expertise](https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/how-a-computer-game-is-reinventing-the-science-of-expertise-video/) - [NPR - U.S. Recognizaes A South Korean StarCraft Player As An Athlete](http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2013/12/15/250793493/u-s-recognizes-a-south-korean-starcraft-player-as-an-athlete) - [The Guardian - StarCraft II and The Bad Boy of Pro-Gaming](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/may/20/starcraft-2-greg-idra-fields) - [Daum.net TIP - Protoss, Terran, Zerg - What Should I Do?](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ko&u=http://tip.daum.net/question/59703034&prev=search) - [Dot Esports - Why Protoss has Dominated Pro 'StarCraft 2' in 2014](https://dotesports.com/general/starcraft-protoss-dominate-why-216) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Strategy"](https://thenounproject.com/term/strategy/969081) by [Thomas' designs](https://thenounproject.com/thomasdesigns) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Alien"](https://thenounproject.com/term/alien/724580) by [NOPIXEL](https://thenounproject.com/nopixel) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#43 - Cricket Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 17:37:00 +0000

This week, we're batting our best and bowling for the fences as we talk about fans of that popular English sport, Cricket! Why is it so popular? Is it really as slow as they say? Stay tuned! Next week, there'll be less qq and more pew-pew when we dive into fans of StarCraft! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Cricket is in some ways, not dissimilar from more familiar (to North Americans) sports such as baseball: > Cricket is a ... played between two teams of eleven players each on a cricket field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard-long pitch with a target called the wicket (a set of three wooden stumps topped by two bails) at each end. Each phase of play is called an innings during which one team bats, attempting to score as many runs as possible, whilst their opponents field. Depending on the type of match, the teams have one or two innings apiece and, when the first innings ends, the teams swap roles for the next innings. > > — [Wikipedia - Cricket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket) It is unclear when the sport began, but it is likely to have started around the middle of the 16th century and the first international matches took place in the second half of the 19th century (with the sport having grown globally as part of the expansion of the British Empire). Interestingly enough, the first international match took place between the United States and Canada (of all places) in 1844. **Most Active:** Unlike many recent fandoms we're explored, interest in cricket seems to be increasing! [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F09xp_,%2Fm%2F018jz) indicates a slow increase in interest in the sport since 2004, with a few spikes recently corresponding to the Cricket World Cup (the largest spike happening in 2015). **Size of Fandom:** The [Cricket subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/) has about 48 thousand subscribers. In 2015-2016, the National Cricket Census of Australia recealed that over 1.3 million people play cricket (Australia has a population of about 24 million), 24% of cricketers being female. [WorldAtlas.com](http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-most-popular-sports-in-the-world.html) estimates the number of followers of cricket to be 2.5 billion (behind soccer, at 4 billion). **Around the world:** Cricket is popular around the world. The international governing body of cricket, the International Cricket Council, has 105 members representing a large part of the world. It is most popular in the British commonwealth, and, in particular, Pakistan and India. ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/#-name) Famous Last Words **G** ~~What is the connection between the game cricket and the insect cricket?~~ Has anyone become a fan of cricket via the fifth Doctor? **Z** Is there a rap song or concept album about the sport of cricket? **T** Why are people fans of such a slow game? [// I may not know the _fan_ part of this answer, but I do know that cricket doesn't have to be a slow game. While I had heard of games lasting for days, these were probably games of _Test cricket_ which has unlimited overs (kind of like an at-bat?). _Twenty20 cricket_ is played over a few hours where each team has single innings of 20 overs (120 deliveries) which sounds a _lot faster_. ]: # ### The Verdict **Z is in ... well, it's on the list, anyway.** **T is out. Call me when there is robo-Cricket.** **G is out... unless someone emails g@thenickscast.com with the best cricket has to offer. Then, maybe** ### This week's spotlight **[Chance to Shine](https://www.chancetoshine.org/about-us)** Chance to Shine is a charity that teaches kids life skills and spreads 'the power of cricket'. [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, StarCraft! **Z** In the game StarCraft, there are three races you can choose: which is most popular in South Korea and why? **G** Is StarCraft an expression of South Korea's interest in sci-fi in general (compared to China and Warcraft)? **T** StarCraft 2 is less popular than StarCraft 1 because it sucks. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Cricket.com.au - Cricket becomes Australia's No.1 participation sport](http://www.cricket.com.au/news/cricket-australia-census-participation-numbers-women-men-children-james-sutherland/2016-08-23) - [WorldAtlas.com - What Are The Most Popular Sports In The World?](http://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-most-popular-sports-in-the-world.html) - [Wikipedia - Cricket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket) - [ESPN Cricinfo | Cricket Blogs – Ian McDonald: Why Cricket is the Greatest of All Games](http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/934488.html) - [Online Etymology Dictionary – Cricket](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cricket) - [Quora – Thomas Foster's Answer to What is so Great About Cricket?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-so-great-about-cricket/answer/Thomas-Foster) - [Quora – Why Do Most Indians Like Cricket?](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-most-Indians-like-cricket) - [Quora – Why Most of People Like Cricket?](https://www.quora.com/Why-most-of-people-like-cricket) - [r/Cricket – Why Is Cricket So Focused on International Contests Rather than Domestic Leagues?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/6jffrx/why_is_cricket_so_focused_on_international/) - [Fanlore – The_Cricketer](https://fanlore.org/wiki/The_Cricketer) - [The Independent – What a Smash: A Concept Album About Cricket](http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/what-a-smash-a-concept-album-about-cricket-1731286.html) - [Wikipedia – The Duckworth Lewis Method](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Duckworth_Lewis_Method) - [YouTube – India Rap Song-Rapteek (Official 2015 Cricket World Cup Song)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRe8HG4_e4I) - [The Guardian - Why do we play cricket?](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/dec/10/why-do-we-play-cricket) - [ESPN Cricinfo - Why do you love cricket? (QUESTION AND ANSWER WITH RORY BREMNER)](http://www.espncricinfo.com/page2/content/story/80107.html) - [Wikipedia - History of cricket](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_cricket) - [r/ cricket - Trying to bring people into the game](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cricket/comments/6z656g/trying_to_bring_people_into_the_game/) - [TARDIS Wiki - Cricket](http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Cricket) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Cricket"](https://thenounproject.com/term/orc-shaman/318103) by [Darrin Loeliger](https://thenounproject.com/MrMuma) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#42 - World of Warcraft Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 17:37:00 +0000

Oh no! We've been transported into a world _inside the computer_ where we need to defeat big bads with the help of our monster pals! That's right, we're in China talking about the world's most popular massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG), World of Warcraft! Why _is_ it so popular after more than a decade? Next week, we're gonna get _wicket_ on you as we travel to India to talk about fans of the oft misunderstood sport, _cricket_! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** World of Warcraft is a popular MMORPG created by Blizzard Entertainment and set in the already existing _Warcraft_ universe. It was released in 2004, and the player takes on the role of a member of either the Horde, or the Alliance as one of the many multitudes of races and classes. In China, it is known as "World of Magic Beasts". **Most Active:** Interest in [World of Warcraft has been on the decline](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F021dvx,Aion), with the most interest taking place between November 2004 and September 2011 with a peak between January 2007 and January 2009. **Size of Fandom:** As of 2014, according [to an article in Engadget](https://www.engadget.com/2014/01/28/100-000-000-world-of-warcraft-accounts-infographic/), there were over 100 million World of Warcraft accounts. However, a more accurate number might the number of active subscriptions: [a peak of 12 million in October of 2010, and 5.5 million in October 2015](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Warcraft). The subreddit, [r/wow](https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/) has over 400 000 subscribers. **Around the world:** World of Warcraft is popular in many different parts of the world. Below are some rough estimates of number of players from different parts of the world: > 1. China, Asian Realms: 3.2 million players > 2. United States and Canada, North American Realms: 3.0 million players > 3. United Kingdom, European Realms: 1.0 million players > 4. South Korea, Asian Realms: 800,000 players > 5. Germany, European Realms: 600,000 players > 6. Taiwan, Asian Realms: 350,000 players > 7. France, European Realms: 200,000 players > 8. Russia, European Realms: 150,000 players > 9. Australia, North American Realms: 120,000 players > 10. Latin America, North American Realms: 100,000 players > 11. Spain, European Realms: 80,000 players > 12. Other, NA/EU/Asian Realms: 800,000 players > > — [WoWWiki - WoW population by country](http://wowwiki.wikia.com/wiki/WoW_population_by_country) **Fan Activity:** There are over 200 000 results for World of Warcraft on DeviantArt, and Archive of Our Own has over 2000 fanfics related to World of Warcraft. ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/41-figure-skating-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z** Primarily popular in China because there are so many internet cafes. **G** ...Popular in China for the same reason that they like Windows XP so much. **T** World of Warcraft is so popular in China because ~~Silk Road~~ Aion is a Korean game, and there's a racism thing going on there. ### The Verdict **Z is out.** **G is out.** **T is out.** ### This week's spotlight **Running of the Gnomes** We were unable to find an official source for the event, but from [this article from 2017](http://kotaku.com/world-of-warcrafts-running-of-the-gnomes-fan-event-gets-1794880791): > Since 2010, World of Warcraft players have been creating hordes of pink-haired level one gnomes and running them across Azeroth to support the fight against breast cancer. This year Blizzard is giving the event a boost with special decorations, a cheering crowd and its own special quest. > The tradition of running low-level gnomes across a danger-filled continent dates back to EverQuest in the early 2000s, back before World of Warcraft came along and took over the MMO-space. It’s a high danger, low stakes sort of thrill that helps pass the time between camping for things or waiting for raid timers to reset. > Using the “Running of the Gnomes” as a means to raise money for and awareness of breast cancer in World of Warcraft started back in 2009, when members of the Scarlet Crusade server Alliance guild SeeD decided to change their tabards to pink during October, aka breast cancer awareness month. In 2010 they started the first official “Running of the Gnomes” charity event, choosing WoW’s most diminutive race mainly because one of the starting hair color options is a lovely shade of pink. Nearly 150 players showed up for the run and after-party. In 2013 they had about a thousand, raising $1,305 for the Cleveland Clinic’s Tuohy breast cancer vaccine research and testing. > > — [Kotaku - World of Warcraft's 'Running of the Gnomes' Fan Event Gets Official Blizzard Makeover](http://kotaku.com/world-of-warcrafts-running-of-the-gnomes-fan-event-gets-1794880791) [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words Next week, we'll be travelling to India to talk about fans of cricket. What are our hosts famous last words on _cricket_ before they begin the research? **G** ~~What is the connection between the game cricket and the insect cricket?~~ Has anyone become a fan of cricket via the fifth Doctor? **Z** Is there a rap song or concept album about the sport of cricket? **T** Why are people fans of such a slow game? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [r/WoW - WoW is "dying" because WoW community is TOXIC](https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/4gbua7/wow_is_dying_because_wow_community_is_toxic/) - [r/WoW – Can Anyone Maybe From China Explain This?](https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/15s0nz/can_anyone_maybe_from_china_explain_this/) - [r/WoW – My First Serious Character is Having So Much Fun! I'm Falling in Love with the World of Warcraft. Here's Why...](https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/3ger8n/my_first_serious_character_is_having_so_much_fun/) - [r/WoW – What Is World of Warcraft to You?](https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/6ns2p7/what_is_world_of_warcraft_to_you/) - [r/WoW – Why People Hate to Cooperate in World of Warcraft?](https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/648cjo/why_people_hate_to_cooperate_in_world_of_warcraft/) - [r/WoW– Moments Like This Remind Me Why I Love World of Warcraft](https://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/3y5eg0/moments_like_this_remind_me_why_i_love_world_of/) - [Engadget - WoW Archivist: WoW in China, an uncensored history](https://www.engadget.com/2014/01/17/wow-archivist-wow-in-china-an-uncensored-history/) - [Engadget - WoW Archivist: WoW in China, an uncensored history -- part 2](https://www.engadget.com/2014/01/31/wow-archivist-wow-in-china-an-uncensored-history-part-2/) - [Engadget - What does community mean in World of Warcraft?](https://www.engadget.com/2012/11/16/what-does-community-mean-in-world-of-warcraft/) - [Wikipedia - Aion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aion:_Upheaval#Sales_and_revenue) - [Kotaku - World of Warcraft's 'Running of the Gnomes' Fan Event Gets Official Blizzard Makeover](http://kotaku.com/world-of-warcrafts-running-of-the-gnomes-fan-event-gets-1794880791) - [Kotaku - The People Who Still Play World of Warcraft Like It’s 2006](http://kotaku.com/the-people-who-still-play-world-of-warcraft-like-it-s-2-1704465372) - [BBC News – China's Love Affair with Online Game World of Warcraft](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-36209913) - [BBC News – Gaming and Raiding in World of Warcraft](http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-12326825) - [Den of Geek! - World of Warcraft: Why It's Still Going Strong 11 Years Later](http://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/world-of-warcraft/248281/world-of-warcraft-why-its-still-going-strong-11-years-later) - [Fanlore - World of Warcraft](https://fanlore.org/wiki/World_of_Warcraft) - [iQ - 12 years on, people are still playing World of Warcraft. Why?](https://iq.intel.co.uk/world-of-warcraft-legion-why/) - [MMO-Champion - The Reason the WoW Community is Toxic](http://www.mmo-champion.com/threads/2061617-The-Reason-the-WoW-Community-is-Toxic) - [2P – Chinese WoW-Themed Movie to Hit Big Screen Before the Premiere of Warcraft Movie](http://2p.com/42077928_1/Chinese-WoW-Themed-Movie-to-Hit-Big-Screen-Before-the-Premiere-of-Warcraft-Movie-by-Aaron.htm) - [Deadline – “Warcraft” Sets China Record for Widest Release Ever, Wows with Pre-Sales; How Big is its Box Office Game?](http://deadline.com/2016/06/warcraft-china-advance-ticket-sales-record-legendary-wanda-furious-7-box-office-preview-1201767728/) - [Geek and Sundry – Why Leveling Up Your World of Warcraft Character is Like Getting an MBA](http://geekandsundry.com/why-getting-a-max-level-wow-character-is-like-getting-an-mba/) - [What's on Weibo - “Warcraft” and its Popularity in China](http://www.whatsonweibo.com/warcraft-in-china/) - [Love and Hate – World of Warcraft](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.lovehate.ru/World-of-Warcraft&prev=search) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Orc Shaman"](https://thenounproject.com/term/orc-shaman/318103) by [Darren Northcott](https://thenounproject.com/darrennorthcott) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#41 - Figure Skating Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 17:37:03 +0000

This week, we do our best to keep up with our Russian rivals as we skate (or die) to defend Canada's honour as we talk about fans of that _hot_ sport, figure skating! The _burning_ question we have is... how important is Yuri!!! on Ice to the fandom? And how popular is it anyway? Next week, we'll be travelling to China to talk about everyone's favourite MMORPG, ~~World of Magic Beasts~~ World of Warcraft! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Figure skating, also known as _artistic skating_ in many other countries, is a sport where individuals or groups of people perform on a special type of ice skate (i.e. figure skates). It was the first winter sport included in the Olympics (in 1908) and, depending on the discipline, may include spins, jumps, lifts, throw jumps, death spirals or other elements. **Size of Fandom:** Let's take a look at the fandom funnel! By that I mean, more dedicated fans tend to put more into their expression of fandom, so we can use rough numbers to extrapolate how many fans there are. From what I was able to gather... > - 184, 213: U.S. Figure Skating members during the 2015-16 season > - 130, 000: Approximate readership of SKATING (a US figure skating magazine) > - 108, 264: 2016 ISU World Figure Skating Championships attendance across all sessions > > — [U.S. Figure Skating Factsheet](http://www.usfsa.org/content/FactSheet.pdf) Comparatively, the largest [figure skating subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/FigureSkating/) has about 1600 subscribers. Given that data is only from the United States, its hard to estimate, but I don't think it's unreasonable to estimate millions of fans of figure skating (in different levels of engagement). **Fan Demographics:** Using data from [U.S. Figure Skating](http://www.usfsa.org/content/FactSheet.pdf), it's possible to get some approximation of the age and gender of figure skating fans (given its 184 200 members), which is something! Transcribed below: **Overall** | Age | Members | Percentage | |:-----:|:-------:|:----------:| | 0-6 | 27 630 | 15% | | 7-12 | 64 470 | 35% | | 13-18 | 25 788 | 14% | | 19-25 | 11 052 | 6% | | 26-50 | 18 420 | 10% | | 51+ | 9 210 | 5% | | ? | 27 630 | 15% | **Male** | Age | Members | Percentage | |:-----:|:-------:|:----------:| | 0-12 | 34 998 | 19% | | 13-18 | 3 684 | 2% | | 19-49 | 5 526 | 3% | | 50+ | 1 842 | 1% | **Female** | Age | Members | Percentage | |:-----:|:-------:|:----------:| | 0-12 | 73 680 | 40% | | 13-18 | 25 788 | 14% | | 19-49 | 27 630 | 15% | | 50+ | 9 210 | 5% | Figure skaters, then, are predominately young, and predominately female. Though the data is a bit out of data, [Sports Business Journal](http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2001/01/20010115/This-Weeks-Issue/Demographics-Of-Figure-Skating-Fans.aspx) might have more insight into the demographics of fans in general. Again, fans are predominantly female (65%), but tend to skew older — the largest groups are folks age 50-64 (27%), 30-39 (20%), and 40-49 (19%). **Changes in Fandom around the world:** Interest in figure skating is hard to plot, but its probably on a slow decline [in terms of search traffic](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=skating,figure%20skating), at least. Interest is, unsurprisingly, periodic, with a lot of interest around the winter Olympics and in December when a number of championships take place (not to mention, winter in general). The [International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix of Figure Skating](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISU_Grand_Prix_of_Figure_Skating) ends in mid-December, but starts in late October, so that might also be a factor. Unsurprisingly, interest in figure skating tends to come from colder, northly countries. In particular, Canada, Estonia, the United States, Latvia, and Finland (but surprisingly also, the Phillipines, Singapore, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia). Despite a global downturn in search interest, [organizations such as U.S. Figure Skating appear to be slowly growing](http://www.usfsa.org/content/FactSheet.pdf), with approximately 145 000 members in the 1998 season an over 184 000 in 2017. Some anecdotal evidence from [Quora](https://www.quora.com/Is-figure-skating-a-dying-sport) also suggests that figure skating is doing just fine in places like Japan: > ...it is perhaps the most popular sport (along with baseball). Tickets to competitions in Japan are so expensive that it’s cheaper for Japanese fans to travel anywhere else to watch figure skating, and you can frequently see seas of Japanese flags waving at events in North America and Europe. Domestic events sell out immediately, and tickets on the resale market can get very expensive. I know someone who accidentally bought a ticket to a figure skating event in Tokyo thinking it was $200 USD when it was $2000 USD. > > — [Quora - Is figure skating a dying sport?](https://www.quora.com/Is-figure-skating-a-dying-sport) **Where does fandom live:** The fandom lives in a few places, most notably Tumblr ([#fskateedit](https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/fskateedit), [#fskateart](https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/fskateart), [#fstranslation](https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/fstranslation)), Twitter, and some forums like [FSUniverse](https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/) and [GoldenSkate](http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/forum.php). **Fanfics:** There are over 2400 fanfics that refer to figure skating (some of which reference figure skating alternate universe) on Archive of our own. For comparison, There are over 21 000 Yuri!!! on Ice fanfics. DeviantArt has about 7600 results for figure skating... and over 20 000 results for Yuri!!! on Ice. We also also came across [Figure Skating Real-Person Fiction](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Figure_Skating_RPF) which had this interesting quote from a fan: > Your fandom's ok, my fandom's ok.....[but] What other mini-fandoms are lurking out there that no one's told me about yet? Baseball players? Professional bowlers? It's kind of frightening. ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/time-and-space-adventures-superwholock/) Famous Last Words **T** How influential was Yuri on Ice in driving interest in Figure Skating? [// Comparing interest in 'skating', 'figure skating', and '_Yuri on Ice_' using [Google Trends over the last 12 months](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2016-09-01%202017-08-27&q=skating,yuri%20on%20ice,figure%20skating), there is definitely a pattern! It looks like search volume for 'skating' is always higher than _Yuri on Ice_, but changes in search interest for skating seem to be about a week behind _Yuri on Ice_... so, quite possibly? Interest in _Yuri_ peaks at the end of December (coinciding with the final episode) whereas interest in skating peaks about a week later? I think there's something here. ]: # [// Figure skating doesn't seem to correlate much to either of the terms except with skating in early April (probably related to the world figure skating championships). ]: # [// Unsurprisingly, interest in skating and figure skating are more popular in northern countries. Super fascinating though is that countries such as the Phillipines, Chile, Singapore, Taiwan, and Puerto Rico top the charts for searching for Yuri on Ice. ]: # **G** Due its nature and country of origin, figure skating and ballet have very close origins. **Z** Being large countries that endure a lot of cold weather, much like hockey, there is a fierce rivalry between Russia and Canada in figure skating. ### The Verdict **T is in... maybe.** **G is out... except for the Olympics.** **Z is out (Even if he had seen Yuri!!! on Ice).** ### This week's spotlight **[Skate to Great](http://skatetogreat.org/about/)** A great charity that aims to make skating a right, not a privilege, for every kid in Canada regardless of their circumstances. > Skate To Great was founded in March 2012 with the mission of providing every child in Canada the opportunity to skate; regardless of their economic or physical circumstances. In May 2013, Skate To Great received charitable status and has collected and distributed upwards of 25,000 pairs of skates to date. The organization directly supports schools, programs and charities in Canada, which enable deserving kids and at-risk youth the opportunity to skate. > Skate To Great’s main initiative is to collect new and used hockey/figure skates along with equipment such as sticks and helmets for organizations that need them. Recipients then participate in programs that provide skating opportunities in a supportive environment. [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words Next week, we'll be travelling to China to talk about a very prominent fandom there: World of Warcraft! **Z** World of Warcraft is primarily popular in China because there are so many internet cafes. **G** World of Warcraft is popular in China for the same reason that they like Windows XP so much. **T** World of Warcraft is so popular because other popular MMORPGs, like Silk Road, aren't Chinese, and there's a racism thing going on. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [twitch.tv](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Figure Skating](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Figure_skating) - [Wikipedia - History of figure skating](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_figure_skating) - [Wikipedia (Russian) - Figure Skating](https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.ca&sl=ru&sp=nmt4&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%25A4%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B3%25D1%2583%25D1%2580%25D0%25BD%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B5_%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B0%25D1%2582%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B5&usg=ALkJrhjKPSQT6E-9rkZIt8B31COvbF0C-A#.D0.A4.D0.B8.D0.B3.D1.83.D1.80.D0.BD.D0.BE.D0.B5_.D0.BA.D0.B0.D1.82.D0.B0.D0.BD.D0.B8.D0.B5_.D0.BA.D0.B0.D0.BA_.D1.84.D0.B8.D0.B7.D0.BA.D1.83.D0.BB.D1.8C.D1.82.D1.83.D1.80.D0.B0) - [Fanlore - Figure Skating RPF](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Figure_Skating_RPF) - [L.A. Times - U.S. figure skating has slipped badly in viewership](http://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/05/sports/la-sp-sochi-figure-skating-us-20140207) - [Golden Skate - Any Advice for a new Figure Skating Fan?](http://goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?64374-Any-Advice-for-a-new-Figure-Skating-Fan) - [ThoughtCo - All About Russian Figure Skating](https://www.thoughtco.com/russian-figure-skating-1282599) - [The Rinkside Cafe - The Dark Side of Figure Skating Fandom](https://rinksidecafe.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/the-dark-side-of-figure-skating-fandom/) - [So You Want To Watch FS - Introduction to Skating Fandom](http://soyouwanttowatchfs.tumblr.com/post/59502459497/introduction-to-skating-fandom) - [The Rinkside Cafe - Rules of being a good figure skating fan](https://rinksidecafe.wordpress.com/2011/03/27/rules-of-being-a-good-figure-skating-fan/) - [Global Times - Anime featuring figure skating inspires fans to bring elements of animation to life](http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1029233.shtml) - [The Atlantic - The Beginner's Guide to Watching Olympic Figure Skating Like a Super Fan](https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/02/beginners-guide-watching-olympic-figure-skating-super-fan-gifs/357825/) - [Kotaku - Why People Are Hyped About A Male Figure Skating Anime](http://kotaku.com/why-people-are-hyped-about-a-figure-skating-anime-1788662926) - [CBC - Figure skating superfans span the globe](http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/figureskating/opinion/2013/03/figure-skating-superfans-span-the-globe.html) - [Quora - Is figure skating a dying sport?](https://www.quora.com/Is-figure-skating-a-dying-sport) - [Women Write About Comics - How Yuri!!! On Ice Reawakened Figure Skating Fandom In Us](http://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2017/04/02/how-yuri-on-ice-reawakened-figure-skating-fandom-in-us/) - [The Daily Dot - An Internet Guide to Figure Skating Fandom](https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/fandom/figure-skating-fandom-guide/) - [Skate Guard - The Darker Side of Skating “Fandom”](http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2013/11/the-darker-side-of-skating-fandom.html) - [Skate Guard - Interview with Alina Adams](http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2014/10/interview-with-alina-adams.html) - [The Rinkside Cafe - The Dark Side of Figure Skating Fandom](https://rinksidecafe.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/the-dark-side-of-figure-skating-fandom/) - [Global Times - Anime Featuring Figure Skating Inspires Fans to Bring Elements of Animation to Life](http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1029233.shtml) - [The Toronto Sun - U.S., Russia Colluding Against Canadian Figure Skaters?](http://www.torontosun.com/2014/02/08/us-russia-colluding-against-canadian-figure-skaters) - [The Canadian Encyclopedia - Skating Scandal at 2002 Winter Olympics](http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/skating-scandal-at-2002-winter-olympics/) - [SportsBusiness Daily - Demographics of Figure Skating Fans](http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2001/01/20010115/This-Weeks-Issue/Demographics-Of-Figure-Skating-Fans.aspx) - [Inquisitr - “Yuri On Ice” Based on Real-Life Figure Skaters](http://www.inquisitr.com/3893171/yuri-on-ice-real-life-figure-skaters-yuri-victor-resemblance-athletes-japanese-anime-yoi/) - [Russian Culture - Russian Figure Skating History](http://allrus.me/russian-figure-skating-history/) - [Otvet.Mail.Ru - Help Write an Essay on "What Sport Do You Like?" Figure Skating](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://otvet.mail.ru/question/178133087&prev=search) - [RPI.su - Do You Like Figure Skating?](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://www.rpi.su/q/204961&prev=search) - [Love and Hate - Figure Skating](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.lovehate.ru/IceSkating/3&prev=search) - [r/ FigureSkating - \[Question\]\[Non-skater\] How did you get into Skating? How to start skating?](https://www.reddit.com/r/FigureSkating/comments/6fj0pm/questionnonskater_how_did_you_get_into_skating/) - [Allrus.me - Russian figure skating history](http://allrus.me/russian-figure-skating-history/) - [ThoughtCo - All About Russian Figure Skating](https://www.thoughtco.com/russian-figure-skating-1282599) - [GoldenSkate - Any Advice for a new Figure Skating Fan?](http://goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?64374-Any-Advice-for-a-new-Figure-Skating-Fan) - [Yahoo Answers - Why do you love figure skating?](https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120111191307AAiq0Ef) - [Icenetwork - Sun never sets on Japanese figure skating fans](http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2017/05/10/229431488/sun-never-sets-on-japanese-figure-skating-fans) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Ice Skate"](https://thenounproject.com/term/ice-skate/1694) by [Simon Child](https://thenounproject.com/Simon%20Child) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Time and Space Adventures: SuperWhoLock

The Nickscast — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 17:37:00 +0000

This week, we interrupt our global fandom safari for a matter of dire urgency! ~~People are wrong on the internet!~~ There is a crisis that only the Doctor, the Winchester brothers, Holmes and Watson can solve (and possibly the Avengers if they aren't busy?)! That's right, this week, we're getting meta and bending the laws of time and space to talk about fans of SuperWhoLock! Next week, we bend the laws of space and time back into place as we travel to Russia to talk about fans of that magical sport (and its fans): Figure skating! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Fandom Origins:** SuperWhoLock is, unsurprisingly, the crossover between the fandoms of Supernatural, Doctor Who, and Sherlock (with the Avengers sometimes making an appearance). The first tagged SuperWhoLock post (on Tumblr) appeared in August 2011, and the first SuperWhoLock fanfic was tagged on Archive of our own in August 2012 (though it is possible that stories first appeared as early as January 2012 elsewhere). > In SuperWhoLock’s case, this usually involves saving the world from impending apocalypse, something so serious that it only makes sense to enlist as many superheroes as possible to stop it—in this case, the Doctor and his assistants, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Sam and Dean Winchester, and the angel Castiel. > > — [The Daily Dot - WTF is SuperWhoLock?](https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/superwholock-fandom-supernatural-sherlock/) **Names:** SuperWhoLockian??? **Most Active:** Based on [Google Trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=superwholock) and [Fanlore](https://fanlore.org/wiki/SuperWhoLock), it appears that the fandom was most popular in the summer of 2014 (in particular, mid July 2014 - The month of [DashCon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DashCon)). Interest was maintained from June 2013 to about January 2015 before starting its downward decline again. **Where does fandom live:** Almost entirely on Tumblr **Related fandoms:** Obviously, Sherlock, Doctor Who, and Supernatural are most related to SuperWhoLock fandom. There are some parodies fandoms that exist as well: - Bee Shrek Test in the House - Rise of the Brave Tangled Dragons ### This week's spotlight **[Organization for Transformative Works](http://www.transformativeworks.org/how-you-can-help/)** The Organization for Transformative Works (OTW) is a nonprofit organization run by and for fans to provide access to and preserve the history of fanworks and fan cultures. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Fanlore - I would pay top dollar for a comprehensive, source-supported explanation of how SuperWhoLock vanished.](https://fanlore.org/wiki/I_would_pay_top_dollar_for_a_comprehensive,_source-supported_explanation_of_how_SuperWhoLock_vanished.) - [Fanlore - SuperWhoLock](https://fanlore.org/wiki/SuperWhoLock) - [Know Your Meme - SuperWhoLock](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/superwholock) - [Know Your Meme - Mishapocalypse](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/mishapocalypse) - [GeneratorLand.com - SuperWhoLock Url Generator](http://www.generatorland.com/usergenerator.aspx?id=7917) - [The Artifice - The Keys to SuperWhoLock](https://the-artifice.com/the-keys-to-superwholock/) - [The Daily Dot - WTF is SuperWhoLock?](https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/superwholock-fandom-supernatural-sherlock/) - [Wikipedia - DashCon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DashCon) - [The Daily Fandom - What Are the Odds of SuperWhoLock Actually Happening?](https://thedailyfandom.com/odds-superwholock-actually-happening/) - [Random Things That Amuse Me - What am I supposed to do with a ringing phone?](http://debyarr1.tumblr.com/post/52513065609) - [Classic tumblr memes - the internet must hate us](http://memearchives.tumblr.com/post/124175229795/geekerypokery-potterheads-grab-your-wands) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Tardis"](https://thenounproject.com/term/tardis/55171) by [Arancha R](https://thenounproject.com/aranchaerre) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Sun"](https://thenounproject.com/term/sun/919928) by [beguima](https://thenounproject.com/beguimastudio) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Sherlock Holmes"](https://thenounproject.com/term/sherlock-holmes/221829) by [Matthew Davis](https://thenounproject.com/matthewwadedavis) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#40 - Coffee Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 17:37:00 +0000

What is it about that bitter (or sometimes sweet) morning delight that makes people such a fan? This week, we're talking about fans of coffee, and if there is more to it than its magical (and addictive) effects. What is it that has folks questing for the perfect brew? Next week, we seal the rift in wibbly-wobbly-summer-timey-wimey as we put on some classic rock (and our deerstalker hat) as we interrupt our world travelling with time travelling as we talk about fans of that fascinating meta-fandom: _SuperWhoLock_! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** There are historical accounts and there are accounts of legend of how coffee was discovered (and in a loose way, the fandom). One legend tells the story of a 9th-century Ethiopian goatherd, Kaldi, who discovered coffee when he noticed how excited his goats became after eating beans from a coffee plant. That story did not appear in writing until 1671 and is likely apocryphal. Another legend tells of a Sheikh Omar (known for his ability to cure the sick through prayer) who was exiled to a cave, and found the berries from a shrubbery and tried a variety of ways to prepare them. Starving, he found that boiling them worked best and he was 'revitalized', and stories of this 'miracle drug' caught on (and when he returned he was made a saint). The first historical record of the plant comes from accounts of 15th century Yemen, where the seeds were roasted and brewed in a way similar to how we prepare coffee today. It was then used by Sufi circles to stay awake for religious rituals. By the 16th century it had reached the rest of the middle east, Persia, Turkey, and north Africa. Later, coffee was introduced to England, France (1657), and Austria and Poland in 1683 after the Battle of Vienna when coffee was captured from supplies of the defeated Turks. > In 1683, a Franciscan friar named Marciano d’Aviano stopped a Turkish invasion of Austria, and along the way, some claim invented cappuccino. The retreating Turks left behind bags of coffee beans, historians say, which the Viennese found so bitter that they added milk and sugar, creating a frothy, sweet beverage. Legend says the word “cappuccino” comes from d’Aviano’s Capuchin order, so named for their brown robes. > > — [I Need Coffee - The Truth About How Major Religions View Coffee](https://ineedcoffee.com/truth-major-religions-view-coffee/) Interestingly enough, Coffee was not popular when introduced into North America (alcohol was more popular) but started to gain popularity after the war of 1812 when Britain cut off access to tea (which was also in the decline in England, and was harder to make than coffee). ...And then there's a lot more history! It is the second most traded commodity, _after oil_. **Size of Fandom:** Probably in the millions. Looking further down the fandom funnel, there are over 160 000 people subscribed to the coffee subreddit. **Global Interest:** [Coffee is popular, and continues to grow popularity over time](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=coffee); interest in the search term has increased sine the Summer of 2011 to today by about 50%. It is most popular in areas such as Australia, South Africa, the United States, Canada, the UK, Kenya, India, and large parts of Europe and Asia. Worth noting is that [search traffic for Coffee is higher than tea](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=coffee,tea) although both have been increasing in popularity. **Related fandoms:** Tea **Fanfics:** There are over 30000 fanfics containing the word 'coffee', some of which are in reference to 'Coffee Shop Alternate Universe (AU)', a situation in fanfic where one of the characters is the barista and the other is a popular customer (though it's not hard to extend the idea). As it turns out, there are a lot of different AUs in fanfic, but that's not coffee related. ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/live-at-conbravo-chrono-trigger/) Famous Last Words **Z** Who was it that first called it Turkish Coffee? Were they Turkish or greek (as the two are made the same way)? **G** There is a ceremony / celebration of Turkish culture that involves coffee. **T** What are coffee-fan fan activites? ...In Turkey? Didn't find a ton of things, but I did find a bunch of weird coffees: - Kopi Luwak / civet coffee: made from the feces of a coffee bean munching cat - Vanilla Flavoured Monkey Spit: Monkeys would raid farms in Taiwan, but apparently the monkey-sucked beans had a distinct vanilla flavour... - Indian Monsoon Malabar: Coffee beans that have been left out during the monsoon (this used to happen via wetting and drying on ships, but stopped when steam ships cut shipping times) - Jacu Bird Coffee: A plump flying Amazonian turkey... that eats beans. Less bitterness with less manure flavour. ### The Verdict **Z is in.** **G is in... insofar as drinking coffee.** **T is out.** ### This week's spotlight **[Suspended Coffees](http://suspendedcoffees.com/about/)** Tying into last week's episode a bit, the suspended coffees movement is an effort "to bring communities together in hope, to inspire and empower people to change lives, and to restore faith in humanity". It was started after the founder, John M. Sweeney heard of a tradition in working class cafes in Naples where someone who had good luck would order a cafe sospeso (a pending coffee; paid in advance). In just its first year, the movement has had over 1400 cafes join and over a quarter of a million Facebook followers! [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Figure Skating! **T** How influential was Yuri on Ice in driving interest in Figure Skating? **G** Due its nature and country of origin, figure skating and ballet have very close origins. **Z** Being large countries that endure a lot of cold weather, much like hockey, there is a fierce rivalry between Russia and Canada in figure skating. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - If you want to be part of our podcast (or just want to check us out), we record our podcast LIVE on [Twitch](http://twitch.tv/thenickscast) every Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Coffee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee) - [TVTropes - Coffee](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/Coffee) - [All About Turkey - Turkish Coffee](http://www.allaboutturkey.com/kahve.htm) - [StackExchange Coffee - Best Stories of Coffee Consumption in Historical Times?](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/2839/best-stories-of-coffee-consumption-in-historical-times) - [StackExchange Coffee - Difference Between Turkish and Greek Coffee?](https://coffee.stackexchange.com/questions/483/difference-between-turkish-and-greek-coffee) - [Craft Beverage Jobs - The History of First, Second, and Third Wave Coffee](https://www.craftbeveragejobs.com/the-history-of-first-second-and-third-wave-coffee-22315/) - [Wikipedia - World Brewer's Championship](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Brewer%27s_Cup) - [Coffee and Turkish Coffee Culture (PDF)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/42338457/Coffee_and_Turkish_Coffee_Culture20160207-21621-8cjvuu.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1502419848&Signature=QhFf1y92G%2FSeE5IYSdMK5TbtD4g%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DCoffee_and_Turkish_Coffee_Culture.pdf) - [r/Tea - Why the hate?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/comments/2m9vns/why_the_hate/) - [r/Coffee - I Asked Multiple Roasters what they Thought the Ultimate Goal of a Great Cup of Coffee Would Be](https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/4e37in/i_asked_multiple_roasters_what_they_thought_the/) - [r/Coffee - A Little Fun Discussion. Why Do You Brew Your Coffee at Home, And Why Do You Enjoy Doing It?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/67w3hx/a_little_fun_discussion_why_do_you_brew_your/) - [r/Coffee - Seriously, I Don't Understand Why You Guys Think Grinding Your Own Coffee From Whole Bean at Home is Better...](https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/1za1ds/seriously_i_dont_understand_why_you_guys_think/) - [r/Coffee - r/Coffee Tell Me About Your Coffee Preferences](https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/2r89s6/rcoffee_tell_me_about_your_coffee_preferences/) - [r/Coffee - Can Someone Educate Me on Middle Eastern Coffee?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/3w9zx6/can_someone_educate_me_on_middle_eastern_coffee/) - [r/Coffee - Why isn't there a "Rate Beer" type website for coffee.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Coffee/comments/4p1203/why_isnt_there_a_rate_beer_type_website_for_coffee/) - [World Coffee Research - World Coffee Research Lexicon](https://worldcoffeeresearch.org/work/sensory-lexicon/) - [Coffee Quality Institute - Q Coffee System](http://www.coffeeinstitute.org/our-work/q-coffee-system/) - [Speciality Coffee Association of America - Cupping Protocols](http://www.scaa.org/?page=resources&d=cupping-protocols) - [Espresso Coffee Guide - Exceptional Expressions of Espresso](https://espressocoffeeguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/espresso-field-guide.jpg) - [DailyMail.co.uk - What does your coffee say about you?](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2426126/What-does-coffee-say-Cappuccino-lovers-likely-obsessive--latte-drinkers-try-others.html) - [MentalFloss - Brewed Awakenings: The World's 4 Weirdest Coffees](http://mentalfloss.com/article/22395/brewed-awakenings-worlds-4-weirdest-coffees) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Coffee Pot"](https://thenounproject.com/term/coffee-pot/1139965) by [ngamlerdlek.design](https://thenounproject.com/ngamlerdlek.video) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Live at ConBravo: Chrono Trigger

The Nickscast — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 16:56:38 +0000

We interrupt our world-wide trip with a trip through TIME. This week, we travel back to ConBravo! 2017, to our panel where we talked about the greatest game of all time (and greatest fandom?), Chrono Trigger! Why has this game remained popular over the years? Timing? Team? Time Travel? Let's find out! Next week, we're back to our regularly scheduled trip, and off to Turkey to talk about fans of Coffee! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Chrono Trigger is a Super Nintendo JRPG released in 1995. It was developed by Square (notable for such other games as Final Fantasy) and its so-called "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi (the creator of the Final Fantasy Series), Yuji Horii (creator of Enix's popular Dragon Quest series), and Akira Toriyama (an artist well known for his work with Dragon Quest and his ongoing manga / anime series: Dragonball, among other things). It also featured music composed by Yasunori Mitsuda (the _Chrono_ series, Mario Party, Xenosaga) and Nobuo Uematsu (Final Fantasy). To put it succinctly: The game follows a group of adventurers who travel through time to prevent a global catastrophe... that they will never personally encounter. It has since been released and re-released multiple times with the SNES and Playstation versions shipping over 2.65 million copies, and the Nintendo DS version having sold over 790 000 copies more than a decade later. **Size of Fandom:** Towards the high-end (and based on sales), somewhere between 2.65 million and 800 000. The [Chrono Trigger subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/chronotrigger/) has about 5000 subscribers **Changes in Fandom:** Interest in Chrono Trigger, by [Google Trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=chrono%20trigger), is on the decline, but there was a large amount of interest in the early 2000s, and a spike in December of 2008 (the DS version was released in November 2008). **Around the world:** Using the same [Google Trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=chrono%20trigger), interest n the game is particularly strong in North America, Brazil, Chile, Finland, Sweeden, and Australia. **Famous fan works:** Numerous fan made games which have been shut down by Square Enix. One of the most is Crimson Echoes which takes place five years after the events of the original game, and ties together events between _Chrono Trigger_ and _Chrono Cross_. **Where does fandom live:** Previously, fan-sites and forums [Citation Needed]. [Chrono Compendium has a community map](https://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Community_Map.html) which lists over 200 different English-language Chrono Trigger fansites and resources **Fanfics:** Fanfiction.net has over 850 Chrono Trigger fanfics (compared to over 640 for Chrono Cross), and Archive of our Own has over 120 (with 58 for Chrono Cross). There are however, over 14000 results for Chrono Trigger on DeviantArt. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks go out to the folks who came to our panel, and to [ConBravo](http://conbravo.com/) for having us! ## Credits ### Sources - [Touch Arcade - RPG Reload Play-Along: 'Chrono Trigger'](http://toucharcade.com/2017/07/27/rpg-reload-play-along-chrono-trigger/) - [Video Game Localization for Fans by Fans: The Case of Romhacking](http://www.jbe-platform.com/content/journals/10.1075/jial.1.07mun) - [r/JRPG - Does Anyone Dislike Chrono Trigger?](https://www.reddit.com/r/JRPG/comments/59bnvw/does_anyone_dislike_chrono_trigger/) - [r/ChronoTrigger](https://www.reddit.com/r/chronotrigger/) - [r/JRPG - Why does everyone love Chrono Trigger so much?](https://www.reddit.com/r/JRPG/comments/67dbmv/why_does_everyone_love_chrono_trigger_so_much/?sort=top) - [r/JRPG - Why do you love Chrono Trigger?](https://www.reddit.com/r/JRPG/comments/3ndzp3/why_do_you_love_chrono_trigger/?sort=top) - [Wikipedia - Chrono Trigger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrono_Trigger) - [Wikipedia - Chrono Trigger: Crimson Echoes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrono_Trigger:_Crimson_Echoes) - [Silver Oak Online Casino - How to Pick the Perfect Video Game](https://www.silveroakcasino.com/infographic/how-to-pick-the-perfect-video-game/) - [GamesRadar - Why Chrono Trigger is one of the greatest games ever made](http://www.gamesradar.com/why-chrono-trigger-one-greatest-games-ever-made/) - [GameInformer - Why We Love Chrono Trigger After 20 Years](http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2012/04/06/why-we-love-chrono-trigger.aspx) - [VentureBeat - Chrono Trigger – “It’s not THAT good”](https://venturebeat.com/community/2013/11/11/chrono-trigger-its-not-that-good/) - [Kotaku - Why I Always Keep Coming Back to Chrono Trigger](http://kotaku.com/5978901/why-i-always-keep-coming-back-to-chrono-trigger) - [Youtube - Chrono Trigger - ProJared](https://youtu.be/rrhYxhruwsk) - [YouTube - Chrono Trigger Review: The 200th Episode! - The Completionist](https://youtu.be/Hfaa0CmnQjE) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [“Pendulum”](https://thenounproject.com/term/pendulum/366991) by [Rflor](https://thenounproject.com/rflor) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) / Modified from original - [“Clock”](https://thenounproject.com/term/clock/1071830) by [AliWijaya](https://thenounproject.com/aliwijaya24) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) / Modified from original

#39 - Rock Progressivo Italiano Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 17:37:00 +0000

We arrive in Italy, and rather than diving into a fandom, we dive into a history lesson on Italy, Progressive Rock, and its liberating love child, Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI)! What is it? How is it different than prog rock in general? Why is its own subgenre? Some of these, an more, on this week's episode! Next week, we'll be travelling to Turkey to talk about fans of that delicious dark beverage, coffee! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Progressive Rock (prog rock) is a subgenre of rock music developed in the UK and US throughout the mid to late 1960s (initially termed progressive pop). It is based on a fusion of styles and is an outgrowth of psychedelic bands who moved away from pop tradition in favour of different instrumentation an compositional techniques more often found in jazz, folk, or classical music. Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI) is a subgenre within a subgenre. Italy was generally uninterested in rock music _until_ the early 1970s when the italian prog rock scene developed. RPI is notable as it tends to emphasize the classical rather than rock elements of the music, often including some operatic influences. **Most Active:** The fandom was definitely more active towards the inception of the subgenre. In terms of [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=Rock%20Progressivo%20Italiano,Prog%20Rock) data, search interest is quite low (with the most interest taking place in July 2004). Interest in RPI is also significantly less than prog rock (which is not in decline by comparison; interest in prog rock is mostly flat). There is not enough data to determine any particular regionalism, but one might expect that it is popular in... Italy. **Related fandoms:** Prog Rock. ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/38-arsene-lupin-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z:** Are all of the prog rock bands in Italy fans of each other? **G:** How much of Italian prog rock is taken from British prog rock? How much is taken from Italian music? **T:** Who is the RPI equivalent to Phil Collins? ### This week's spotlight **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! [// Plugs go here ]: # ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom. We'll be talking about fans of coffee as we take our fandom cavalcade to Turkey! **Z** Who was it that first called it Turkish Coffee? Were they Turkish or Greek (as the two are made in the same way)? **G** There is a ceremony / celebration of Turkish culture that involves coffee. **T** What are coffee fan fanactivites? ...In Turkey? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Progressive Rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock#1970s.E2.80.9380s) - [ProgArchives - Rock Progressivo Italiano](http://www.progarchives.com/subgenre.asp?style=28) - [YesFans - Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI). Something else the Italians gave us other than pizza](http://www.yesfans.com/archive/index.php/t-79397.html) - [Renegade Revolution - How Prog Rock influenced the Japanese RPG](http://www.renegade-revolution.com/2014/02/17/prog-rock-influenced-japanese-rpg/) - [Make your own taste - Classics of 1970S Italian Progressive Rock](https://makeyourowntaste.com/2013/12/02/classics-of-1970s-italian-progressive-rock/) - [The Rocktologist - Essential Rock Progressivo Italiano albums](http://www.therocktologist.com/italian-prog-rock.html) - [Prog Archives - Rock Progressivo Italiano, A Progressive Rock Music Sub-Genre](http://www.progarchives.com/subgenre.asp?style=28) - [Arlequins - Progressive Rock Webzine - Home](http://www.arlequins.it/gb/index.asp) - [Progressive Rock Music Forum - Italian Prog For Beginners](http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=33377&PID=2345095#2345095) - [r/ProgRockMusic - Why is RPI a Subgenre of Prog?](https://www.reddit.com/r/progrockmusic/comments/6i7guv/why_is_rpi_a_subgenre_of_prog/) - [The New Yorker - The Persistence of Prog Rock](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/06/19/the-persistence-of-prog-rock) - [Talk Classical - Frank Zappa Talking About Progressive Rock](http://www.talkclassical.com/47852-frank-zappa-talking-about.html) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Amp"](https://thenounproject.com/term/amp/643146) by [Janika Leisalu](https://thenounproject.com/olenjansa) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Italy"](https://thenounproject.com/term/italy/694069) by [anbileru adaleru](https://thenounproject.com/pronoun) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#38 - Arsène Lupin Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 17:37:00 +0000

Upon arriving in France, we are swept away by a mysterious man who is out to steal our riches... and our hearts! This week, we're talking about one of the first, classic gentleman thieves: Arsene Lupin! Why was he less popular than Sherlock Holmes? Where is he now (figuratively)? Next week, we'll be on our way to Italy to listen to an inspirational movement (at the time), both progressive _and_ traditional: Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI)! ## Episode outline ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/37-beatlemaniacs-ft-graeme-from-reality-bomb/) Famous Last Words **G:** Arsene Lupin is an old-timey thing and isn't relevant anymore. **Z: ** Why... did Japan think there would be enough of a fandom for an anime? **T:** Why was _Sherlock Holmes_ so popular compared to this guy? A good guy (gentleman thief) on the wrong side of the law? That sounds like it should be more popular! ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Arsene Lupin is a gentleman thief and master of disguise, and is the creation of Maurice Leblanc (author of short stories and often described as a French counterpart to Arthur Conan Doyle). Lupin (originally Lopin, until a local politician of the same name protested) was featured in 17 novels, 39 novellas since his debut in 1905 (18 years after Sherlock Holmes), five authorized sequels in the 1970s (Leblanc passed in 1941) and many other different mediums. While often portrayed as a force for good, Lupin tends to operate on the wrong side of the law. His stories some time take on a fantastic tone, with some stories having involved the fountain of youth and a radioctive 'god-stone'. **Fandom Origins:** **Most Active:** The fandom was definitely most active towards the inception of Arsene Lupin. [Google trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=arsene%20lupin) indicates that there is not a lot of search traffic for the term, especially compared to some of the related fandoms. Nonetheless, there was a recent spike in interest in the term in October 2004 (2004 French crime-adventure film of the same name), May 2005 (*Tales of the Shadowmen*, an annual anthology of short stories that features _Lupin_ from time to time), and December 2007 (probably the Filipino TV show, *Lupin*, that ran from April to August of 2007). **Around the world:** Popular in France, Europe, and Asia (in particular, the Philippines and Japan) **Related fandoms:** Possibly an example of a fandom where its descendants are immensely more popular today than the original: Night Hood, Lupin III, Kamen Rider, Fantomas, Detective Conan (to some extent, with Phantom Thief Kid / Kaito Kid) **Fanfics:** There are 18 fanworks on Archive of Our Own related to Maurice Leblanc's Lupin, and 161 fanworks related to Lupin III. ### The Verdict **T is in.** **Z is in.** **G is in.** ### This week's spotlight **[Tiger Mask Donation Phenomenon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Mask_donation_phenomenon)** ...Not related to Lupin, but came up as an interesting search result when looking for different charity causes. To sum up: In Japan, people were donating money to folks randomly under aliases which were popular Anime characters including *Lupin III*). **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom as we travel to Italy, Rock Progressivo Italiano (RPI)! **Z** Are all of the prog rock bands in Italy fans of each other? **G** How much of Italian prog rock is taken from British prog rock? How much is taken from Italian music? **T** Who is the RPI equivalent to Phil Collins? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [NeoGAF - Any fans of Arsène Lupin?](http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=860866) - [Wikipedia - Lupin III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupin_the_Third#Copyright_issues) - [r/Lupinthe3rd - Home](https://www.reddit.com/r/lupinthe3rd/) - [r/Sherlock - If BBC Can Make Sherlock a Very Good Show in Today, Then is it Possible that BBC or any Major U.S. TV Stations can make Arsene Lupin into Another Good Show in Today?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sherlock/comments/51l88i/if_bbc_can_make_sherlock_a_very_good_show_in/) - [r/Persona5 - Joker's Inspiration: Arsene Lupin](https://www.reddit.com/r/Persona5/comments/6g1twn/jokers_inspiration_arsene_lupin/) - [Atlantis Press - The Prosperity of Modern Chinese Detective Novels and Reasons Behind](http://www.atlantis-press.com/php/download_paper.php?id=10062) - [Le Gerflint - Crime Fiction at the Time of the Exhibition: the Case of Sherlock Holmes and Arsène Lupin](http://www.gerflint.fr/Base/RU-Irlande2/drake.pdf) - [Dialogus - Let Us Dream Again](https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=https://dialogus2.org/LUP/faitesnousencorerever.html&prev=search) - [TV Tropes - Arsène Lupin](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/ArseneLupin) - [Fanlore - Arsène Lupin](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Ars%C3%A8ne_Lupin) - [Wikipedia - Arsène Lupin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars%C3%A8ne_Lupin) - [Wikipedia - Gentleman Thief](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gentleman_thief) - [Anime News Network - Takashi Morita's Manga of Original Arsène Lupin Thief Ends](http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-10-03/takashi-morita-manga-of-original-arsene-lupin-thief-ends) - [Arsenelupinetlesautres - 2014: 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF MAURICE LEBLANC](https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.ca&sl=fr&sp=nmt4&u=https://arsenelupinetlesautres.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/2014-150eme-anniversaire-de-la-naissance-de-maurice-leblanc/&usg=ALkJrhgWSiBwn4k_dy1Pj47B65Yc3-tfjA) - [Christian 66000 - ETRETAT](https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.ca&sl=fr&sp=nmt4&u=http://christiane66000.over-blog.com/2015/10/etretat.html&usg=ALkJrhhTUL2ehAsWkjNBg6p-6OoalM6SlA) - [BranchesCulture - Mike Crocbart & Galien: "Arsène Lupine, a character ahead of his time"](https://branchesculture.com/2016/11/21/1001-mysteres-arsene-lupin-bd-galien-crocbart/) - [etretat-normandie.fr - The Arsène Lupine Prize for Police Literature 2015 will be presented tomorrow at Maison Maurice Leblanc in Etretat. A small return on this distinction which honors the famous gentleman burglar.](https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.ca&sl=fr&sp=nmt4&u=http://etretat-normandie.fr/evenement-arsene-lupin/&usg=ALkJrhg7ArTNKzKq9g_ciICeIVxztEi8mQ) - [AAAL - LUPINIAN DAYS 2017](https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=2&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=fr&sp=nmt4&u=http://aaal.hautetfort.com/&usg=ALkJrhg-gex5r7IY3B3Iu_9YNubQxfXFGQ) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Dapper](https://thenounproject.com/term/dapper/1029953) by [Evan Lowenberg](https://thenounproject.com/eplowenberg) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) / Moustache removed from original

#37 - Beatlemaniacs (ft. Graeme from Reality Bomb)

The Nickscast — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 17:46:00 +0000

We start season four with a bang, and a world tour, traveling across the globe and through time (not really) with special guest, Graeme of Reality Bomb! We're talking about fans of the fab four, _Beatlemaniacs_ (aka Beatles Fans). What was it about this iconic pop group that left such an impact on the musical world and its fans? We're giving you the fans-eye view! Next week, we'll be taking the chunnel to France to talk about fans of a well-loved, but perhaps not as well-known, character: Arsene Lupin! ## Where can I learn more about Graeme? You can check out the podcast that he and Alex Kennard co-produce, [Reality Bomb](www.realitybombpodcast.com), a monthly, magazine-style Doctor Who podcast that focuses on the Doctor Who fandom, which just recently finished its 50th episode! You can also check out their podcast on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/realitybombpc/) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/realitybombpc). If you want to know more about the man behind the podcast, you can follow him on twitter: [@graemeburk](https://twitter.com/graemeburk). ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, consisting of four members: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the foremost and most influential act of the rock era. Though they broke up in 1970, the individual members enjoyed successful musical careers on their own. John Lennon was shot and killed in 1980, and George Harrison died of lung cancer in 2001. > The Beatles are the best-selling band in history, with estimated sales of over 800 million physical and digital albums worldwide. They have had more number-one albums on the British charts and sold more singles in the UK than any other act. They are also the best-selling music artists in the United States, with 178 million certified units > > — [Wikipedia - The Beatles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles) **Fandom Origins:** The fandom started to take off in 1963, and continued pass the group's break up in 1970 (public performances had stopped in 1966). **Names:** Beatlemaniacs **Most Active:** Definitely between 1960 an 1970. Today, according to [Google Trends data](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=The%20Beatles,Beatlemania), interest in the Beatles has been on the decline, though there was a spike in interest in September 2009 when remastered versions of their albums were re-released and again in February 2014 with _The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles_. **Fanfics:** Archive of our Own has over 1200 fanfics related to The Beatles. ### This week's spotlight **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom as we travel to France, Arsene Lupin (Gentleman Thief)! **G:** Arsene Lupin is an old-timey thing and isn't relevant anymore. **Z:** Why... did Japan think there would be enough of a fandom for an anime? **T:** Why is Sherlock Holmes so popular (by comparison)? Arsene Lupin is a good guy on wrong side of the law... why is _that_ not more popular? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks to Graeme for taking the time out of his busy schedule (especially since, at time of recording, the announcement of the new Doctor on _Doctor Who_ had taken place)! ## Credits ### Sources - [Huffington Post - 5 Beatles Fan Theories You'll Think Are So Crazy They Might Just Be True](http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/the-beatles-fan-theories_n_6258074) - [Wikipedia - The Beatles (TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_(TV_series)) - [Wikipedia - Cultural impact of the Beatles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_impact_of_the_Beatles) - [Suck My Beatles - MORE THINGS THE BEATLES INVENTED](http://suckmybeatles.com/category/more-things-the-beatles-invented/) - [Book Doctor Gwen - 36 Beatles Firsts, Excerpted from an essay on The Beatles, by Gwen Foss](http://bookdoctorgwen.blogspot.ca/2009/09/36-beatles-firsts-excerpted-from-essay.html) - [Beatlemania - A sexually defiant consumer subculture? - Barbara Ehrenreich, Elizabeth Hess and Gloria Jacobs (1992)](https://www.sfu.ca/cmns/courses/2011/488/1-Readings/Ehrenreich_Beatlemania.pdf) - The Beatles Anthology by The Beatles (2000, Chronicle Books) - [Wikipedia - The Beatles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles#1963.E2.80.931966:_Beatlemania_and_touring_years) - [Wikipedia - Tanganyika Laughter Epidemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanganyika_laughter_epidemic) - [Wikipedia - Beatlemania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatlemania) - [The Guardian - Beatlemania: 'The Screamers' and other Tales of Fandom](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/sep/29/beatlemania-screamers-fandom-teenagers-hysteria) - [Business Insider - Science Explains Why Girls Went so Crazy for The Beatles](http://www.businessinsider.com/science-explains-why-girls-went-so-crazy-for-the-beatles-2014-2) - [The A.V. Club - Spotify Sees a Resurgence of Beatlemania](http://www.avclub.com/article/spotify-sees-resurgence-beatlemania-234992) - [Reddit - Why Are the Beatles Regarded as Such a Good Band?](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/2x70gb/why_are_the_beatles_regarded_as_such_a_good_band/) - [Reddit - Why Do You Love the Beatles?](https://www.reddit.com/r/beatles/comments/1npgn9/why_do_you_love_the_beatles/) - [Reddit - Being a Human: What The Beatles Mean to Me](https://www.reddit.com/r/beatles/comments/16x865/being_a_human_what_the_beatles_mean_to_me/) - [Reddit - How 15 Year Old Marsha Albert Kickstarted the British Invasion and Beatlemania in America](https://www.reddit.com/r/beatles/comments/6juw2a/how_15_year_old_marsha_albert_kickstarted_the/) - [Reddit - Paul is Dead and Other Conspiracy Theories](https://www.reddit.com/r/beatles/comments/4yppkn/paul_is_dead_and_other_conspiracy_theories/) - [Reddit - Was Beatlemania a Unique Social Phenomenon Based on the Musical Talents of The Beatles or the Result of Societal Changes of the Period?](https://www.reddit.com/r/beatles/comments/1mppt7/was_beatlemania_a_unique_social_phenomenon_based/) - [Reddit - For Those Who Lived During the 60's, What Was Beatlemania Really Like?](https://www.reddit.com/r/beatles/comments/v6xxx/for_those_who_lived_during_the_60s_what_was/) - [Reddit - How Much of the Beatlemania Craze was Deliberately Manufactured?](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3y0ipf/how_much_of_the_beatlemania_craze_was/) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - ["Ringo Starr"](https://thenounproject.com/term/john-lennon/240389) by [enrico chialstri](https://thenounproject.com/enrico.chialastri) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#36 - Disney Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 17:16:00 +0000

This is it! We're at the season finale! And what better way to end the season than by talking about the beloved Disney franchise and its fans... maybe even a musical number? Maybe not. Given the vastness of Disney fandom (live action, animated movies, particular franchises) we just barely scratch the surface of what exactly Disney fans are! And that's it! We'll be back again on July 28th (two weeks, as of this release) to prepare for the next season. Until then, stay tuned! ## Episode outline ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/35-browncoats/) Famous Last Words **Z:** The people who are a part of or are waiting to be a part of the secret Disneyland club underneath main street ... the people who are part of that club are not real Disney fans. Alternatively: Real Disney fan aren't interested in alcohol **G:** Does Disney have a formal code of conduct with fans? (e.g. no dressing as characters in parks) Do they keep a distance with certain fans **T:** Is it possible to not be a fan of Disney, considering its reach? What is the biggest difference between fandoms within Disney? Are there Disney fans who hate each other? ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Founded in 1923 by Walt and Roy O. Disney, the Walt Disney company has created hundreds of live action and animated television and films, and various radio, music, theme parks, and published works as well. It established itself as a leader in the American animation industry and has only since grown from its humble beginnings during the silent film era to the extravaganza you see today. **Most popular:** With gross revenue as a measure, the most popular animated Disney movies in order are: - #1 Frozen - #3 Toy Story 3 - #4 Finding Dory - #5 Zootopia - #7 The Lion King - #8 Finding Nemo - #13 Inside Out - #17 Monsters University - #18 Up - #21 Big Hero 6 **Size of Fandom:** There are [over 100 million fans](https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/12/100-million-disney-facebook-fans/) across all of the Disney network's Facebook pages as of 2010. According to a less verifiable source, [there are over 500 million fans](http://www.answers.com/Q/How_many_Walt_Disney_fans_are_there) over that same network in 2013. > In 2011, there were 17.1 million visitors to the Magic Kingdom in Florida — Disney's three other parks in Orlando each hosted about 10 million visitors — while Disneyland brought in 16 million attendees. > > — [BuzzFeed - Meet The World's Most Intense Disney Fans](https://www.buzzfeed.com/jordanzakarin/disneys-fans-d23) **Changes in Fandom:** Relative to itself, interest in Disney [has been on a slow decline](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=Disney,Pixar,Dreamworks) with a rise to a high point being in December 2006, and declining to about half as much interest around now (2017). There is significantly more interest in Disney than similar groups (e.g. Pixar, Dreamworks). **Fan terms:** - ODP: Official Disney Princess - Pixie Dusters > ...The kind of fans who hate Kinsey for writing this edgy guide are generally known to the fan community as Pixie Dusters, after Peter Pan's Tinker Bell and her golden magic detritus. *Pixie Dusters believe wholeheartedly in the purity of the Walt Disney Company and that it represents the peak of goodness and family values*; and that to sully or criticize Disney is an act of heresy, punishable by non-stop harassment on the internet. > > — [BuzzFeed - Meet The World's Most Intense Disney Fans](https://www.buzzfeed.com/jordanzakarin/disneys-fans-d23) - Frothers / Foamers > On the other end of the spectrum are the grumbling, get-off-my-lawn obsessives that are called Frothers or Foamers (as in frothing from the mouth) *because they criticize everything Disney does for not being as good or respectful of its glory days*. The time period the company is failing to honor, of course, depend on the era in which a fan grew up. No new ride or park exhibit or cartoon can compare to the old classics, even if they were just big, dolled up versions of herky-jerky country fair attractions. > > — [BuzzFeed - Meet The World's Most Intense Disney Fans](https://www.buzzfeed.com/jordanzakarin/disneys-fans-d23) **Fanfics:** According to Archive of Our Own, there are over 18 000 Disney fanfics across all media types. ### Are you in, or out? **G is in.** > I don't know if I could find a way out. > > — G **T is in.** **Z is in.** ### This week's spotlight **[Walt Disney Confessions](http://waltdisneyconfessions.tumblr.com/)** What it says on the tin: private confessions that people have in relation to the Disney movies, franchises, and peoples own lives. **[Fandom Give Back](http://fandomgiveback.com/about-the-project/)** A group that aims to lessen the divide between fans, create awareness of the positives aspects of fandom, and a sort of meta-charity that finds other charities to work with and help out **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Filmoria - THE Disney Timeline](http://www.filmoria.co.uk/the-disney-timeline/) - [Washington Post - Mapping the Disney universe (and its mind-boggling fan theories)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2014/03/19/mapping-the-disney-universe-and-its-mind-boggling-fan-theories/?utm_term=.525dab52044e) - [BuzzFeed - We Did An In-Depth Analysis Of 21 Disney Female Leads-](https://www.buzzfeed.com/justinezwiebel/we-did-a-census-of-all-the-disney-female-animated-characters) - [BuzzFeed - Meet The World's Most Intense Disney Fans](https://www.buzzfeed.com/jordanzakarin/disneys-fans-d23) - [Fanlore - Disney Fandom](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Disney_Fandom) - [13 Inscrutable Requirements to Be A Princess In Disney Parks](http://www.disneyfanatic.com/13-inscrutable-requirements-to-be-a-princesses-in-disney-parks/) - [Micechat.com](http://micechat.com) - [Teen.com - 8 Disney Channel Co-Star Pairs That Actually Didn’t Get Along in Real Life](http://www.teen.com/2016/02/26/celebrities/disney-channel-costars-who-hate-each-other-in-real-life/#ixzz4m68fcWN7) - [Wikipedia - The Walt Disney Company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company) - [Reddit - What are Disney Fans Called](https://www.reddit.com/r/disney/comments/1cc25q/what_are_disney_fans_called/) - [Wikipedia - List of Highest-Grossing Animated Films](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest-grossing_animated_films) - [Disney - 100 Million Disney Facebook Fans](https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/12/100-million-disney-facebook-fans/) - [Answers - How many Walt Disney fans are there](http://www.answers.com/Q/How_many_Walt_Disney_fans_are_there) - [Google Trends - Disney, Pixar, Dreamworks](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=Disney,Pixar,Dreamworks) - [BoingBoing - Disneyland's un-gangs](http://boingboing.net/2014/02/27/disneylands-un-gangs.html) - [DailyMail - Angry Disney fans create their own ethnic princess after latest film features ANOTHER 'generic' white female](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2353524/Angry-Disney-fans-create-ethnic-princesses-latest-film-features-ANOTHER-generic-white-female.html) - [DisneyGeekery.com - Interview: DisneyBound Explained by Leslie Kay](http://www.disneygeekery.com/2013/10/03/interview-disneybound-explained-leslie-kay/) - [Reddit - I worked as various princesses at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. AMA!](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2ehtte/i_worked_as_various_princesses_at_walt_disney/) - [Reddit - Why are the Official "Disney Princesses" the way they are? (X-Post /r/Disney)](https://www.reddit.com/r/disneyprincess/comments/4ugg4l/why_are_the_official_disney_princesses_the_way/) - [New York Post - This man has been to Disneyland 2,000 days in a row](http://nypost.com/2017/06/24/this-man-has-been-to-disneyland-2000-days-in-a-row/) - [TheFederalist.com - Disney World Is The Worst Thing Ever. You Should Definitely Go](http://thefederalist.com/2015/07/31/disney-world-is-the-worst-thing-ever-you-should-definitely-go/) - [Disney Tourist Blog - Disney Pin Trading Tips](http://www.disneytouristblog.com/pin-trading/) - [TheMovieBlog.com - How Walt Disney Influenced Anime](http://www.themovieblog.com/2013/08/how-walt-disney-influenced-anime/) - [Fanlore - Disney Channel](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Disney_Channel) - [The Hathor Legacy - Pride and Possession: Magic Flowers, Hair, and Women (and the Kidnappers Who “Love” Them)](https://thehathorlegacy.com/pride-and-posession/) - [Laughing Place - In Defense of Adult Disney Fandom and Childless Vacations](http://www.laughingplace.com/w/blogs/disney-buzz/2016/02/04/shocker-outside-world-still-doesnt-understand-adult-disney-fandom/) - [Inside the Magic - NSFW VIDEO: CollegeHumor tells us “Adult Disney Fans Are Weird”](http://www.insidethemagic.net/2017/03/nsfw-video-collegehumor-tells-us-adult-disney-fans-are-weird/) - [POPSUGAR- Pride Month at Disney Parks 2017](https://www.popsugar.com/love/Pride-Month-Disney-Parks-2017-43628928) - [Los Alamitos, CA Patch - 2,000 Day Streak at Disneyland: Huntington Bean Man is Happy Every Day](https://patch.com/california/losalamitos/beat-disney-fans-man-logs-2-000-straight-days-disneyland-resort-parks) - [Reddit - Why I Love Disney; Why Do You Love Disney?](https://www.reddit.com/r/disney/comments/25wbv7/why_i_love_disney_why_do_you_love_disney/) - [Reddit - A Straight Guy's Thoughts on the Unofficial “Gay Days” at Walt Disney World](https://www.reddit.com/r/disney/comments/1fn6f9/a_straight_guys_thoughts_on_the_unofficial_gay/) - [Wikipedia - Club 33](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_33) - [WDInfo.com - Vox Populi: Disney Fans React to Walt Disney World Club 33 Announcement](https://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/vox-populi-disney-fans-react-to-walt-disney-world-club-33-announcement/) - [Disney Fanatic - Disney's Secret Club 33 - 15 Facts About this Ultra-Exclusive Society](http://www.disneyfanatic.com/disneys-secret-club-33-15-facts-ultra-exclusive-society/#) - [The Richest - 15 Facts About Disneyland's Super Exclusive Club 33](http://www.therichest.com/world-entertainment/15-facts-about-disneylands-super-exclusive-club-33/) - [Reddit - Club 33 in Less Than a Week! First-Time Looking for Tips!](https://www.reddit.com/r/disney/comments/1iebbu/club_33_in_less_than_a_week_firsttimer_looking) - [Quora - How Do You Get into Club 33 at Disneyland?](https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-get-into-Club-33-at-Disneyland) - [Pixar Theory](http://www.pixartheory.com/) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Castle](https://thenounproject.com/term/castle/262417) by [Sergey Demushkin](https://thenounproject.com/mockturtle) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#35 - Browncoats

The Nickscast — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 19:13:00 +0000

Raze the land and boil the sea; you can't take this week's podcast from... us? What is it about this _Joss Whedon_ franchise that has survived cancellation and a lack of conclusion? Why is it that so many are such adamant fans of this short-lived series? This week, we're talking about fans of Firefly, the aptly-named _Browncoats_! Next week, we'll be tackling our final topic of the season: Disney fans (and its a doozy)! ## Episode outline ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/34-james-bond-fans/) Famous Last Words **Tom:** Why do people care about this show? I guess Nathan Fillion is cool... Why do you care so much about it? Get over it! **Z:** What is the place of duelling in the world of firefly? How common is it? **G:** Is it really that good? **T:** Where's the second season? Why hasn't it been kickstarted? ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** > "Firefly" is a space Western set 500 years in the future, in the aftermath of a civil war between rebels known as Independents (or Browncoats) and a tyrannical conglomerate called the Alliance. The Independents lose the war, and under Alliance control, corporations rule openly; > > — [SFGate - When Fox canceled 'Firefly,' it ignited an Internet fan base whose burning desire for more led to 'Serenity'](http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/When-Fox-canceled-Firefly-it-ignited-an-2628890.php) Firefly was a Sci-fi Western show broadcast in 2002. Created by Joss Whedon, only 11 of the 14 recorded episodes were aired in its original US run on the FOX network before the show was cancelled. Due to DVD sales, the show was deemed successful enough to have a movie produced, _Serenity_. It stars several fan favourite actors such as Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Summer Glau, and the late Ron Glass. **Names:** Browncoats, ["dubbed ... in honor of the doomed-but-noble Independents"](http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/When-Fox-canceled-Firefly-it-ignited-an-2628890.php) in the show. **Most Active:** Firefly fandom was most active around [October of 2005](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=%2Fm%2F014v3t,%2Fm%2F02j9_2), which is just after the release of the movie, _Serenity_. Otherwise, interest in the show has been on a very slow decline with about half as much interest now as five years ago. **Size of Fandom:** We would estimate the size of the fandom as more than 200 000 people; After the show's cancellation, FOX released a DVD set of the show which sold more than 200 000 copies — enough to get the movie greenlit. **Fan activity:** Mostly shipping characters, as in other fandoms. During the early 2000's, "Shindigs" (informal gatherings) were popular. **Fanfics:** Archive of our own has over 5600, and Fanfiction.net has over 7200. ### Are you in, or out? **T is in.** **Z is out.** **G is out.** ### This week's spotlight **[Can't Stop the Serenity](http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com/)** Can't Stop the Serenity is a group that organizes screenings of Serenity for charity, usually [Equality Now](https://www.equalitynow.org/), an organization working for equality for women and girls. Since 2006, they have raised over $1 mil USD, and it is entirely run by volunteers! > We share the ideal that people should “aim to misbehave,” if it absolutely means doing the right thing. We hold true that anyone can make a difference, and no effort is insignificant. Further we believe that a government shouldn’t destroy the rights of its citizens, regardless of sex. Basically, we watch our shows, support our causes and allow our voices to be heard because we live in countries which allow us to do so. But we realise that there are other people out there who can not do what we can do. > > — [Can't Stop the Serenity](http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com/) **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, (Fandom name)! **Z** The people who are a part of or are waiting to be a part of the secret Disneyland club underneath main street ... the people who are part of that club are not real Disney fans. Alternatively: Real Disney fan aren't interested in alcohol **G** Does Disney have a formal code of conduct with fans? (e.g. no dressing as characters in parks) Do they keep a distance with certain fans? **T** Is it possible to not be a fan of Disney, considering its reach? Alternatively: What is the biggest difference between fandoms within Disney? Are there Disney fans who hate each other? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Fanlore - Browncoat](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Browncoat) - [Fanlore - Browncoat Cruise](http://browncoats.wikia.com/wiki/Browncoat_Cruise) - [Asking the Wrong Questions - Oh Captain, My Captain: Mal Reynolds, Anti-Anti-Hero](http://wrongquestions.blogspot.ca/2005/10/oh-captain-my-captain-mal-reynolds.html) - [Wikipedia - Firefly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefly_%28TV_series%29) - [YouTube - Done the Impossible The Fans' Tale of 'Firefly' and 'Serenity' 2006](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leDZIYcDGl0) - [Firefly and Western Literature - The Confederacy and Firefly](https://firefly10108.wordpress.com/2008/09/04/the-confederacy-and-firefly/) - [Mental Floss - 23 Fun Facts About 'Firefly'](http://mentalfloss.com/article/56022/23-fun-facts-about-firefly) - [The Daily Dot - 17 Reasons Geeks Worship Joss Whedon (And 3 Reasons Not To)](https://www.dailydot.com/culture/joss-whedon-whedonverse-20-steps/) - [SFGate - When Fox canceled 'Firefly,' it ignited an Internet fan base whose burning desire for more led to 'Serenity'](http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/When-Fox-canceled-Firefly-it-ignited-an-2628890.php) - [Nerdist - FOX is finally interested in rebooting Firefly! But there is a catch...](http://nerdist.com/fox-is-finally-interested-in-rebooting-firefly-but-there-is-a-catch/) - [Polygon - Nathan Fillion doesn’t want Firefly to continue — and neither should we](https://www.polygon.com/2016/9/20/12987216/firefly-nathan-fillion-joss-whedon) - [Wired - Firefly takes flight again with Browncoats: Redemption](https://www.wired.com/2010/05/firefly-takes-flight-again-with-browncoats-redemption/) - [Reddit - Why do so many of you love Firefly?](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/fq45z/why_do_so_many_of_you_love_firefly/) - [Reddit - How does Firefly have such a huge fanbase when it has just 14 episodes and is twelve years old?](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/28bcaw/how_does_firefly_have_such_a_huge_fanbase_when_it/) - [A.V. Club - This Firefly fan film is surprisingly great](http://www.avclub.com/article/firefly-fan-film-surprisingly-great-209445) - [Business Insider - It's Amazing How Badly Fox Screwed Up Joss Whedon's 'Firefly'](http://www.businessinsider.com/fox-screwed-up-firefly-2014-9) - [Fanlore - Firefly](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Firefly) - [Reddit - Why do people like firefly?](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/2x2uj4/why_do_people_like_firefly/) - [TV Tropes - The Firefly Effect](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheFireflyEffect) - [Tor.com - The Sky is Taken: It’s Time to Get Over Firefly](http://www.tor.com/2014/04/07/the-sky-is-taken-its-time-to-get-over-firefly/) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Revolver](https://thenounproject.com/term/revolver/904288) by [Xela Ub](https://thenounproject.com/xela.) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Avatar Ship](https://thenounproject.com/term/avatar-ship/284798) by [Oliviu Stoian](https://thenounproject.com/smashicons) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#34 - James Bond Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 23:06:00 +0000

What makes 007 oh-so-beloved by fans? On this week's episode, the Nickscast (and special guest friend, Tom) talk about why it is that folks are such a fan of the intruiging English spy, James Bond! Next week, we'll be dipping our toes into the Whedonverse as we talk about fans of *Firefly*: Browncoats! ## Episode outline ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/33-cinephiles-ft-efg-nick/) Famous Last Words **G:** Are there people who are only interested in the books, and if so, why? What's the Tom Bombadil of James Bond films? How faithful are the movies to the books? **Z:** The iconic scene of James Bond being strapped down to a lazer. Is that lifted from the books, or movie original? **T:** How important is universal love of the movies? Can you love just a movie? Just one bond? **EFG Nick:** Why is Hank Scorpio the greatest bond villain of all time? ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** James Bond is a fictional British Secret Service agent, created by Sir Ian Flemming in 1953. Flemming wrote Bond into twelve novels and two short story collections. Though Flemming passed away in 1964, Bond has only become more popular, starring in twenty-four films, and eight other authors officially continuing his adventures. The first EON Productions James Bond movie, *Dr. No*, was release in 1962. There are two non-canonical movies: *Casino Royale* (a 1967 spoof) and *Never Say Never Again* (a 1983 remake of an earlier Eon-produced film, *Thunderball*). **Fandom Origins:** The first fan club was founded in 1972 by two high school students from Yonkers, NY. In 1974, they started publishing a magazine, *Bondage Quarterly*, however, it and most (if not all) other James Bond zines published no fan-fiction. **Changes in Fandom:** In general, trending downward worldwide, though there are peaks around when the movies were released based on [Google Trends data since 2004](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=all&q=james%20bond,007). It hasn't been a huge drop though, perhaps about 20%. The data is based on when it was most popular in search traffic so hard to say. **Fan terms:** The Connery-through-Brosnan universe is often called "Classic Bond" or "Classicverse". The reboot starring Daniel Craig is thus far called the "Craigverse", though once Craig is replaced a new name will probably emerge. **Related fandoms:** Indiana Jones and Jason Bourne (based on Facebook data, via [Hollywood.com](http://www.hollywood.com/movies/skyfall-box-office-bonanza-57242023/)) **Demographics:** In a survey of US James Bond fans by [YouGov](https://today.yougov.com/news/2012/11/15/he-last-played-james-bond-1983-americans-say-sean-/)... - Across all groups, Sean Connery is the preferred bond (52%); Daniel Craig (16%), Pierce Brosnan (13%), Roger Moore (10%), Don't Know (7%) - In the 30-44 Age group, Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore run a close second - Daniel Craig gets the most support from folks under 30 - 6 in 10 Americans claim to be James Bond fans (1 in 5 claim to be "big fans") - Bond fandom does not appear to be indicative of any particular gender, age, or political leaning > Smirnoff vodka, which had been featured in Bond films since Dr. No, was replaced with Finlandia vodka in Die Another Day. A Smirnoff representative said that the company had lost interest in the Bond audience, whose major demographic they saw as men aged 25 to 45, and that it was seeking younger, more social customers aged 21 to 29. > > — [Wikipedia - James Bond Fandom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond_fandom) **Fanfics:** Looking at Fanfiction.net, there are only 12 fanfics specifically for the James Bond movies, but well over 2000 results featuring the term "James Bond". Archive of our Own has over 8000 fanfics for Bond fandom, most focussed on the movies (97%), and most focussed on the Daniel Craig movies (91%). ### Are you in, or out? **G is in.** - But will probably stay at his current level of involvement, and see the next movie when it comes out. **Z is out.** **T is out.** **Tom is in, and will always be in.** ### This week's spotlight **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, *Browncoats*! **Tom** Why do people care about this show? I guess Nathan Fillion is cool. It was only on for a season ... Why do people care so much about it? Get over it! **Z** What is the place of duelling in the world of firefly? How common is it? **G** Is it really that good? **T** Where's the second season? Why hasn't it been kickstarted? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Den of Geek - James Bond: Why I Love the Films, But Hate 007](http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/james-bond/250349/james-bond-why-i-love-the-films-but-hate-007) - [Wikipedia - James Bond](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond) - [Fanlore - James Bond](https://fanlore.org/wiki/James_Bond) - [Wikipedia - James Bond Fandom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond_fandom) - [Hollywood.com - ‘Skyfall’ Box Office Bonanza!](http://www.hollywood.com/movies/skyfall-box-office-bonanza-57242023/) - [Wikipedia - Shaken, Not Stirred](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaken,_not_stirred) - [Wikipedia - Goldfinger (Film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfinger_(film)) - [Filmsite.org - 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time](http://www.filmsite.org/100characters4.html) - [Empire - The Greatest Movie Characters of All Time](http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/100-greatest-movie-characters/) - [Reddit - What Quality of James Bond Do You Wish You Had the Most?](https://www.reddit.com/r/JamesBond/comments/3dgh9k/what_quality_of_james_bond_do_you_wish_you_had/) - [Reddit - Time for Bond to Die...](https://www.reddit.com/r/007/comments/3q14tq/time_for_bond_to_die/) - [M16 Community - Home](https://www.mi6community.com/) - [Reddit - Could the Current Film Continuity Adopt the Code Name Theory as Canon for Future Installments?](https://www.reddit.com/r/JamesBond/comments/5gy8ii/could_the_current_film_continuity_adopt_the_code/) - [Reddit - It's Been About 24 Hours since my James Bond Survey and I Have Received 160+ Responses](https://www.reddit.com/r/JamesBond/comments/375soq/its_been_about_24_hours_since_my_james_bond/) - [Reddit - James Bond and Castlevania Continuity](https://www.reddit.com/r/JamesBond/comments/6fwk59/james_bond_continuity_and_castlevania_continuity/) - [Reddit - Bond Film Continuity?](https://www.reddit.com/r/JamesBond/comments/2yq5yf/bond_film_continuity/) - [Den of Geek! - James Bond and the Legacy of Goldfinger](http://www.denofgeek.com/us/movies/james-bond/243976/james-bond-007-and-the-legacy-of-goldfinger) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Aperture](https://thenounproject.com/term/aperture/29761) by [Mourad Mokrane](https://thenounproject.com/molumen) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [User](https://thenounproject.com/term/user/85533) by [Miguel C Balandrano](https://thenounproject.com/acider) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Live at YetiCon: Pokemaniacs

The Nickscast — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 13:21:00 +0000

Breaking News! Were you at YetiCon? If so, you may have been a part of our live podcast: *A Fanthropological View of Pokemon*! What is it that keeps a franchise going for over twenty years? Why do fans continue to flock to it? Who are the fans of Pokemon anyway? Stay tuned, and find out! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Pokemon is a video game and media franchise that was started in 1995 by Game Freak / Nintendo video game designer Satoshi Tajiri. The franchise centers on fictional creatures called Pokemon (*Pocket Monsters*) which humans, known as Pokemon trainers, catch and train to battle each other for sport. The is the third best-selling video game franchise (behind Mario, and Tetris) and spans 18 mainline games, over 60 different spin-off games, an anime series that has been running for 20 years and 11 seasons, 20 different movies... there is a *lot* of Pokemon! **Demographics:** Obviously, the main game series has broad appeal, so it is hard to pin down. Using data from [*Club Nintendo* and *Media Create*](http://www.siliconera.com/2014/12/01/pokemons-audience-growing-older/), it looks like the average Pokemon player is male, between the ages of 19-24. *However*, there are lots of other data sources. Data from [*Infoscout* on Pokemon licensed merchandise](http://infoscout.co/brand/pokemon_licensed) is slightly different: the largest group being white females between the ages of 35 to 44. Also interesting is that this data shows that Pokemon purchasers are more likely to have kids, to have a college education, and to make over $80k USD. Some data on [*Forbes* about Pokemon GO](https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2016/07/26/more-women-than-men-are-playing-pokemon-go-by-a-lot/#29c1bee613dc) suggests that the majority of players are age 18-29, and female by a large margin (63% vs 37%). That's 2-to-1! **Names:** Pokemon Fans, Pokémaniacs, Pokétubers (Youtube) **Most Active:** I would argue that Pokemon is more popular now than ever but perhaps it is oversaturated as there are so many different Pokemon properties. As for trends (based on [Google Trends](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=%2Fm%2F05xwg,%2Fm%2F0532x8,%2Fm%2F01w626)), Pokemon popularity has been relatively flat, but is likely going up slightly since 2016 with a huge spike in interest towards the end of July 2016 (the most popular period for Pokemon searches), which happened to be the time of the release of Pokemon Go **Changes in Fandom:** The largest change in the fandom, from demographics, is that it has been skewing older as time goes on. From the [*Club Nintendo* and *Media Create* data](http://www.siliconera.com/2014/12/01/pokemons-audience-growing-older/), the age group has gone from primarily pre-school to 6th grade when Diamond and Pearl were released, to 19-24 when Black and White were released. **Fanfics:** Archive of our own has approximately 9000 fanfics across all media types, with almost 5000 of those being for the main video game series. Fanfiction.net has almost 27 000 fanfics, which I think is a general indication of the relative popularity of Pokemon and the state of the fandom in the past vs now. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks this week to [YetiCon](http://www.yeticon.org/) for having us as a featured panelist! We had a lot of fun, and hope to come back next year! ## Credits ### Sources - [Fanlore - Pokemon](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon) - [Wikipedia - Pokemon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon) - [Wikipedia - Pokemon (video game series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_(video_game_series)) - [Wikipedia - Satoshi Tajiri](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satoshi_Tajiri) - [Nintendo Wikia - List of Pokemon Games](http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Pok%C3%A9mon_games) - [Bulbapedia - List of Anime episodes](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/List_of_anime_episodes) - [Quora - How was Pokémon able to achieve such broad demographic appeal?](https://www.quora.com/How-was-Pok%C3%A9mon-able-to-achieve-such-broad-demographic-appeal) - [Kotaku - The World of Pokemon Fan Games Has Become a Minefield](http://kotaku.com/the-world-of-pokemon-fan-games-has-become-a-minefield-1794743843) - [Vice - Why I'm a Full-Grown Adult Who Still Loves 'Pokemon'](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/still-love-pokemon-234) - [Reddit - ELI5: How and why did Pokemon win the popularity contest against Digimon?](https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/30rz3c/eli5_how_and_why_did_pokemon_win_the_popularity/) - [Siliconera - Pokémon’s Audience Is Growing Older](http://www.siliconera.com/2014/12/01/pokemons-audience-growing-older/) - [Forbes - More Women Than Men Are Playing 'Pokémon GO'--By A Lot](https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2016/07/26/more-women-than-men-are-playing-pokemon-go-by-a-lot/#29c1bee613dc) - [Infoscout - Pokemon (Licensed) Consumer Insights](http://infoscout.co/brand/pokemon_licensed) - [Google Trends - Pokemon vs Digimon](https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?q=%2Fm%2F05xwg,%2Fm%2F0532x8,%2Fm%2F01w626) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Pokemon](https://thenounproject.com/term/pokeball/594339) by [Iconic](https://thenounproject.com/iconproducer) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#33 - Cinephiles (ft. EFG Nick)

The Nickscast — Sat, 17 Jun 2017 01:48:11 +0000

The Nickscast talks all things film, film fandom, cinema... you name it as they try to figure out the allure of the silver screen when they talk about Cinephiles! They are not alone in their efforts; this week, Epic Film Guys Nick joins the fray and drops some knowledge bombs about cinema! Next week, we'll be talking about that double-oh-so-secret agent, James Bond, and his many adoring fans! ## Where can I learn more about EFG Nick? Epic Film Guy Nick lives in upstate NY and graduated from Clarion University of PA in 2010 with a degree in English (writing). While in college he studied film as part of a film studies minor and made a couple short films. He handles the sound production and editing of the show ([Epic Film Guys](http://www.epicfilmguys.com/)) as well as its release and manages the twitter account [@EpicFilmGuys](http://twitter.com/EpicFilmGuys). You can learn more about the Epic Film Guys by visiting http://epicfilmguys.wordpress.com/about-us/ You can also find them elsewhere on the internet! - Website: [Epic Film Guys](http://www.epicfilmguys.com/) - Twitter: [@EpicFilmGuys](http://twitter.com/epicfilmguys) - Facebook: [@EpicFilmGuys](http://facebook.com/epicfilmguys) - iTunes: [Epic Film Guys Podcast](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/epic-film-guys-podcast/id1027239734) ## Episode outline ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/32-bollywood-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z:** Is there a movie marathon, cited as a cinephile’s paradise, where people are encouraged to bring in multiple-course meals? **G:** Is it important for cinephiles to see movies in the theatre? **T:** Are cinephiles really a fandom? Isn’t that just a pretentious title for people who watch movies? Where is the culture? The shared experience and unique terminology? ### Fandom Facts **Size of Fandom:** Based on data from [*Telefilm*](https://telefilm.ca/wp-content/uploads/canada-moviegoing-statistics-june-2015.pdf) In Canada alone, there are over 20.3 million moviegoers. Roughly two-thirds of the Canadian population goes out to see movies, and on average sees 5.1 movies in a year. Within this group of moviegoers, there is a group of heavy moviegoers. This group consists of 25% of all moviegoers, sees 10 or more movies per year, and makes up the majority (60%) of all ticket purchases. **Fan demographics and preferences:** Again, based on the [same source](https://telefilm.ca/wp-content/uploads/canada-moviegoing-statistics-june-2015.pdf), there are slightly different demographics depending on which set of moviegoers are being referred to. Looking at all moviegoers, they are split about 51% male, 49% female, and compared to the general population, are much more likely to be under the age of 44. In particular, a lot of moviegoers are between the ages of 13 and 24 compared to the general population. 16% tend to see a movie during the opening weekend, and 25% during the opening week. Compared to non-movie goers - They are more likely to use social media (74%) - They are more likely to watch streaming TV (61%) - They are more likely to play video games (48%) - They are less likely to read a print newspaper (15%) In general, moviegoers consume a lot of media. When asked about why moviegoers *do not* go to see a movie, the biggest reason cited was cost. In terms of theatre preferences, seating, showtimes, and theatre quality are the most important factors. *Heavy moviegoers* Looking specifically at this group, the split becomes 53% male, and 47% female, and are way more likely to be between the ages of 25 and 34. 27% of this group sees the movie on opening weekend, and 35% during the opening week. > Among the top five grossing films in 2015, Jurassic World, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Avengers: Age of Ultron and Furious 7 attracted majority male audiences, while Inside Out was the only top five film with a majority female audience, with 54% of box office revenue coming from women. Furious 7 drew the most ethnically diverse audience, followed by Jurassic World. > > — [MPAA - Theatrical Market Statistics](http://www.mpaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MPAA-Theatrical-Market-Statistics-2015_Final.pdf) **Changes in Fandom:** There are many signs that the fandom is growing. Global box office sales were up 5% in 2015 (up 18% since 2011), and the number of cinema screens worldwide has increased 8% since 2015 (due in large part to gains in the Asia-Pacific region, which have grown 19%). ### Are you in, or out? **Z is in.** **G is in.** **EFG is in.** **T is out.** ### This week's spotlight **[M. Night School](http://mnightschool.org/)** > Certainly, there must be 150, 000 of us film lovers out there who are tired of his schlocky plot twists, canned dialogue, and over commercialized image as an "auteur." A bit of a joke answer, but it is a group dedicated to sending M. Night Shyamalan back to film school. The group has raised over $700 USD to date, and was hoping to raise $150 000 USD. Had they succeeded and M. Night refused, the money would have been donated to creating a scholarship. **[Frameline](https://www.frameline.org/)** Frameline is an international LGBTQ film festival that also hosts events, screens films, and creates LGBTQ youth programming year round. > The Frameline Completion Fund provides grants to emerging and established filmmakers. This program seeks to provide a much-needed source of financial contributions to artists who often struggle to secure funding to complete their works. Grants up to $5,000 are available for the completion of films that represent and reflect LGBTQ life in all its complexity and richness. > > For over a quarter century, Frameline has provided more than 140 grants to help ensure that LGBTQ films are completed and viewed by wider audiences. > > — [Frameline Completion Fund](https://www.frameline.org/year-round/filmmaker-support/completion-fund) **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, James Bond! **G** Are there people who are only interested in the books, and if so, why? What's the *Tom Bombadil* of James Bond films? How faithful are the movies to the books? **Z** The iconic scene of James Bond being strapped down to a laser... Is that lifted from the books, or original to the movies? **T** How important is universal love of the movies? Can you love just one movie? Just one bond? **EFG** Why is Hank Scorpio the greatest bond villain of all time? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Thanks Special thanks this week go out to [Epic Film Guy Nick](http://www.epicfilmguys.com/) for once again joining us and sharing his love and knowledge of films and cinema fandom! ## Credits ### Sources - [New Republic - Has Hollywood Murdered the Movies?](https://newrepublic.com/article/107212/has-hollywood-murdered-the-movies) - [Open Roof Festival - Festival Information](http://www.openrooffestival.com/festival-information/) - [The Food Film Fest - The Festival](http://thefoodfilmfestival.com/the-festival/) - [Slow Food Youth Network - The Rise of Amsterdam's Food Film Festival](http://www.slowfoodyouthnetwork.org/blog/the-rise-of-amsterdams-food-film-festival/#.WR-VUOFid0s) - [Real Food Films - Pop-Up Film Fests](http://realfoodfilms.org/pop-up-film-festivals/) - [WikiHow - How to Be a Cinephile](http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Cinephile) - [Reddit - Fellow Film Geeks, When Did You “Come of Age” as Film Lovers and What Is Your Watching Process](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cinephiles/comments/4db456/fellow_film_geeks_when_did_you_come_of_age_as/) - [Reddit - How Do I Become a Cinephile? Are There Any Particular DVD Collections that I can Begin With?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cinephiles/comments/34x6s8/how_do_i_become_a_cinephile_are_there_any/) - [Wikipedia - Cinephilia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinephilia) - [MUBI - What is MUBI](https://mubi.com/about) - [The Afternoon Despatch & Courier - Creating a Social Community of Cinephiles](http://www.afternoondc.in/business/creating-a-social-community-of-cinephiles/article_183773) - [MetaFilter - What are The Best Ways for a Cinephile Like Me to Find Community of Those Similarly Interested in Film?](http://ask.metafilter.com/216106/What-are-the-best-ways-for-a-cinephile-like-me-to-find-communities-of-those-similarly-interested-in-film) - [Telefilm Canada - Canadian Moviegoing Statistics](https://telefilm.ca/wp-content/uploads/canada-moviegoing-statistics-june-2015.pdf) - [MPAA - Theatrical Market Statistics](http://www.mpaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MPAA-Theatrical-Market-Statistics-2015_Final.pdf) - [The Harris Poll - The Silver Screen Slump: Americans Say They’re Going to the Movies Less Often](http://www.theharrispoll.com/health-and-life/The_Silver_Screen_Slump__Americans_Say_They_re_Going_to_the_Movies_Less_Often.html) - [Quora - Why do people watch movies? What meaning does it add to people's lives?](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-watch-movies-What-meaning-does-it-add-to-peoples-lives) - [Today - Your brain on movies: Why films make us cry, flinch and cheer](http://www.today.com/health/your-brain-movies-why-films-make-us-cry-flinch-cheer-1D80258284) - [The Guardian - 10 reasons why today's TV is better than movies](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2013/oct/23/10-reasons-tv-better-movies) - [Relevant - Why Do We Watch Movies?](http://archives.relevantmagazine.com/culture/film/why-do-we-watch-movies) - [Wired - Hollywood is not OK with you watching new movies at home](https://www.wired.com/2016/03/hollywood-not-ok-watching-new-movies-home/) - [No Film School - What Kind of Cinephile Are You? Let Pretentious-O-Meter Gauge Your Taste in Films](http://nofilmschool.com/2015/05/what-kind-cinephile-pretentious-o-meter-gauge-taste-films) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Projector](https://thenounproject.com/term/projector/919393) by [Federico Panzano](https://thenounproject.com/panzano) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) [// Z's sources: (.*)(?:\.|\?|\)|\:|\!) (http.*) (http.*) ]: # [// G's sources: From <(http.*)> ]: #

#32 - Bollywood Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 14:17:02 +0000

## Episode outline ### [Last Time's](http://fanthropological.com/e/31-lord-of-the-rings-fans/) Famous Last Words **Z**: In *The Simpsons*, when Apu lives with the Simpsons temporarily, they watch a Bollywood movie together. That movie now exists. **G**: Are western fans of Bollywood also interested in Indian culture in general? **T**: What is the most ridiculous Bollywood film that exists? ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** "Bollywood" movies, more formally referred to as "Hindi cinema", are films produced as part of the larger Indian film industry. It is one of the largest film producers in India representing 43% of net box office revenue (Tamil and Teluga cinema represent 36%). It is one of the largest centres of film production in the world, and one of the biggest film industries in the world in terms of films produced and people employed. The first silent films made in India started around the beginning of the 20th century, and by the 1930s the industry was producing about 200 films per year. **Names:** Hindi cinema fans, Bollywood fans, **Most Active:** Probably the present day; [Google trends](https://trends.google.ca/trends/explore?date=all&q=bollywood) data shows a slow but gradual increase from 2005 to now with the most interest being in spikes from last year and early this year. **Size of Fandom:** In 2012, over [2.6 billion tickets were sold to Bollywood films](https://blogs-images.forbes.com/niallmccarthy/files/2014/09/Bollywood_2.jpg), compared to 1.3 billion in the United States and almost 0.5 billion in China during the same period. [Another source](https://www.quora.com/How-big-is-the-Bollywood-movie-market) cites 4 billion tickets (Bollywood) vs 3 billion tickets (United States), but still, that's a huge upper bound. **Around the world:** There are definitely fans of Bollywood films outside of India, and outside of just Indian ex-patriots. Bollywood films are known from Egypt to Pakistan, Russia (In Soviet Russia, Indian movies were fairly common due to an Indo-Russian deal and also the fact that Hollywood was quite restricted back then), Ukraine, Poland, China, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UK, USA, Canada. They are *less* known in Europe, Africa, Latin America and Oceania. > “About 95 per cent of these are women,” Wessel says. “They’re drawn to the movies because German culture can be quite cold, especially for men. In actors like Shah Rukh, they see a guy who is soft, romantic, not afraid to cry or show his emotional side.” > > — [Hindustan Times - Take a tour to see how Indian cinema has found foreign fans](http://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/take-a-tour-to-see-how-our-cinema-has-found-foreign-fans/story-jfw58eD577xfA3Z8Tm2azJ.html) **Fast facts:** > In the 1970s, India cinema overtook America as the world's largest film producer and the term 'Bollywood' was coined. > > — [Leicester Mercury - Bollywood: 17 interesting facts about Indian cinema](http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/bollywood-17-interesting-facts-indian-cinema/story-26360213-detail/story.html#OHWXA1KGM801ItMY.99) > A vast majority of Hindi films are still dubbed using synch-sound equipment. The reason for this is, most people have not invested in sound-proofing their studios. Given the camera noise, it is much more effective to have the actors dub in their voices later. Of course, this often ends up compromising on the quality of the films. > > — [MensXP - 10 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT: BOLLYWOOD](http://www.mensxp.com/entertainment/top-10s/10932-10-things-you-never-knew-about-bollywood.html) ### Are you in, or out? **T is in.** - T will watch a Bollywood movie at some point **Z is in.** **G is in.** - Looking forward to some Shah Rukh Khan ### This week's spotlight **[Arts for India](artsforindia.org)** A charity organization looking to support underprivileged youth artists in India! > While several philanthropic organizations are working towards education for poor Indian children, most of them are focused on providing basic school level education. Arts for India takes these initiatives further in supporting needy Indian students at the next level life-changing higher education at the college level. > > — [Arts for India](http://www.artsforindia.org/) **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Cinephiles! Because of a hiccup in the recording schedule, these famous last words are unchanged from our [Cyberpunks episode](http://fanthropological.com/e/30-cyberpunks/): **Z** Is there a movie marathon, cited as a cinephile’s paradise, where people are encouraged to bring in multiple-course meals? **G** Is it important for cinephiles to see movies in the theatre? **T** Are cinephiles really a fandom? Isn’t that just a pretentious title for people who watch movies? Where is the culture? The shared experience and unique terminology? > I am already eating my words; I’ve already preheated them in the oven. > > — T ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Bollywood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bollywood) - [Quora - What is the reputation of Bollywood outside India?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-reputation-of-Bollywood-outside-India) - [Quora - Which countries watch bollywood movies besides India?](https://www.quora.com/Which-countries-watch-bollywood-movies-besides-India) - [Forbes - Indian Film Industry](https://blogs-images.forbes.com/niallmccarthy/files/2014/09/Bollywood_2.jpg) - [Quora - How big is the Bollywood movie market?](https://www.quora.com/How-big-is-the-Bollywood-movie-market) - [YouTube - Simpsons Indian Movie Scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcPrNC4AivE) - [YouTube - Why Do Russians Like Bollywood](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG3dSFnjKBk) - [YouTube - What Foreigners Think of Bollywood Films and Indian Actresses](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RowOmufQ54Q) - [YouTube - What Americans Think of Bollywood](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nMuGtNlDTs) - [SAMAR - Bollywood Comes to Nigeria](https://web.archive.org/web/20100731164710/http://www.samarmagazine.org/archive/article.php?id=21) - [Reddit - Bollywood Realism](https://www.reddit.com/r/BollywoodRealism/) - [Reddit - Bollywood](https://www.reddit.com/r/bollywood/) - [India Forums - Does IF Appeal More to Females, Males, or Both?](http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3960063) - [Buzzfeed - Why Bollywood Songs Mean So Much To Indians Outside Of India](https://www.buzzfeed.com/rumniquenannar/jaise-shayar-ka-khwab?utm_term=.wodzWKXnW#.mtdvkLEXk) - [MensXP - 10 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT: BOLLYWOOD](http://www.mensxp.com/entertainment/top-10s/10932-10-things-you-never-knew-about-bollywood.html) - [Hindustan Times - Take a tour to see how Indian cinema has found foreign fans](http://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/take-a-tour-to-see-how-our-cinema-has-found-foreign-fans/story-jfw58eD577xfA3Z8Tm2azJ.html) - [Leicester Mercury - Bollywood: 17 interesting facts about Indian cinema](http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/bollywood-17-interesting-facts-indian-cinema/story-26360213-detail/story.html#OHWXA1KGM801ItMY.99) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [India](https://thenounproject.com/term/india/302731) by [anbileru adaleru](https://thenounproject.com/pronoun) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Projector](https://thenounproject.com/term/projector/919393) by [Federico Panzano](https://thenounproject.com/panzano) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#31 - Lord of the Rings Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 21:13:00 +0000

## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Published between 1954-55, the Lord of the Rings is J.R.R. Tolkien's epic fantasy story, following the adventures of Frodo and many others, hoping to stop the evil lord Sauron. **Fandom Origins:** The fandom started early on with letters being written to Tolkien about Middle-earth and the characters. In the 1960s, hippie counter-culture found some resonance with the book and helped it to become a best seller. Several fan groups started around this time: The Tolkien Society, and the Mythopeic Society, to name a few. Anti-fandom seems to have existed since as early as 1969 when co-founders of National Lampoon authored their novel, *Bored of the Rings*. Of course, there are tons of other bits of history, and the books (and fandom) have impacted music and academics alike. Online fandom started around 1993, with newsgroups like `alt.fan.tolkien` and `rec.arts.books.tolkien`. > He wrote of a "deplorable cultus" of fandom, and stated that ""Many young Americans are involved in the stories in a way that I'm not". He was referring to the "Go Go Gandalf" and "Frodo Lives" buttons and stickers that had cropped up on many American college campuses. > Peter S. Beagle wrote that he'd once told the Professor about a young man who "thought he was Frodo," and Tolkien said "I've ruined their lives." > > — [Fanlore - The Lord of the Rings](https://fanlore.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings) **Names:** Ringer (fairly recent, limited to *Lord of the Rings*); Tolkienist (usually refers to students of Elvish languages or fans of Tolkien). LOTRians. **Most Active:** The fandom was probably the most active when the books came out. Based on [data from Google Trends](https://trends.google.ca/trends/explore?date=all&q=Lord%20of%20the%20Rings), it was most popular in 2004 with small spikes around December and January in 2005, December in 2012, December in 2013, and December in 2014. Coincidentally, *The Lord of the Rings* movies were released in December 2001, December 2002, and December 2003, and *The Hobbit* movies were released in December 2012, December 2013, and December 2014. There is some evidence to support that, in general, *The Lord of the Rings* is less popular now. For example, [DragonCon removed its Middle-Earth programming track](http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2017/01/09/102662-dragoncon-to-dissolve-tolkiens-middle-earth-track/) in favour of general fantasy programming. **Size of Fandom:** Based on sales of the book, there is an upper-bound somewhere around 150 million (as the book has sold over 150 million copies). It was hard to find *The Lord of the Rings* specific conventions and conferences, but we did come across Tolkienmoot, which has been running since 2005 and has attendance of between twenty and fifty people in person, and one hundred to two hundred online. **Where does fandom live:** The fandom doesn't live in one specific place; where the fandom lives depends on whether fans are more interested in the movies, Tolkien, etc. [theOneRing.net](http://theOneRing.net) remains fairly popular. **Fanfics:** In a rare turn of events, *Fanfiction.net* has more entries than *Archive of our own*: - Fanfiction.net: Approximately 55 000 fanfics - Archive of our own: Approximately 17 000 fanfics ### Are you in, or out? **T is out.** **Z is out... as far as *Lord of the Rings*, but *in* for Tolkien.** **G is in... on the whole.** ### This week's spotlight > When Dan makes Arin watch Lord of the Rings, I will donate $100 to charity. Feel free to contribute to the pool or suggest charities. > > — [Reddit: When Dan makes Arin watch Lord of the Rings, I will donate $100 to charity.](https://www.reddit.com/r/gamegrumps/comments/39fej5/when_dan_makes_arin_watch_lord_of_the_rings_i/) **[The Tolkien Society](https://www.tolkiensociety.org/)** > The Tolkien Society is an educational charity, literary society, and international fan club, devoted to promoting the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien. > Registering in England (charity no. 273809), the Society was founded in 1969 and received the blessing of Tolkien himself when he agreed to become the Society’s president; he remains the Society’s president to this day whilst his daughter, Priscilla, serves as our Vice-President. > Although based in the U. K., the Society has hundreds of members in dozens of countries around the world who hold local events in their areas and who all receive the Society’s journals Amon Hen and Mallorn. What binds all members together is a shared passion for the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Bollywood movie fans! **Z** In *The Simpsons*, when Apu lives with the Simpsons temporarily, they watch a bollywood movie together. That movie now exists. **G** Are western fans of Bollywood also interested in Indian culture in general? **T** What is the most ridiculous Bollywood film that exists? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Credits ### Sources - [Lord of the Rings Wiki - Fandom](http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Fandom) - [Wikipedia - Lord of the Rings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings) - [Wikipedia - Works Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Works_inspired_by_J._R._R._Tolkien) - [Wikipedia - Tolkien Fandom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien_fandom) - [Wikipedia - Tolkien Reading Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien_Reading_Day) - [Vox.com - Why We're Terrified of Fanfiction](https://www.vox.com/2016/6/2/11531406/why-were-terrified-fanfiction-teen-girls) - [Wikipedia - Elfcon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elfconners) - [The One Wiki to Rule Them All - Fandom](http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Fandom) - [WikiHow - How to Become a Lord of the Rings Fan: 10 Steps (with Pictures)](http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Lord-of-the-Rings-Fan) - [Vulture - The 25 Most Devoted Fan Bases](http://www.vulture.com/2012/10/25-most-devoted-fans/slideshow/19/) - [Reddit - What Am I Missing with LotR?](https://www.reddit.com/r/lotr/comments/20e9bx/what_am_i_missing_with_lotr/) - [Reddit - My Addiction and Why The Lord of the Rings Means so Much to Me](https://www.reddit.com/r/lotr/comments/35qe41/my_addiction_and_why_the_lord_of_the_rings_means/) - [Reddit - Why do You Study Tolkien's World and what Benefits Do You Find Through Doing So?](https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/2hsmuw/why_do_you_study_tolkiens_world_and_what_benefits/) - [Reddit - Why Do You Read Fantasy?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/comments/3tl7b3/why_do_you_read_fantasy/) - [The Odyssey Online - Why People Read Fantasy Books](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/people-read-fantasy-books) - [YouTube - Brandon Sanderson: Writing of Epic Proportions](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pLdI8f5BiI) - [TheOneRing.net - DragonCon to Dissolve Tolkien’s Middle-earth Track](http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2017/01/09/102662-dragoncon-to-dissolve-tolkiens-middle-earth-track/) - [Fanlore - Acafan](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Acafan) - [Mythopoeic Society - About the Society](http://www.mythsoc.org/about.htm) - [The Tolkien Society - Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.tolkiensociety.org/author/faq/#popular) - [Reddit - What were the initial reactions from fans when the movies were first released?](https://www.reddit.com/r/lotr/comments/6agojy/what_were_the_initial_reactions_from_fans_when/) - [Fanlore - Tentmoot](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Tentmoot) - [Fanlore - When a fan hits the shit](https://fanlore.org/wiki/When_a_Fan_Hits_the_Shit) - [Quora - What is so great about The Lord of the Rings?](https://www.quora.com/What-is-so-great-about-The-Lord-of-the-Rings) - [Biorgraphy Online - Why is Lord of the Rings so Popular?](http://www.biographyonline.net/writers/lord_of_rings_popular.html) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Wizard](https://thenounproject.com/term/wizard/164465) by [Wes Breazell](https://thenounproject.com/wes13) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#30 - Cyberpunks

The Nickscast — Fri, 26 May 2017 21:27:00 +0000

The Nickscast wanders down a gritty alleyway, away from the bright lights and ads to jack-in to their terminals to talk about fans of cyberpunk! Is cyberpunk still relevant to today? What happened to it all? What does it mean for a work to be cyberpunk (vs transhuman) and what does it mean to be a fan of something so broad as a genre? We find out! Next week, we'll be having a special-guest friend (and fellow Nick) join us as we talk about fans of movies, cinephiles! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** Cyberpunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, and, as such, is hard to pin down in terms of a fandom. Sometimes it is an element of a work, and other times it is merely an aesthetic. > In the 1980s, authors like William Gibson and Bruce Sterling wrote dystopian novels set 20 Minutes into the Future, where they explored themes such as the impact of modern technology on everyday life, the rise of the global datasphere as an arena for communication, commerce, conflict, and crime, and invasive cybernetic body modifications. The heroes of these in dark and cynical stories were marginalized, disillusioned, and rebellious "punks" striving for survival against overwhelming odds, often futilely, in corrupt megacities and surreal cyberspace realms. Bruce Bethke called this Cyberpunk, and it was good. > > — [TVTropes - Punk Punk](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PunkPunk) It is often referred to as "a combination of lowlife and high tech". > There is no shortage of different definitions of cyberpunk > > — T Some examples of cyberpunk (or post-cyberpunk) works include: - Blade Runner - Ghost in the Shell - Neuromancer - Deus Ex - Bubblegum Crisis - Cowboy Bebop - Psycho-pass **Most Active:** According to this [analysis of novels and movies released each year from 1980 to 2007 by io9](http://io9.gizmodo.com/346365/the-rise-and-fall-of-cyberpunk), cyberpunk was most popular in the mid-90s, most notably between 1992 and 1995. ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/29-twin-peaks-fans/) Famous Last Words **Matt**: Will *Cyberpunk 2077* be the greatest game of all time? Period. End of discussion. > ... [Cyberpunk] will not be the greatest game of all time. It can't be, because Chrono Trigger is the greatest game of all time. Period. End of Discussion. > > — T **Z**: Have the graphics that cyberpunks make improved since the *Cyberpunks* documentary? > In 27 years of technology, the graphical capabilities of *literally everyone* improved. > > — G **G**: How important is the *punk* to *cyberpunk* (politically) in 2017? > Cyberpunk was a reaction to the utopian vision of the future. > > — G > If sci-fi is humans with technology, then cyberpunk is humans versus technology. > > — G **T**: Is cyberpunk still a thing? Or is it an aesthetic? > Cyberpunk [now] is an aesthetic because the real world is horrifying! > > — T ### What did we discuss? The difficulty of discussing a genre as compared to a fandom ~ transhumanism and its relation to cyberpunk ~ cyberpunk as a reaction to 1950s utopias ~ cyberpunk and rise of tech noir, digital libertarianism ~ is cyberpunk still a thing? ~ cyberpunk and the dystopia that is the modern day ~ cyberpunk as an aesthetic ~ cyberpunk and its individual, human stories ~ technology going too far ~ anti-consumerism and advertising as key piece of cyberpunk ### In or out **Z is *kind of* in.** > **T**: It's a boolean operation! License revoked! > **Z**: Oh no! I'm contractually obliged to stay in! - Z will probably check out *Neuromancer*, and *Snow Crash* **G is in.** > A good litmus test is how excited I get about the thing doing the research for the thing. > > — G **T is in.** > When I was looking at some of the things that qualify as cyberpunk or post-cyberpunk I was like, "Yeah! I am all over this!" > > — T > Is this the first time since we've created the *In or Out* segment that we've all been in? > > — G ### This week's spotlight **[Electronic Frontier Foundation](https://supporters.eff.org/donate)** > Probably the most cyberpunk thing that exists that isn't awful ... it is the resistance: the Electronic Frontier Foundation. > > — T A charity notable in today's world as it fights for net neutrality, free speech, anonymity, blogger's rights, fair use, and much, much more. **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** > Because we mentioned the greatest game of all time... > > — T Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Cinephiles! > This is our chance to really screw things up and say something stupid about next week's topic. We don't have to, but sometimes it happens. > > — T **Z** Is there a movie marathon, cited as a cinephile's paradise, where people are encouraged to bring in multiple-course meals? **G** Is it important for cinephiles to see movies in theatre? **T** Are cinephiles really a fandom? Isn't that just a pretentious title for people who watch movies? Where is the culture? The shared experience and unique terminology? > I am already eating my words; I've already preheated them in the oven. > > — T ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Notable quotes from this episode > We're here to deliver the eulogy for the MP3. It was fine, I guess. > > — G > I thought what I'd do is pretend I was one of those deaf mutes. > > — T > **T**: It's a dangerous world, this meatspace. > **Z**: It can get kind of sweaty in meatspace. > Maybe cyberpunk isn't a fandom, per se. That's a loaded question to drop so early in the episode! > > — T > T: Grrr. Hate it. Hate Cyberpunk! It's garbage. Send your hate mail to g@thenickscast.com > G: Wait what?! > T: Can't send it to Z; he'd be all polite about it. > Compared to what was being written in the 80's, we're in the future. > > — G > We live in cyberpunk. > > — T > Today, in real life, and in fiction, we already have plenty of examples of that sort of dystopia. > > — T > Tech noir ... is a gritty dark reality where you can't really trust anything except for yourself and your technology. > > — Z > Blade Runner is supposed to be Hong Kong on a bad day ... > > — G > While it is humans versus technology, it's not really anti-technology, it's about the spirit behind it. It's about people going too far with technology. > > — G > The appeal of cyberpunk is mostly the idea of an unbreakable link between man and his technology when everything else is untrustworthy. > > — Z > ... With cyberpunk, it's more about the individual. ... Whereas with transhumanism, it's more about how technology can help everybody. > > — G > Where is rural cyberpunk? > > — T > Cyberpunk is supposed to be, in the spirit of dystopia, "this could be us, you guys"! > > — G > **T**: Having cyborgs is not a key component of cyberpunk. > **G**: ...and should not be a key component of *the Justice League* either. > You could summarize cyberpunk as revolution in the present from the future. The problem with that though is that the future is always changing. > > — Z > Why would you have an unadorned wall when you could have an ad there? > > — T > I'll see you in the future where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. > > — G ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Cyberpunk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberpunk) - [TVTropes - Punk Punk](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PunkPunk) - [Cybertek - Why Cyberpunk?](http://cd.textfiles.com/blackcrawling/CYBERTEK/X0028_~2.HTM) - [Salon - Is Cyberpunk still breathing?](http://www.salon.com/1998/09/14/books_26/) - [Reddit - Why do people come here to r/cyberpunk when they don't even like cyberpunk or know anything about it?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cyberpunk/comments/5eihke/why_do_people_come_here_to_rcyberpunk_when_they/) - [Reddit - Discussion - Cyberpunk fans, what are your social/political beliefs?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cyberpunk/comments/332dl1/discussion_cyberpunk_fans_what_are_your/) - [Reddit - The opposite of cyberpunk.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cyberpunk/comments/6a7rep/the_opposite_of_cyberpunk/) - [Reddit - You're a punk living in a hi tech dystopian city, what's in your pockets?](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cyberpunk/comments/6b0hd0/youre_a_punk_living_in_a_hi_tech_dystopian_city/) - [Reddit - Is Cyberpunk Dead?](https://www.reddit.com/r/cyberpunktalk/comments/17te1k/is_cyberpunk_dead/) - [Reddit - Why Is This Place Dead?](https://www.reddit.com/r/cyberpunktalk/comments/3itpzf/why_this_place_is_dead/) - [Reddit - Why Do You Like Cyberpunk?](https://www.reddit.com/r/cyberpunktalk/comments/3tswks/why_do_you_like_cyberpunk/) - [Fanlore - Cyberpunk](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Cyberpunk) - [Vice - What Happened to Cyberpunk?](https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/what-happened-to-cyberpunk--2-slice-of-sneaker) - [Wikipedia - William Gibson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gibson) - [TVTropes - Moh's scale of science fiction hardness](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness) - [Wikipedia - Bruce Sterling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Sterling) - [io9 - The Rise and Fall of Cyberpunk](http://io9.gizmodo.com/346365/the-rise-and-fall-of-cyberpunk) - [IGN - Cyberpunk 2077: Putting the Punk back into Cyberpunk](http://ca.ign.com/articles/2013/05/01/cyberpunk-2077-putting-the-punk-back-into-cyberpunk) - [The Internet Crashed - The “punk” in Cyberpunk](http://theinternetcrashed.com/2010/08/the-punk-in-cyberpunk/) - [PC Gamer - It's time for cyberpunk games to remember how to be punk](http://www.pcgamer.com/its-time-for-cyberpunk-games-to-remember-how-to-be-punk/#) - [Goodreads - Who took the punk out of cyberpunk?](https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1200461-who-took-the-punk-out-of-cyberpunk) - [Neon Dystopia - What is Cyberpunk?](https://www.neondystopia.com/what-is-cyberpunk/) - [YouTube - Cyberpunk: The Documentary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdvxPlhTjDU) - [YouTube - Why Do We Love Cyberpunk?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy8-F1Q1a54) - [YouTube - Cyberpunk 2077: Exclusive Mike Pondsmith About the Cyberpunk World](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPZxkhLoukI) - [Cyberpunk.net](http://www.cyberpunk.net/) - [One Angry Gamer - CD Projekt Red Seeks More Artists for Cyberpunk 2077](http://www.oneangrygamer.net/2017/04/cd-projekt-red-now-looking-for-more-artists-for-cyberpunk-2077/29753/) - [Trusted Reviews - Cyberpunk 2077: Everything We Know](http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/cyberpunk-2077-release-date-gameplay-trailer-news-story-preorder-wishlist) - [Writerly Goodness - WorldCon 2016: Is Cyberpunk Still a Thing?](https://melaniemarttila.ca/2016/10/15/worldcon-2016-is-cyberpunk-still-a-thing/) - [iGNANT.com - Digital Art: Beyond the Hype](https://www.ignant.com/2015/11/24/digital-art-beyond-the-hype/) - [PlayStation LifeStyle - Author Behind “Cyberpunk” Talks Cyberpunks 2077 Trademark](http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2017/04/15/bruce-bethke-talks-cyberpunk-2077-trademark/) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Tiles](https://thenounproject.com/term/tiles/47574) by [Jakob Vogel](https://thenounproject.com/jakobvogel) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Incognito](https://thenounproject.com/term/incognito/43596) by [Alen Krummenacher](https://thenounproject.com/crumenko) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#29 - Twin Peaks Fans

The Nickscast — Sat, 20 May 2017 04:00:00 +0000

This Nickscast are entering the spooky woods, going beneath the surface to see what's really going on in the weird world of Twin Peaks fandom! Why did it get a revival? Are there really a lot of Twin Peaks fans? We'll get the fans-eye view (and no backwards talking) on this week's episode! Next week, we’ll be jacking-in to our new deck and diving into the world of fans of Cyberpunk! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts > There's likely as much mystery surrounding the fandom as there is surrounding the show. > > — T **Origins:** Twin Peaks was a cult TV series that ran for two seasons in the early 1990s created by David Lynch. It received a film prequel in 1992 (_Fire Walk With Me_), and will have a revival this month on Showtime. The story begins around the murder of a high-school homecoming queen and quickly changes to... something different entirely. **Fandom Demographics:** Hard to estimate size: The Twin Peaks festival has about 7000 followers on Twitter, and the Twin Peaks subreddit has about 24000 subscribers. Looking at [IMDB](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098936/ratings), the majority are people between ages 30-44, skewing towards male. Looking at the IMDB data, there are 120 000 ratings for Twin Peaks. To get a sense of scale, _Batman Begins_ has about 1 million ratings (as does Avatar), Disney's _the Lion King_ has about 700 000, and _the X-files_ has about 160 000. **Changes in Fandom:** Interest in the fandom has remained relatively constant (relative to the peak) [according to Google Trends](https://trends.google.ca/trends/explore?date=all&q=twin%20peaks) with some spikes since the announcement of a revival [in October 2014](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks_(2017_TV_series)#Announcement). One of the largest fan festivals, the [Twin Peaks Festival](https://www.twinpeaksfest.com/), has attendance capped at about 200 people, though previously attendance was less than 100 people, typically. Starting in about 2012 it started to sell out, indicating there is some more recent interest in the show. > The first year I went it took, I think, over a month for the tickets to sell out. This year, it took less than a day. > > — Matt **Around the world:** Fans from around the world: mostly North America, but also [UK, Spain, Germany, Poland, Italy, Japan, Russia, Brazil](https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/peaks-freaks-how-the-most-devoted-twin-peaks-fans-are-prepping-for-its-return) > When you go to the [Twin Peaks] Fest they give you a pamphlet with the names of all the attendees and the countries they're from. > > — Matt **Related fandoms:** X-files, Northern Exposure **Fanfics:** > For the love of cherry pie, why is no one writing me Twin Peaks fic? Okay, so the series is going on 15 years old, all but passed into media oblivion, and the fan-writers have long since migrated to other series, leaving behind only stories fossilized in now inaccessible print zines, since their time was but the dawning of the Internet. But still. We're talking one of the worst cliffhangers ever inflicted on fen, with no canonical closure ever granted. I need fic. I crave it. > > — [Fanlore: Twin Peaks](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks) Archive of our own has only about 450 fanfics, and Fanfiction.net also has a fairly small contingent at about 180. > Some of the fanzines that they [Fanlore] referenced were just strictly fanfic and at least two of them were like one-hundred fifty plus page fanfic novels. > > — Z > The only fanfic we ever featured on our show was a slashfic between Cooper and Truman. > > — Matt > My favourite little bit from the Fanlore article is "a common trope is 'fix it' fic for the second season finale". > > — G Worth noting is that David Lynch loves reading people fan theories though! ### [Last episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/28-transfans/) Famous Last Words **Z**: David Bowie's appearance in *Firewalk with me* significantly increased sales of his music. > **T**: Matt, can you confirm his [Nick Z's] ludicrous claim? > **Matt**: No, I cannot, but I would highly doubt it. > For those of you joining us late, welcome to the David Bowie podcast... > > — T **G**: Did *Twin Peaks* have a notable effect on coffee and donut consumption in the US? - Hard to quantify, but based on the growth of Starbucks at the time (number of franchise locations and expansion of its headquarters), its possible! **T**: If *Twin Peaks* is a show that wrapped up the plot, then kept going, then ended... why would it get a sequel? ### What did we discuss? The Twin Peaks Revival ~ How Twin Peaks "survived" its second season via fandom ~ David Lynch's directing style ~ Television and storytelling in the early 90s ~ Distinction between David Lynch fans and Twin Peaks fans ~ The Beginning of Supernatural television and "Mystery Box" shows ~ The unpredictability of Twin Peaks ~ fans attempting to decipher an answerless mystery ~ The influence of the Pacific Northwest on television ~ ### Are you in, or out? **Z is in.** > Looking back now, I couldn't tell you why I decided to start watching it through once a year but I still really enjoy it ... it's a show that keeps on giving. > > — Z - Probably will participate more; visiting [r/twinpeaks](http://reddit.com/r/twinpeaks), the [Dugpa forums](http://www.dugpa.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=3) **T is out.** > I'm on this weird line ... Do I want to watch this? Am I just going to watch this out of morbid curiousity? > > — T - T will watch the first three episodes of the series to give it a shot... probably > By the end of the season I'm going to have a big viewing library > > — T **G is in.** > There would be lots to glean from a second and, I assume, a third, fourth, and fifth viewing. > > — G **Matt is in.** ### This week's spotlight **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Cyberpunk fans! **Matt** Will _Cyberpunk 2077_ be the greatest game of all time? Period. End of discussion. **G** How important is the punk to cyberpunk (politically) in 2017? **Z** Have the graphics that cyberpunks make improved since the _Cyberpunks_ movie? **T** Is Cyberpunk still a thing? Or is it an aesthetic? ## Where can I learn more about Matt Humphrey? You can check out Matt's [Twin Peaks Podcast](http://twinpeakspodcast.blogspot.ca/), or one of his many other projects, such as... - [Intro to Brisco County](http://introbrisco.blogspot.com/), a podcast about the show of the same name ([starring Bruce Campbell, a man we've talked about before]()) - [Matt is wrong about games (Podcast)](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/matt-is-wrong-about-games/id1058695895) - [Shenmue AM2 Podcast](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/shenmue-am2-podcast/id1166752613) ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Notable quotes from this episode > I am pretty much out of my element this week. > > — T > I am so much in my element right now that I feel like a fish in a percolator. > > — Z > I kind of blasphemed right before this: I had chai tea > > — Matt > I have a border of a puzzle. And I don't know where I put the box. Maybe I never had the rest of the box, who knows! > > — T > **Z**: ...Basically, my statement is compeltely indefendible > **G**: We're all completely shocked here. > **G**: Who's next? > **T**: I'm gonna go with G and I'm hoping you have a much shorter answer > Not a lot of shows have been on the air for one or two seasons and then have managed to see it come back from the edge. Firefly fans are still waiting for that. > > — T > Questions aggressively unanswered, I would say, at the finale of the second season > > — G > I think it would have cemented its status as ... just something that went completely off the rails and was just the prime example of a complete failure > > — Matt (regarding the "doorknob" episode) > It's an enigma wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a plastic sheet... > > — G > **T**: But then the show ends and... there's all sorts of loose ends that are never resolved > **Matt**: That's what hurts so bad > You don't just call up the mayor of Portland and get him on the phone. > > — G > You have to explain why things are happening to people. They can't all be ramped shots and drawer pulls. > > — G > **T**: Drawer Pulls? Like, a knob? > **Matt**: You've never been trapped in one of those? > **T**: See, now I am definitely out of my element. > The woods in Twin Peaks are evil and that wood must have been manufactured in Twin Peaks I guess? > > — Matt (regarding characters trapped in drawer pulls) > I was wondering if there is anyone for whom Twin Peaks is not Lynch enough. > > — G > There's a lot of just "what is Twin Peaks"? ... while the central mystery that drove the show ended, the show itself is just a bigger mystery. > > — G > There's no clear answers in the show. You've gotta use your noggin'. > > — Matt > Do you want to do a cop show? The executives would be like "Yeah great, but maybe he's a ghost!" > > — Matt > Stop re-imagining things as police procedurals! > > — G > People love to talk about the mysteries that don't get solved. > > — Matt > ...I never really questioned the first couple times I watched the show how bad Cooper is at his job. > > — Matt > He even admits it at one point in one of the episode. He's like, "I've relied on bureau method, and luck, and intuition, and Tibetan method, and now I need some magic". And I'm like, do proper detective work please! > > — Matt > **Z**: I don't want to turn this into a Twin Peaks theory podcast... > **G**: Yeah you do! > There's some strange people out there who are obsessive and I don't like those people, so I would change them! > > — Matt (on what to change about Twin Peaks fandom) > The final episode is the greatest episode of television I've ever seen. > > — Matt ## Thanks Special thanks to Matt Humphrey (our guest) for taking the time to chat with him, late into the night! ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia - Fire Walk With Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks:_Fire_Walk_with_Me) - [Wikipedia - Tin Machine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_Machine) - [Wikipedia - Tin Machine II](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_Machine_II) - [Wikipedia - Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey, Baby](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_Machine_Live:_Oy_Vey,_Baby) - [Wikipedia - Twin Peaks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks) - [Fanlore - Twin Peaks](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks) - [Fanlore - Conjunction (Twin Peaks Zine)](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Conjunction_(Twin_Peaks_zine)) - [Fanlore - Dreams Unwind](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Dreams_Unwind) - [Fanlore - Fish in the Percolator](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Fish_in_the_Percolator) - [Fanlore - Twin Peaks Gazette](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks_Gazette) - [Reddit - Why is the show 'Twin Peaks' considered such a classic?](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/3igjmt/why_is_the_show_twin_peaks_considered_such_a/) - [Reddit - Ok, what is everyone's obsession with Twin Peaks?](https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/2ch60c/ok_what_is_everyones_obsession_with_twin_peaks/cjfmzac/) - [Vice - After 25 Years, the Twin Peaks Festival Is Still Wonderful, Still Strange](https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/after-25-years-the-twin-peaks-festival-is-still-wonderful-still-strange-805) - [Vice - peaks freaks: how the most devoted ‘twin peaks’ fans are prepping for its return](https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/peaks-freaks-how-the-most-devoted-twin-peaks-fans-are-prepping-for-its-return) - [Vice i-D - peaks freaks: how the most devoted twin peaks fans are prepping for its return](https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/peaks-freaks-how-the-most-devoted-twin-peaks-fans-are-prepping-for-its-return) - [Mashable - Why 'Twin Peaks' Isn't Just a TV Show — It's an Obsession](http://mashable.com/2014/10/06/twin-peaks-coming-back-showtime/#OrBJK1vdngqP) - [Esquire - How Twin Peaks Invented Modern Internet Fandom](http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a34227/twin-peaks-internet-fandom/) - [Entertainment Weekly - Twin Peaks revival: 8 things fans need to know](http://ew.com/tv/2017/03/30/twin-peaks-revival-everything-we-know/) - [LynchNet.com - David Lynch Keeps His Head](http://www.lynchnet.com/lh/lhpremiere.html) - [Radio Times - David Lynch loves reading Twin Peaks fan theories – and hopes there are more to come](http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-05-02/david-lynch-loves-reading-twin-peaks-fan-theories--and-hopes-there-are-more-to-come) - [The Guardian - How Twin Peaks led a fan into and out of trouble](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/may/29/how-twin-peaks-fan-trouble-northwest-passage) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Mountains](https://thenounproject.com/term/mountains/591571) by [Iconic](https://thenounproject.com/iconproducer) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#28 - Transfans

The Nickscast — Fri, 12 May 2017 19:17:00 +0000

This Nickscast are covering an unfortunately named fandom: TransFans (Transformers fans). What is it about a franchise so tied to toys and the 80s that helps its fandom to grow and thrive today? What is its key demographic? Why did Orson Welles get involved in the Tranformers movie? And where is all the Transformers fanfic? This week, we're going to transform and roll out (to find out)! Next week, we'll be working our way through the mysterious pines to a place thats all sunshine and roses on the outside, but suspicious and enigmatic on the inside; we'll be talking about Twin Peaks fans. ## Episode outline ### [Last episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/27-sherlockians/) Famous Last Words **Z:** Why did Orson Welles agree to be in this movie? > The Transformers: The Movie was the final film to which Orson Welles contributed. Welles was in declining health during production. Shortly before he died, he told his biographer, Barbara Leaming, "You know what I did this morning? I played the voice of a toy." He elaborated, "I play a planet. I menace somebody called Something-or-other. Then I'm destroyed. My plan to destroy Whoever-it-is is thwarted and I tear myself apart on the screen." According to director Nelson Shin, Welles had been pleased to accept the role after reading the script and had expressed an admiration for animated films > > — [Wikipedia - The Transformers: The Movie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Transformers:_The_Movie) > **Z**: ... I found a reddit AMA ... > **G**: Orson Welles did an AMA?! > **T**: From BEYOND THE GRAVE > It is his enduring legacy, and I guess Citizen Kane or something > > — G **G:** Why was Weird Al's *Dare to be stupid* included in the movie? Who thought that was a good idea? > It was used as the music for the "Junkions attack" and "Junkions become friends" scenes in the movie; the song's rampant pop-culture referencing certainly fits with the pop-culture-talking Junkions. > Reportedly, it was included in the movie soundtrack because Scotti Bros. Records decided to promote acts on their label heavily, and Al (always popular with the kids) was one of the biggest. As Al himself tells it, he just got a phone call one day and said "Okay", and that was basically the last he heard about it, save the royalty checks. > > — [TransformersWiki - Dare to be Stupid](http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Dare_to_Be_Stupid) **T:** Who is the primary demographic supposed to be? Still going, can only assume it's 30-somethings. > ... Michael Bay takes a weird, reverse approach with the ‘Transformers’ films: the primary target audience for these films is adults, but Bay is talking down to them as if they were children, and the humor and subject matter is exceedingly regressive. > > — [Screencrush - Trying to Understand the 'Transformers' Franchise: What Is the Meaning of All This?](http://screencrush.com/transformers-franchise-meaning/?trackback=tsmclip) > I will stand by my words though! I'm still not sure who the important audience is. > > — T ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** > Origins: this is actually a bit dizzying. There's a lot of different origins of Transformers. > > — T Varied. All franchises are focused on a race of transforming sentient beings with one faction, the Autobots—lead by Optimus Prime—in their struggle against the Decepticons—lead by Megatron. The reasons for the clash differ from series to series. There are at least six different universes. - Generation 1 (G1): 1984-1987 - Robots in Disguise: 2001-2002 - The Unicron trilogy: 2002-2006 (Armada, Energon, Cybertron) - Live-action films: 2007—present - Transformers animated: 2007-2009 - Transformers prime: 2010-2013 > That is a lot of just origins! I don't usually spend nearly as much time talk about the things [Transformers]. > > — T **Fandom Origins:** The first fan activity was probably the letters pages in the G1 comics by Marvel. There was also the Secret Transformer Autobot Rescue Squad (S.T.A.R.S.) fan club, but interaction between fans was still quite limited. Unofficial fan clubs started as early as 1986, like the Transmasters club. Some fan clubs were officially recognized by Hasbro in 1991 which started the use of the Transformers likeness for use in non-profit purposes. > I would like to go into more detail but there is SO. MUCH. HISTORY. > > — T **Names:** Transfans, Transformers fans, TF Fans **Most Active:** Probably the early 2000s to the present, referred to as "The Big Bang"; a nostalgia boom sparked by the movies. The movies have been a huge factor. **Size of Fandom:** As usual, this is hard to estimate. If BotCon is any indication (which is supposed to be the largest transformers convention, and was the only officially licensed one), at least [between 3000 and 4000](http://tfwiki.net/wiki/BotCon). TFCON, another large convention, reports attendance around [2500](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFcon). Assuming a funnel of fans where there are less fans attending conventions and more consuming the media in general, this puts a lower bound on the fandom. **Around the world:** Mostly North American, though there are conventions in Europe and Asia as well. > In 1998, several Scandinavian Transformers fans decided to form their own fanclub, the Nordic TransFans Association, which eventually got its own website, NTFA.net, in 2001. NTFA remains one of the largest European Transformers fan communities to this very day. > > — [TransformersWiki - Fandom](http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Fandom) **Where does fandom live:** Mostly in a few websites, and in real life: - [Transformers World 2005](http://news.tfw2005.com/) - [SeiberTron](https://www.seibertron.com/) **Fanfics:** Archive of our own has approximately 20000 (all Transformers media) Fanfiction.net has approximately ~1600 for Transformers / Beast Wars, and 930 for the new movies ### What did we discuss? The enduring Transformers franchise (toys and media) ~ Different draws to the Transformers franchise ~ Build-your-own canon ~ Highly curative element to Transformers fandom ~ Stickiness of canon and multiple universes ~ Retelling of the same story ~ Irreconcilability of Transformers canon ~ Potential toxicity of Transformers fandom ~ Division built right into the fandom ~ Isolation of minorities in a mono-cultural fandom ~ Speculation on the openness / closedness of Transformers fans ### This week's spotlight **[TFCon](http://www.tfcon.ca/)** World's largest fan-run Transformers convention. Started in 2002, and often has voice actors from the different shows in attendance. Located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada! **[(Kiriska's) 2017 Artist Alley Survey](https://goo.gl/c8Nc4B)** Are you an artist at conventions and want to help gather useful data for Fanthropology? A friend of ours, Kiriska, is gathering data on Artist Alley attendees and is providing the data for free (and you can buy the reports for $5, if you don't want to do your own analysis). You can even check out the [2016 results](http://kiriska.com/blog/2017/04/2016-artist-alley-survey-results/). > I just love it because its the intersection of the fannish part which is subjective and the data part which is objective. > > — T (Kiriska's survey) > ...But you'd never figure any of that stuff out unless you had data, and nobody collects that data because its hard to get! > > — T **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Are you in, or out? **G is out.** > Transformers doesn't interest me at all. > > — G **T is out.** > I'm out. ... There's a lot of vibes I'm getting from this fandom that I'm not enthused by. > > — T **Z is out.** > I could not tell you why I enjoyed the movie as a kid. > > — Z > **T**: I mean, if you want fighting robots, you've got Pacific Rim, Evangelion, Godannar, G Gundam, any other Gundams, Voltron... > **G**: I don't like mechs at all and I love the new Voltron! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Twin Peaks! **G** Did twin peaks have a notable effect on coffee and donut consumption in the US? **T** If *Twin Peaks* is a show that wrapped up the plot, then kept going then ended... why would it get a sequel? **Z** David Bowie's appearance in *Firewalk with me* significantly increased sales of his music. ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Notable quotes from this episode > I hope you all listening out there are enjoying your sunny, sunny day because we have not enjoyed one in many weeks. > > — G > Being alone at the top of the show is much easier with a second person. > > — G > Scott McNeil always turns up somewhere. > > — G (Regarding Beast Wars) > I got out of that bucket of syrup alright though. > > — Z > Dying of embarrassment is, like, the most Japanese premise for a series I can think of. > > — G (regarding Konosuba) > Sometimes there's only a finite amount of story. > > — G > It's hard not to talk Transformers and not talk about the toys, because the show doesn't make sense unless you realize that its because of the toy... > > — G > **Z**: ...this is from an article entitled "How Transformers Have Sex" > **T**: I AM INTRIGUED. > Maybe this is like the T / not-T divide where we're talking about a fandom that is highly oriented around collecting things, and that falls off my cliff of understanding. > > — T > Imagine when the toy transformers came out. It's two different things. It's a car or a jet or whatever, and it turns into a robot. Compare that to GI Joe! > > — G > I think that its a toxic kind of fandom. That might be taking it too far, but I am going to deliberately place that inflammatory statement like a ticking time bomb at the centre of this discussion! > > — T > **G**: People enjoy being transformers fans because they like having those arguments > **T**: That's possible, that just makes me very sad > What better way to assert your identity than to say, "this particular configuration of transformers is the best one"... > > — G > **T**: If you say the fifth doctor is the best doctor... > **G**: ... which he is > ...Hard to get a kind of view of the fandom. In this one it seemed more like looking I'm through a keyhole than a window. > > — T > Up to this point, there hasn't been a Transformers series where its just the Transformers going through high school or working 9-to-5 jobs, or meeting in cafes and having love triangles > > — Z > Hasbro, make it so. > > — Z > I wasn't talking about the subtle classist war that is bubbling between the unicorns and the pegasi and the horses. > > — T > Transformers fandom: a turkey. > > — Z ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia – Transformers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers) - [Fanlore - Transformers](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Transformers) - [Kotaku - Leave Michael Bay Alone, Transformers Is Awesome](http://kotaku.com/leave-michael-bay-alone-transformers-is-awesome-1596887614) - [TFormers - Hasbro Publishes Timeline to Movie](http://tformers.com/Hasbro-Publishes-Transformers-Timeline-to-Movie/7132/news.html) - [Dunmurderin' - How Transformers Have Sex -- Teal Deer Alert (Updated 01/30/2009)](http://dunmurderin.livejournal.com/46084.html) - [TransformersWiki - Fandom](http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Fandom) - [TransformersWiki - S.T.A.R.S.](http://tfwiki.net/wiki/S.T.A.R.S.) - [TransformersWiki - Continuity](http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Continuity) - [TransformersWiki - Orson Welles](http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Orson_Welles) - [Transformers World 2005 - How "open" are you in regards to your TF collection / obsession?](http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/how-open-are-you-in-regards-to-your-tf-collection-obsession.1104857/) - [Transformers World 2005 - What makes us Transformers fans unique?](http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/what-makes-us-transformers-fans-unique.1067533/) - [Transformers World 2005 - There used to be an actual street gang in the 80's New York called "The Decepticons"](http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/there-used-to-be-an-actual-street-gang-in-80s-new-york-called-the-decepticons.1107168/) - [Transformers World 2005 - Why do you love Transformers?](http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/why-do-you-love-transformers.945851/) - [Reddit - I am Peter Bogdanovich: An Actor, Film Historian, Director, Writer, Producer, Film Critic and Friend of Orson Welles. Ask My Anything](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/38kdsr/i_am_peter_bogdanovich_an_actor_film_historian/crvokor/) - [Reddit - TIL Orson Welles Might Not Have Hated Being Unicron in the Original Transformers Movie](https://www.reddit.com/r/transformers/comments/38o5yk/til_orson_welles_might_not_have_hated_being/) - [Reddit - Starscream Fans, Why Do You Like Him as a Character?](https://www.reddit.com/r/transformers/comments/2d6v76/starscream_fans_why_do_you_like_him_as_a_character/) - [Reddit - Is There Really a Specific Reason Why the Bayformers Films get so Much Hate?](https://www.reddit.com/r/transformers/comments/3ufj7m/is_there_really_a_specific_reason_why_the/) - [Reddit - Ok, So I Have to Ask. Why so Much Hatred for the Bay Movies?](https://www.reddit.com/r/transformers/comments/uaefp/ok_so_i_have_to_ask_why_so_much_hatred_for_the/) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Optimus Prime Robot](https://thenounproject.com/term/optimus-prime-robot/960140) by [Creaticca Creative Agency](https://thenounproject.com/accounts80) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#27 - Sherlockians

The Nickscast — Fri, 05 May 2017 20:59:00 +0000

The Nickscast discuss why a man who "died" over one hundred years ago is still popular today: We're talking about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous work, Sherlock Holmes and, more appropriately, its fans, *Sherlockians*. How is it that one set of stories sparked so many different pastiches, re-interpretations and ever more stories? What did fandom look like in the 19th century? What does the fandom look like today? Find out on this week's episode of Fanthropological: the great game is afoot! Next week, we’ll be talking about fans of Transformers (The *robots in disguise* variety). Stay tuned! ## Episode outline ### Fandom Facts **Origins:** The world's most famous fictional private detective; first appeared in print in 1887 (in *a Study in Scarlet*). The creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he is well known for his deductive reasoning, forensic science, and logic that borders on the fantastic. **Fandom Origins:** In 1897 the first "fan fiction" appears (John Kendricks' *Pursuit of the House-Boat*), during the time period when Holmes had been 'killed off' between 1893 and 1903. In 1934, the Baker Street Irregulars were founded in NYC—one of the oldest and largest Sherlock Holmes organizations dedicated to the fandom. Much later, fandom springs up around BBC's *Sherlock* (2010) and *Elementary* (2012). **Names:** Sherlockians, Holmesians **Fan terms:** > **Z**: *The hiatus* is the term that fans use to refer to the period where Sir Arther Conan Doyle was not writing any new Sherlock Holmes stories between 1893 and 1903. > **G**: Much like Harry Potter's 3 year summer, or, I don't know, the eternal wait for whenever the next game of throne book comes out. **Size of Fandom:** > Certainly, Sherlock’s audience is several million greater than the 565 people who took this survey, but they provide a glimpse into an online fandom eager to express their opinions. The majority taking this survey are female, under 30, and living in the US or UK. However, if the range of respondents to this survey is any indication, Sherlock fandom is much broader based than this summary indicates. > > — [popMATTERS: 'Sherlock' By the Numbers](http://www.popmatters.com/column/172425-the-way-we-watch-television-a-study-in-sherlock/) Probably in the millions, considering BBC's *Sherlock* had 7.5 million viewers for its opening episode, *A Study in Pink*, an the second series averaged over 8 million viewers. Hard to estimate because of the longevity of the character and diversity of depictions. **Fanfics:** As of April 2017... - Fanfiction.net: 3900 (Sherlock Holmes); Over 58000 (Sherlock); ~750 (Elementary) - Archive of our own: Over 100000 (Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms); Over 94000 (Sherlock (TV)); ~2000 (Elementary) > At this point, I'm sure they are like "Hey, what if Sherlock Holmes was a baker and Watson was his housewife". If that fanfic doesn't exist, please send it to [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) and we will probably read it on air! > > — T ### [Last Episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/26-spnfamily/) Famous Last Words **G**: What is the oldest fan work, and what was fandom like in the 19th century? **T**: Seriously, why so many Sherlocks? **Z**: Is there a small-studio web production of Sherlock Holmes? ### What did we discuss? "Pastiches" as the earliest fanfics ~ Arthur Conan Doyle's habit of rushing through his stories ~ The Great Game ~ Doylist and Watsonian perspectives to fiction ~ The blurred lines between Watson and Doyle ~ The "death" of Sherlock Holmes and its impact ~ Sherlock Holmes' popularity because of being a static / flat character ~ Holmes as a lense for the world / time period ~ Holmes as the archetype for the mystery genre ~ Sherlock Holmes outside of the Western world ~ Fandom in the 19th century ### Are you in, or out? > **T**: ... And by that I mean are you gonna do more of the thing that we talked earlier on, like, five minutes ago, or are you gonna do less of the thing? > **G**: As T loses his ability to form consonants **Z is out.** > I've just never really been that interested in mystery stories ... there's probably a pinch of spite towards the Victorian era for misinforming everyone about the medieval period too, but that's neither here nor there! > > — Z **G is in (?)** > I watched season three [of BBC Sherlock] and I felt something missing... I feel like the ensuing season, season three, both started taking pot-shots at fandom... and trying to appeal to it too much? > > — G - Will probably read some of the original stories as written by Doyle **T is in (as much as he could possibly be).** - Already watching a lot of Holmes inspired shows (House, BBC Sherlock, others) - ... But too much stuff to do to go beyond that ### This week's spotlight **[Anime Origin Stories](http://www.animeoriginstories.com/)** An interview project by Lauren Orsini ([Otaku Journalist](http://www.otakujournalist.com)) to try to get an idea of how anime fandom got started in the western world! **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 Canadian, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Transformers! **Z** Why was Orson Welles involved in the *Transformers* animated movie? **G** Why was Weird Al's *Dare to be Stupid* included in the animated movie? **T** Who is the primary demographic of *Transformers*? ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Notable quotes from this episode > I'm a level 10 bard—with the detective archetype! > > — T > ...You start playing late 90s europop, who is that aimed at? > > — G > ...So Holmes is a problem. At first, he was like, "I will just ask for ridiculous amounts of money" and they will be like "no" and then I won't have to do any more but they just gave him whatever he asked for. > > — G (regarding killing off Holmes) > **Z**: So The man who wields a lense, is himself, a lense. > **T**: I want to say you're wrong so badly... but I believe you are right. > It create the mystery genre pretty much as it is ... we still haven't gotten rid of the trope of really intelligent people who are a**holes. > > — G > At the time, there weren't the same outlets that existed and the whole human network of communication was completely different. Now we have the internet so something like that could happen today but it would be much more subdued because it would probably take place in a tweet-storm over, like, five to ten minutes, or a few days, or some weeks, or an entire presidency or whatever! > > — T ## Credits ### Sources - [Wikipedia: Sherlock Holmes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes) - [Fanlore: Sherlock Holmes](http://fanlore.org/w/index.php?title=Sherlock_Holmes) - [Fanlore – Sherlock Holmes](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes) - [Studies in the Literature of Sherlock Holmes](http://www.diogenes-club.com/studies.htm) - [Did Sherlock Holmes really exist?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2088/did-sherlock-holmes-really-exist) - [Sherlock Holmes and his fight to the death](http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19598997) - [THE AFFAIR OF THE BLACK ARMBANDS (OR, THE DEATH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES AND HOW THE WORLD TOOK IT)](http://dianeduane.com/outofambit/2012/01/17/the-affair-of-the-black-armbands/) - [Frank Sidgwick’s 1902 Essay](http://www.bsiarchivalhistory.org/BSI_Archival_History/Sidgwick_essay.html) - [Sherlock Holmes: the original fandom](http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/sherlock/29056/sherlock-holmes-the-original-fandom) - [Fanlore: Watsonian vs. Doylist](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Watsonian_vs._Doylist) - [Esquire: Why We Love Sherlock](http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/a27065/why-we-love-sherlock/) - [Did Sherlock Holmes Really Exist](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2088/did-sherlock-holmes-really-exist) - [Click to Play: Web Adaptations of Sherlock Holmes](http://bakerstreetbabes.com/click-to-play-web-adaptations-of-sherlock-holmes/) - [221B The Sherlock Holmes Web-Series](http://221bwebseries.blogspot.ca/) - [No Place Like Holmes](http://www.nplh.co.uk/) - [Indiegogo - The 221B Project](https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-221b-project) - [2 a.m. Truthies](https://vimeo.com/68455645) - [Baker Street](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8IaZ7-169c2vl3GOehxa6w/videos) - [Kickstarter – S(her)lock: The Web Series by Kate Tracy](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/848647887/sherlock-the-web-series) - [s[HER]lock: The Web Series](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPaTZfn2jv-UgqNz7A-3pew/videos) - [Can Someone Explain Why All T.V. Incarnations of a Holmesian Character are ALWAYS Assholes](https://www.reddit.com/r/Holmes/comments/10zcyv/can_someone_explain_why_all_tv_incarnations_of_a/) - [Introversion 101: The Trouble With Sherlock](https://wobtalk.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/introversion-101-the-trouble-with-sherlock/) - [Sherlock Holmes is the Archetypal Scientist](https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2014/jan/01/sherlock-holmes-archetypal-scientist) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Sherlock Holmes](https://thenounproject.com/term/sherlock-holmes/221829) by [Matthew Davis](https://thenounproject.com/matthewwadedavis) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#26 - SPNFamily

The Nickscast — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 20:55:00 +0000

The Nickscast discuss why a show targeted towards men became unexpectedly popular with women and has continued to grow in popularity: We're talking about the SPNFamily (Supernatural fans!). How is the show so popular after even after twelve seasons? How does it differ from its peers? What keeps its fans going? We're going to eat some pie and find out on this week's episode of Fanthropological! Next week, we’ll be talking about fans of Sherlock Holmes (BBC Sherlock, Elementary, classic; we're talking it all). Stay tuned! ## Episode outline ### [Last episode's](http://fanthropological.com/e/26-whovians/) Famous Last Words **Z:** Who is the fan favourite character and why? **G:** In canon, who is born first and why do fans think it is one way or the other? **T:** Is it just because its two hot people? Will any show about two hot people succeed? **Alex:** How much slash fiction is there? ### Fandom facts **Origins:** An American fantasy horror series that was first broadcast in September of 2005. It follows the nomadic lives of brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, travelling the US and hunting down supernatural foes (as their father did, who spent years seeking revenge against the demon responsible for his wife’s death). It just ended its 12th season, as of this recording, and is renewed for a 13th. **Fandom origins:** Largely Livejournal ([supernatural_tv](http://supernatural-tv.livejournal.com/)) **Names:** Supernatural Family / SPNFamily **Size of fandom:** The TV series pilot has 5.6 million viewers, and episodes regularly have about 3 million viewers. **Fanfics:** Archive of our own: Over 92000 (January 2015); Over 60000 (February 2014); Over 27500 (December 2012) ### What did we discuss? A brief history of strikethrough and splintering of fandom from Livejournal ~ the Supernatural newsletter ~ Fan terms like imbroglio (vs fanwank) and real-person fiction (RPF) ~ Keeping a long running show like Supernatural fresh ~ changes in television and storytelling for long running shows ~ the cast, crew, and fandom as a tight knit family ~ charmingly flawed shows that keep trying (which is good) ~ character and fandom relationships: "Family don't end at blood" ~ Targeted at men (classic rock, killing monsters, cars) but women as biggest fans ~ Z's Supernatural boyfriend ### Are you in, or out? > Z, so now that you're romantically involved with one of the Winchester brothers, are you going to continue things further? > > — G **Z is in.** > ...As part of my research, I have to watch the first episode of this to see if its any good, to see if it holds up. And, after seeing that first episode, I can definitely say that I am in for the first five seasons. > > — Z - T briefly explains the cosmology of our universe compared to that of Supernatural's **T is out.** > Z, I'm going to take your 'in', I'm going to take it, and carefully toss it into the trash because I am out. I don't care if that metaphor works! > > — T - At 12 seasons and still going, media fandom is too big - **But** T is committed to watching the pilot and the fanfiction episode. Hold him to that! **G is out.** > I want to try and find these more experimental episodes and watch those. Like *The French Mistake*, as I mentioned, the fanfic episode, the one from the perspective of the car. *LARP and the real girl* ... There are few that have piqued my interest. > > — G ### Fans of the week No fans of the week this week, sorry :( ### This week's spotlights [Random Acts](http://randomacts.org) Started with Misha Collins (Castiel, on Supernatural) in 2009 asking his "minions" on Twitter to come up with ideas for a "minion stimulus" project (during the economic recession). Has since grown and and changed, but is set up to encourage folks to conduct random acts of kindness in their communities, and holds different fundraisers. In 2014, spent over $47000 USD to fund different acts of kindness around the world. Even developed a crisis network! **[The Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen (GISHWES)](http://gishwes.com)** Also started by (and hosted by) Misha Collins. Thousands of people around the world compete to get various tasks ranging from "hold a puppet show at childrens hospital" to "create a portrait of Robert Downey Jr. in salt and pepper". Some unexpected successes include getting the acronym *GISHWES* in space (succeeded by convincing *someone* to name a mountain on Mars) and getting a hug from Neil Gaiman. **[Always Keep Fighting](http://facebook.com/alwayskeepfightingg)** Started by Jared Padalecki (Sam Winchester) as a group for people struggling with depression and mental illness and to "keep the flame from going out". At San Diego Comic Con 2015, lots of fans at the Supernatural panel and lined up outside of the panel held a candlelight vigil in support which moved Jared to tears. Also sends resources to [To Write Love On Her arms](https://twloha.com/). **[The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io)** Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 CAD, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! ### Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around *next week's* fandom, Sherlock Holmes! **G** How old is the oldest Sherlock Holmes fanfiction? How did the gears of fandom turn in the nineteenth century? **Z** Has there been a Sherlock web-series? **T** How is it that one character is so popular after 130 years? Arsene Lupin is 110 years old, and not nearly as popular... why? How is this a thing? How is Sherlock Holmes still a thing?! ## Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: - If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! - For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) - To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) - For our latest convention updates, *Let's Plays*, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) - We're also on [iTunes](https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/fanthropological/id1163621210), and [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/Icmngxz7yhaoivdvivvf6q6c2pu?t=Fanthropological), and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! - if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) - You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. - Everything is `thenickscast`, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! - ... You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag `#fanthro` on Twitter! ## What is "Fanthropological"? How did you read this far without asking this question?! Fanthropological is an anthropological (ish) podcast where we bring the fan's-eye view to you! Each week, we take a look at a different fandom, dig up interesting background, trivia, and history, and try to get to why it is that people are a fan. We also try to highlight good causes related to that fandom, and find interesting things that fans have created to share those to the world. Each episode is about an hour. Ish. ## Who is "The Nickscast"? *We* are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek ... who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. *Ahem* We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. *Because everyone's a fan.* ## Notable quotes from this episode > As of this recording, we just finished celebrating Canadian Easter. I hope you all had a good one out there. Maple candies were consumed, the Easter pine was worshiped, and the Easter egg donuts eaten. > > — G > I'm a level 10 inquisitor. What? I thought that's what we were doing this week guys! > > — T > *T*: I was going to bring up some embarassing things from last episode. I hope everyone is ok with that. > *(also T)*: Yeah, I think everyone is ok with that! > *(also also T)*: That sounds like a great idea! > *T*: Ok, cool, let's get into it! > I didn't eat dinner because I've been saving room for all the crow I'm about to eat. > > — G > Is it just because its two hot people? Will any show about two hot people succeed? I am not going to deny the hotness of any of the characters... > > — T > *T*: That's like Patrick Stewart just coming out all the time for X-men or Star Trek. Ignoring all the other stuff that he's done. > *G*: We'd love them to but... he's got a life. > *T*: Yeah, he's gotta fight, um, amnesty. > *Z*: And he's gotta watch Beavis and Butthead. > Ninety-two thousand fanfics can't be wrong. #SPNFamily > > — T > As they say... look at the moon, Europeans see a man, the Japanese see a rabbit, the fan girls, well, they see something much more interesting. > > — Z > You should have taken a class that has more slots for large fandoms > > — T > *T*: That is the level of closeness and vulnerability that the fandom has with each other and that is very cool > *G*: The fandom, to me, is almost as much as a draw as the show, at this point. ## Credits ### Sources - [Supernatural](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Supernatural) - [CARRY ON MY WAYWARD FANDOM: WHY THE SUPERNATURAL FANDOM IS THE BEST](http://geekandsundry.com/carry-on-my-wayward-fandom-why-the-supernatural-fandom-is-the-best/) - [Shipping discussion - what are your ships and why?](https://www.reddit.com/r/fandomnatural/comments/60lfbk/shipping_discussion_what_are_your_ships_and_why/) - [4 Reasons Why ‘Supernatural’ Still Matters](http://fandom.wikia.com/articles/4-reasons-supernatural-still-matters) - [This is the supernatural newsletter, yo](http://spnnewsletter.livejournal.com/) - [G.I.S.H.W.H.E.S. The Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the World Has Ever Seen!](https://www.gishwhes.com/g_blog/what-is-gishwhes/) - [Jared Padalecki reacts to "Candle Surprise" at ComicCon 2015 ♥](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEM7j9FdGLg) - [Jared Padalecki Responds to Incredible Fan Surprise Supporting His Battle With Depression: "It Took Everything Not to Cry"](http://www.eonline.com/ca/news/675357/jared-padelecki-responds-to-incredible-fan-surprise-supporting-his-battle-with-depression-it-took-everything-not-to-cry) - [Wikipedia – Supernatural (U.S. TV Series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supernatural_(U.S._TV_series)) - ['Supernatural' Slash: "This is Wrong"](http://www.buddytv.com/articles/supernatural/supernatural-slash-this-is-wro-31170.aspx) - [Interview with Wincon Organizer Ethrosdemon](http://journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/viewArticle/208/151) - [Lucifer is Coming: How "Supernatural" Stole Twitter](http://www.buddytv.com/articles/supernatural/lucifer-is-coming-how-supernat-31138.aspx) - [Misha Collins and Supernatural Fans Declare Twitter War on P. Diddy](http://www.buddytv.com/articles/supernatural/misha-collins-supernatural-fan-31194.aspx?pollid=600001057&answer=600003597) - [Is Twitter Silencing "Supernatural" Fans Again](http://www.buddytv.com/articles/supernatural/is-twitter-silencing-supernatu-31275.aspx) - ["Supernatural" Addresses Wincest, Destiel, the Lack of Female Characters & More in Its 200th Episode](http://www.bustle.com/articles/48816-supernatural-addresses-wincest-destiel-the-lack-of-female-characters-more-in-its-200th-episode) - [Supernatural: Behind the Scenes and Behind the Demons](http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/04/17/supernatural-behind-the-scenes-and-behind-the-demons) - ["Supernatural": Sexy. Scar. Over](http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20270843_3,00.html) - [Who is Your 'Supernatural' Boyfriend](http://www.buddytv.com/personalityquiz/supernatural-personalityquiz.aspx?quiz=500000199) - [Fanlore – Tinhats](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Tinhats) ### Music / Sound - All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! ### Artwork - [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Sun](https://thenounproject.com/term/sun/919928) by [beguima](https://thenounproject.com/beguimastudio) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) - [Wicca](https://thenounproject.com/term/wicca/238070) by [Dabid J. Pascual](https://thenounproject.com/dabid) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#25 - Whovians

The Nickscast — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 20:51:00 +0000

The Nickscast, along with special guest friend, Alex Kennard (of Reality Bomb fame), discuss the _why_ of Doctor Who fans (aka Whovians). What is it that has kept the show on the air for over fifty years, and why did it stop? What draws in new fans? We 're going to invert the polarity and go all wibbly wobbly timey wimey to find out! Next week, we'll be talking about Supernatural fans (aka SPNFamily). Stay tuned! Episode outline Fandom Facts Origins: British science-fiction television programme produced by the BBC since 1963 Fandom Origins: Doctor Who fan club (Britain, 1960s), recognized by production later with Doctor Who Appreciation Society (Britain, May 1976) Names: Doctor Who fan, Whovian (older term, less common) Most Active: Unclear, but probably during the era of "New" Doctor Who (2005--present) Size of Fandom: 110 million viewers (From BroaDWcast, referencing a quote from the BBC) Fanfics: Over 73400 on fanfiction.net Over 53000 on Archive of our own (strictly Doctor Who & related fandoms) What did we discuss? The longevity of the show ~ Is the show for children, or adults? ~ Doctor who as an inconsistent show ~ The sheer possibility of Doctor Who storylines ~ Different types of stories within the show ~ How the show runners impact Doctor Who and the doctor ~ The non-TV Doctor Who universe ~ Curative vs transformative fandoms ~ How the doctor's regeneration impacts the story ~ A brief history of the show's hiatus ~ Tropes in Doctor Who ~ The positives and negatives of the Doctor Who Fan community ~ Christmas specials and England Are you in, or out? Z is in. > "Z, its perhaps a little moot because I know you are a Doctor Who fan and watch Doctor Who… so I guess you're in but say more words than that please." > --G Science fiction ideas sometime outshine bad writing or acting G is in. Even though the show is inconsistent, he has faith that the show will get to the good parts However, he is not involved in the fandoms; doesn't go to Doctor Who panels at conventions or to the theatre to watch the show with others More than happy to get into arguments about past or present doctors and companions being bad T is out. And will remain out. Doctor Who is huge; too big Likes the concept, and will still be really aware of the show and changes to the show through other fansites Alex is in. > "Wouldn't it be amazing if I said out?" > --Alex Couldn't really say anything but in His past experiences were very similar to the Nicks: was watching the show but not participating in the fandom Went to Gallifrey (One), and was never able to resurface > "It's a fandom that kind of gets before you even know you've been got." > --Alex Fans of the week > My current magical thinking: Bad world things happened because of no #DoctorWho > Now that he is coming back, the world will revert to good. > --DrLatigo (via [Twitter](https://twitter.com/DrLatigo/status/850785206323642368)) Alex also nomiated Peter Capaldi, a mega-fan who is now one of the doctors on the show! This week's spotlight [The Doctor Who Society of Canada](http://www.doctorwhosociety.com/) A fairly recent organization, having only been formed in 2011, growing out of the Toronto Fan Expo. Last year, it managed to raise over $50000 Canadian for four different charities, and has chapters in Toronto, Waterloo, Halifax and elsewhere in Canada (though it mostly located in Ontario). We have had a [few](https://youtu.be/4etdjYCYvQA) [opportunities](https://youtu.be/pXJT4LOPXjA) to interview them in the past. [The Race Against Time](http://raceagainsttime.io) Now in its third year of running, the Race Against Time is the Nickscast's annual charity livestream where we work our way though Chrono Trigger, obtaining all its endings, and also raising money for the Alzheimer Society of Canada. Last year we raised over $1200 Canadian, and have plans to surpass that! This year, the event will be held August 12 through to August 13, starting at 10am ET. You can also subscribe on [Twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime](https://www.twitch.tv/theraceagainsttime) in anticipation of the event! Famous Last Words This week's famous last words around _next week 's_ fandom, Supernatural! Alex: How much slash fiction about supernatural is out there? Z: Who is the fan favourite character and why? G: Which twin is older? T: Is it just because its two hot people? Where can I learn more about Alex Kennard? You can check out the podcast that he and Graeme Burk co-produce, [Reality Bomb](/fanthropological/episode/update/id/realitybombpodcast.com), a monthly, magazine-style Doctor Who podcast that focuses on the Doctor Who fandom, which just recently finished its 50th episode! You can also check out their podcast on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/realitybombpc) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/realitybombpc). If you want to know more about the man behind the podcast, you can follow him on twitter [@am_kennard](https://twitter.com/am_kennard) or on Instagram (also [@am_kennard](https://instagram.com/am_kennard)) Where can you find us online? We are everywhere! Most notably though, we like to hang out in a few places on social media: If you want to help us to create more amazing fannish content, become a patron on [Patreon](http://patreon.com/thenickscast); even as little as a dollar a month pledge really helps us out! For all the latest updates, check us out on [Facebook](https://facebook.com/thenickscast) or [Twitter](https://twitter.com/thenickscast) To see the latest hijinx from our conventions or even our daily lives and adventures, check us out on [Instagram](https://instagram.com/thenickscast) For our latest convention updates, _Let 's Plays_, and other in-real-life video, [check out our YouTube channel](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) We're also on iTunes, and Google Play, and would love it if you could leave a review and rating! if you want to reach us, and for some reason none of those work for you, try [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) You can check out [our website](http://thenickscast.com); that will mostly bring you back to this stuff. Everything is thenickscast, so if you can't find us, go on your social network and search for that! … You're still looking for ways to reach out? You can also use the hashtag #fanthro on Twitter! Who is "The Nickscast"? _We_ are the Nickscast! Three products of late-80s / early-90s pop culture who love exploring fandom and everything geek … who also happen to have been best buddies since high school, and all happen to be named Nick. Yes, we are super creative. Dare we say, the most creative. _Ahem_ We are Nick Green, Nick Terwoord, and Nick Zacharewicz: We started the Nickscast as a labour of love, and as a place to entertain and to discuss our love of fans and fandom, and all that is shiny and interesting in that realm. It's what lead us to start our first podcast, our satellite podcasts, Fanthropological, and so much more. We want to help others learn more about different fandoms, and to create empathy with other fans: We dream of a world where other fans aren't "those Weird-o's", but just folks with different tastes. A world where fandom is full of discourse and analysis, and there are plenty of tools and resources to help. Fans building communities to do good in the world. _Because everyone 's a fan._ Notable quotes from this episode > "I'm a level 20 space-time wizard." > --T > > "Hello, I'm all teeth and curls." > --Z > > "I would say a witty thing, but I'm just going to use my English accent as a reference to Doctor Who, how's that?" > --Alex > > "If you didn't know about Doctor Who, I don't know why you're listening, but please keep listening; it's a good show, honest!" > --T > > "I think this is a trick question; I think there are an infinite number of Doctor Who fanfictions." > --Alex > > "I do feel like that was actually put into the Oxford dictionary by a Doctor Who fan who is aware of how much the term 'Whovian' pisses off some other Doctor Who fans because then they could just be like 'no mate, its in the dictionary. Can't help you. Sorry.'" > --Alex > > "There's something beautiful about the pettiness you've described." > --G > > "It's not like it's a show that you watch as a child and then you just kind of forget and leave behind; it's the childhood friend that won't leave you alone." > --Alex > > "All of Doctor Who is never going to be for everyone." > --Alex > > "Doctor who varies so widely that I don't think its possible to love all of it equally." > --Alex > > "It can't be everything to someone; it is something to everyone" > --G > > "Doctor Who is a lot like the Canadian weather. If you didn't like what's going on right now, just wait five minutes, and you'll probably like what happens next. Be that on an episode-by-episode scale or a doctor-by-doctor scale." > --Alex > > "The characters help bring out the best elements of humanity: hope, optimism, curiousity adventure compassion." > --Z > > "Revealing something I don't really talk about on Reality Bomb at all. I am not a huge fan of the Capaldi era." > --Alex > > "That kind of goes back to the premise of the show: An alien with a time machine; Anything can happen." > --Z > > "How many other shows do I know the names of multiple writers for?!" > --G > > "Going back to Doctor Who conventions, there is an issue I would say with sexual harassment that happens at the these things. That's the thing I would change more than anything … If there's anything that I would say that is an actual problem in the Doctor Who community it's that there are moments at conventions, and moments at gatherings when people don't feel safe, and if there's one thing that Doctor Who should be about it should be about everybody feeling safe, all the time." > --Alex > > "We don't usually get such heartfelt responses; we're no accustomed to being on the other end of something like this." > --T > > "I love all of that stuff. I think Doctor Who in all of its infinite pettiness is wonderful." > --Alex > > "If you are drunk and full enough, you will cry." > --G Thanks Special thanks this week goes out to Alex Kennard (God of something or other, or so say the rumours we've heard) for agreeing to take time out of his busy schedule to chat with us! Credits Sources [Wikipedia: Doctor Who Fandom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who_fandom) [Wikipedia: Doctor Who Appreciation Society](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who_Appreciation_Society) [BroaDWcast](http://gallifreybase.com/w/index.php/Main_Page) [FanFiction.net: Doctor Who](https://www.fanfiction.net/tv/Doctor-Who/) [Archive of our own: Doctor Who & related fandoms](https://archiveofourown.org/tags/Doctor%20Who%20%2aa%2a%20Related%20Fandoms/works) [Quora: Why is Doctor Who so popular](https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Doctor-Who-so-popular) [Reddit: Why does the Doctor Who fanbase get such a bad rap](https://www.reddit.com/r/doctorwho/comments/2m74vg/why_does_the_doctor_who_fanbase_get_such_a_bad_rap/) [Reddit: Tumblr-bashing-why? (or why not?)](https://www.reddit.com/r/gallifrey/comments/2u73cg/tumblrbashing_why_or_why_not/) [Hypable: What's a 'real' Whovian? Female 'Doctor Who' fans speak](http://www.hypable.com/doctor-who-peter-capaldi-real-whovian-fandom/) [The Changing Faces of Doctor Who Fandom: New Fans, New Technologies, Old Practices](http://www.participations.org/Volume%2010/Issue%201/5%20Booth%20&%20Kelly%2010.1.pdf) [The Web Planet: How the Changing Internet Divided Doctor Who Fan Fiction Writers](http://journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/view/129/101) [Doctor Who's Textual Commemorators: Fandom, Collective Memory and the Self-Commodification of Fanfac](http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/intellect/jfs/2014/00000002/00000001/art00004) [Reddit: Why Do You Like Doctor Who?](https://www.reddit.com/r/doctorwho/comments/d9ecl/why_do_you_like_doctor_who/) [Reddit: If You're Over 18; Why Do You Like Doctor Who?](https://www.reddit.com/r/doctorwho/comments/1pwnd7/if_youre_over_18_why_do_you_like_doctor_who/) [Why Do You Like Doctor Who](https://www.reddit.com/r/doctorwho/comments/2fomxv/why_do_you_like_doctor_who/) [British girl has world's largest collection of Doctor Who memorabilia - Guinness World Records 2017 Blockbusters](http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2017/3/british-girl-has-worlds-largest-collection-of-doctor-who-memorabilia-guinness) [Oxford English Dictionary - "Whovian"](https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Whovian) [The Queen is a Secret Dr Who Fan](http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/queen-secret-dr-who-fan-551390?service=responsive) [Why You Love Doctor Who: The Whovian Fandom in Your Own Words](http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-09-25/why-you-love-doctor-who) [Why We Love Doctor Who… According to a Psychologist](http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-12-16/why-we-love-doctor-who-according-to-a-psychologist) Documentary: Doctor Forever! - Lost in the Dark Dimension (2013) Documentary: The Seven Year Hitch (2011) Documentary: The Wilderness Years (2011) Music / Sound All music and sound for this week's episode were provided by Nick Green! Artwork [Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) [Tardis](https://thenounproject.com/term/tardis/55171) by [Arancha R](https://thenounproject.com/aranchaerre) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#24 - Bronies

The Nickscast — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 17:16:49 +0000

We're going out with a bang this season finale as we tackle a contentious (but fascinating) fandom: Bronies (adult male fans of My Little Pony)! What is it about the show, obstensibly for children, that draws in adults? Why does the fandom persist to this day? Why the controversy? That is it for this season! We will be back on April 21st starting off season 3 where we'll be talking about Doctor Who fandom with a special guest! Stay tuned! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Citations ["My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic"](http://fanlore.org/wiki/My_Little_Pony:_Friendship_is_Magic) ["My Little Pony: the Bronies who love them aren't who you think they are"](http://www.thespec.com/living-story/6773146-my-little-pony-the-bronies-who-love-them-aren-t-who-you-think-they-are/) [""Creating A Universe": Acceptance, Expression and Individuality Found in the U's Brony Group"](http://dailyutahchronicle.com/2017/01/24/creating-universe-acceptance-expression-individuality-found-us-brony-group/) ["Shifting Pink and Blue Syndrome"](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/shifting-pink-and-blue-syndrome_us_58bc9840e4b02eac8876d044) ["r/bronies - Why Do You Like My Little Pony?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/bronies/comments/17l2gl/why_do_you_like_my_little_pony/) ["r/mylittlepony - Why Do You Watch MLP:FiM?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/mylittlepony/comments/10rooj/why_do_you_watch_mlpfim/) ["r/mylittlepony - Does MLP Have an Exceptionally Creative Fan Culture? If so, why?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/mylittlepony/comments/34eemz/does_mlp_have_an_exceptionally_creative_fan/) ["My Little Pony: The Bronies Who Love Them Aren't Who You Think They Are"](http://www.thespec.com/living-story/6773146-my-little-pony-the-bronies-who-love-them-aren-t-who-you-think-they-are/) ["Who you surround yourself with is important"](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/who-you-surround-yourself-with-is-important_us_58c44fade4b070e55af9efad) ["My Little Pony - Wikipedia"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Little_Pony) ["5 Facts About Bronies, AKA The Adult Male Fans Of My Little Pony"](http://www.crushable.com/2014/04/29/entertainment/what-are-bronies-facts-my-little-pony-fans/) ["Brony Herd Census & State of the Herd Report"](http://herdcensus.com) ["Reddit: (serious) Bronies of Reddit, why do you like My Little Pony so much? What's the appeal? Is "Brony" derogatory to you?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1q2ovc/seriousbronies_of_reddit_why_do_you_like_my/cd8qn47/) ["Quora: Why do people hate Bronies?"](https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-hate-Bronies) ["Bronies for Good"](http://broniesforgood.org/) ["5 Hated Groups That Are Going Out of Their Way to Be Awesome"](http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-hated-groups-that-are-going-out-their-way-to-be-awesome/) ["Bronies explained: The grown men who love 'My Little Pony' aren't who you think they are"](http://news.nationalpost.com/life/bronies-explained-the-grown-men-who-love-my-little-pony-arent-who-you-think-they-are) ["Inside the Bizarre World of 'Bronies,' Adult Male Fans of 'My Little Pony'"](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/05/01/inside-the-bizarre-world-of-bronies-adult-male-fans-of-my-little-pony.html) ["Bronies are redfening fandom - and American manhood"](https://www.wired.com/2014/03/bronies-online-fandom/) [A Brony Tale (2014)](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3219678/) Dir. Brent Hodge Credits Music: All this week's music is provided by our very own G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Pony"](https://thenounproject.com/term/pony/29745) by [caba kosmotesto](https://thenounproject.com/caba) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#23 - Magic: The Gathering Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 21:47:19 +0000

Untap, Upkeep, Draw, Main, Combat, Main, End. What do these words have in common? You would know, if you were a fan of _Magic: the Gathering_ (this week's topic)! We've got a special guest friend, Kevin, to help guide us through the complex and exciting world of the Planeswalkers. Why is _Magic: the Gathering_ so popular? Are there more than just competitive fans? What keeps players in the game after over two decades? Stay tuned! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Citations ["I am so scared about the bannings tomorrow"](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/5z37h2/i_am_so_scared_about_the_bannings_tomorrow/) ["How do you organize your collections?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/5z789s/how_do_you_organize_your_collections/) ["Tips for dealing with sexist/elitist players?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/5z8aqa/tips_for_dealing_with_sexistelitist_players/) ["Magic: The Gathering Fans Sign Petition to End Reserve List Policy"](http://epicstream.com/news/Magic-The-Gathering-Fans-Sign-Petition-to-End-Reserve-List-Policy) ["Fan-Organized Magic: The Gathering Tournament Only Allows Cards From 1996"](http://kotaku.com/fan-organized-magic-the-gathering-tournament-only-allo-1791821047) ["Seahawks player pleads for return of stolen Magic: The Gathering cards; Wizards of the Coast delivers care package"](http://www.geekwire.com/2016/seahawks-player-pleads-return-stolen-magic-gathering-cards-wizards-coast-delivers-care- package/) ["Filling in the Gaps: Fans and Fan Fiction on the Internet"](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Filling_in_the_Gaps:_Fans_and_Fan_Fiction_on_the_Internet) ["Fan Kits | Magic: The Gathering"](http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/media/fan-kits) ["Magic: The Gathering Fans Sign Petition to End Reserve List,"](http://epicstream.com/news/Magic-The-Gathering-Fans-Sign-Petition-to-End-Reserve-List-Policy) ["r/MagicTCG - Why Do You Like Magic?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/1az76f/why_do_you_like_magic/) ["Why Do You Play Magic?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/1k4gnk/why_do_you_play_magic/) ["First Friday Night Magic ... awful experience. Why do people act this way? First post, be gentle"](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/nxday/first_friday_night_magic_awful_experience_why_do/) ["I'd like to share a story that I think magictcg would appreciate"](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/2tzmpq/id_like_to_share_a_story_that_i_think_magictcg/?ref=search_posts) ["What do you enjoy most about Magic: The Gathering?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/4gi42d/what_do_you_enjoy_most_about_magicthe_gathering/?ref=search_posts) ["Fan "Alterists" Turn Magic: The Gathering Cards Into Amazing Art"](http://io9.gizmodo.com/fan-alterists-turn-magic-the-gathering-cards-into-am-1599369389) ["Fanlore: Phil Foglio"](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Phil_Foglio) ["How Magic: the Gathering became a pop-culture hit - and where it goes next"](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/10/magic-the-gathering-pop-culture-hit-where-next) ["For 'Magic: The Gathering,' Diversity Is The Marketing Strategy"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurenorsini/2016/03/18/for-magic-the-gathering-diversity-is-the-marketing-strategy/#3b3739ee2216) ["Lady Planeswalkers"](http://ladyplaneswalkers.weebly.com/) ["If Magic: The Gathering Cares About Women, Why Can't They Hire Any?"](https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/if-magic-the-gathering-cares-about-women-why-cant-they-hire-any) ["Why Magic: The Gathering struggles to stay relevant to casual players"](http://www.avclub.com/article/why-magic-the-gathering-struggles-to-stay-relevant-106217) Credits Music: All this week's music is provided by our very own G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Magic Collection"](https://thenounproject.com/Raul.SC/collection/magic/) by [Raul Santos](https://thenounproject.com/Raul.SC) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#22 - Linux Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 20:15:12 +0000

We're compiling (notes) and choosing our favourite distro for when we talk about this week's fandom: Linux Fans! What _is_ Linux? Why are its fans so dedicated? What is the appeal? Stay tuned! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Citations ["Does GNU-Linux *have* to be a "techies-only" platform?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/5vtxq8/does_gnulinux_have_to_be_a_techiesonly_platform/#bottom-comments) ["Christmas Gift Ideas For Linux Fans"](http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/12/linux-xmas-gift-ideas-2016) ["It's time Linux fans open their arms to closed source"](http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://www.techrepublic.com/article/time-linux-fans-open-their-arms-to-closed-source/&gws_rd=cr&ei=UXCzWP-AC8ipjwSyhJxY) ["5 Things We (Secretly All) Miss About Ubuntu"](http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/09/5-things-secretly-miss-ubuntu) ["Whats so great about Ubuntu Server?"](https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2349610) ["What Is Linux? | The Linux Gamer"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFFNiMV27VY) ["Six Reasons PCs are Better with Linux"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly1geVr-Xi4) ["r/linux - Why do you love Linux & FOSS?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/2qbxv8/why_do_you_love_linux_foss/) ["r/linux - Why Do You Choose Linux over Some Other Unix-Like OS?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/5sr0ks/why_do_you_choose_linux_over_some_other_unixlike/) ["r/linux - Do You Think Linux Will Ever Die?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/24eb6o/do_you_think_linux_will_ever_die/) ["r/linux - Why *I* Still Use Linux"](https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/5iv8ue/why_i_still_use_linux/) ["Linux - Album on Imgur"](https://imgur.com/gallery/AJG6t) ["r/linux - I'm Curious About Linux, Just a Few Questions if You Don't Mind!"](https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1ts0a4/im_curious_about_linux_just_a_few_questions_if/) ["What Is Free Software?"](http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html) ["About LinuxChix"](http://www.linuxchix.org/node/754) ["Women in Linux - About"](http://www.womeninlinux.com/index.php/about/) ["50 Places Linux is Running That You Might Not Expect"](http://www.comparebusinessproducts.com/fyi/50-places-linux-running-you-might-not-expect) Credits Music: All this week's music is provided by our very own G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Emperor Penguin"](https://thenounproject.com/term/emperor-penguin/184639) by [Felipe Perucho](https://thenounproject.com/felipeperucho) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Terminal"](https://thenounproject.com/term/terminal/715962) by [Bernar Novalyi](https://thenounproject.com/bernar.novalyi) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#21 - LEGO Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 04:00:00 +0000

Are we building a mystery? No, we're talking about Lego fans! Who are Lego for? Is there more than just building? Is it about collecting (and making money??)? Stay tuned! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Citations ["Mechs, big ships and community: a chat with long-time LEGO fan and Mecha Builder, Mark Neumann [Interview]"](http://www.brothers-brick.com/2017/02/06/mechs-big-ships-community-talk-long-time-lego-fan-mecha-builder-mark-neumann-interview/) ["Seriously Nerdy."](http://bricknerd.com/about/) ["Lego Fan Opens 'Brick Burger' Restaurant"](http://www.eater.com/2017/2/7/14538990/lego-burger-restaurant-philippines) ["Lego to open giant playhouse for fans by Danish HQ"](http://www.thelocal.dk/20170217/lego-to-open-giant-playhouse-for-fans-in-denmark) ["What are some of the best models for introducing an adult to LEGO?"](https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-of-the-best-models-for-introducing-an-adult-to-LEGO) ["LEGO Glossary"](http://www.brothers-brick.com/lego-glossary/) ["History of Lego"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Lego) ["BrickRecycler"](http://www.brickrecycler.com/) ["Collectors Weekly - Collectible LEGO Toys, Sets, and Bricks"](http://www.collectorsweekly.com/toys/lego) ["The Brick Fan - About"](http://www.thebrickfan.com/about/) ["BrickNerd - About"](http://bricknerd.com/about/) ["PCHLUG - Join Us"](http://www.pchlug.com/?page_id=25) ["Why Fans Are Sending the Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei Boxes of Legos"](http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/10/ai-weiwei-versus-lego/412402/) ["r/lego - What Pulled You Out of Your Dark Age?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/lego/comments/5ilehq/what_pulled_you_out_of_your_dark_age/?ref=search_posts) ["r/lego - The Evolution of a LEGO Addict: Part 3"](https://www.reddit.com/r/lego/comments/5mceef/the_evolution_of_a_lego_addict_part_3/?ref=search_posts) ["How Legos Became More Violent"](https://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/484286) ["Lego is a way of life for some adults"](http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37716463/ns/business-retail/t/lego-way-life-some-adults/) ["Adult Fans of Lego: Why Lego is fun at any age"](http://www.sbs.com.au/news/thefeed/story/adult-fans- lego-why-lego-fun-any-age) ["Why we love Lego - Leading psychologist reveals the 'builder instinct' is the key to the popularity of the toy"](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2178872/Why-love-Lego--leading-psychologist-reveals-builder-instinct-key-popularity-toy.html) ["Adult Fan of LEGO"](http://www.brickwiki.info/wiki/Adult_Fan_Of_LEGO) ["Lego Certified Professionals"](https://www.lego.com/en-us/aboutus/lego-group/programs-and-visits/lego-certified-professionals) ["The cult of Lego: why are people so in love with the colourful bricks?"](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/11276191/The-cult-of-Lego-why-are-people-so-in-love-with-the-colourful-bricks.html) ["Notoriously expensive Lego prices scale linearly, remain constant over time"](http://nerdist.com/notoriously-expensive-lego-prices-scale-linearly-remain-constant-over-time/) ["I like Lego"](http://chris.pirillo.com/2010/06/01/i-like-lego/) ["How to Invest in Legos and Make a Bazillion Dollars"](https://www.wealthsimple.com/en-us/magazine/how-to-invest-in-legos) ["BrickPicker: Lego Price and Investing Guide"](https://www.brickpicker.com/index.cfm) ["10 Reasons Why We Love Lego"](http://whatculture.com/offbeat/10-reasons-why-we-love-lego) Credits Music: All this week's music is provided by our very own G! "lowerguncock" by [woodmoose](https://www.freesound.org/people/woodmoose/) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Lego"](https://thenounproject.com/term/lego/19827) by [Iconic](https://thenounproject.com/iconicdesign) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#20 - Craft Beer Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 20:38:51 +0000

If it's suds and buds you're looking for, you'll enjoy this week's cast on craft beer fans, and who better to talk about craft beer than Nick H from the [Epic Film Guys Podcast](http://www.epicfilmguys.com/)! Is it about getting drunk? Why beer? Why IPAs?? We're hop-ping to it, and getting the fans-eye-view for you! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Citations ["Walmart is being sued for inventing a fake craft brewery"](http://www.avclub.com/article/walmart-being-sued-inventing-fake-craft-brewery-250375) ["THE 5 STRONGEST NATURALLY-FERMENTED BEERS IN THE WORLD"](http://berghoffbeer.com/blog/5-strongest-naturally-fermented-beers-world/) ["Anthony Bourdain: Craft beer fans have gone too far"](http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/anthony-bourdain-says-craft-beer-fans-have-gone-too-far-a7388996.html) ["Facebook group provides outlet for craft beer fans"](http://hrgrowler.com/facebook-group-provides-outlet-craft-beer-fans/) ["Why craft beer fans freak out when small breweries sell to big-name companies"](http://www.guidelive.com/craft-beer/2016/11/03/craft-beer-fans-freak-small-breweries-sell-big-name-companies) ["How Craft Beer is Disrupting Traditions | Sebastien Morvan | TEDxBrussels"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHhIkynELNQ) ["Brussels Beer Project"](http://www.beerproject.be) ["Anthony Bourdain: Craft Beer Fans Have Gone too Far"](http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/anthony-bourdain-says-craft-beer-fans-have-gone-too-far-a7388996.html) ["What Colorado's Craft Beer Fans are Fearing"](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-colorados-craft-beer-fans-are-fearing/) ["15 Things Craft Beer Fans Think (But Nobody Says)"](http://firstwefeast.com/drink/2013/04/15-things-craft-beer-fans-think-but-nobody-says/) ["Craft Beer Asia"](https://craftbeerasia.com/) ["Competition Brewing in Germany as Consumers Tire of Traditional Beer"](http://www.dw.com/en/competition-brewing-in-germany-as-consumers-tire-of-traditional-beer/a-19526706) ["Brewing Beer in the Middle East Is a Tough Business"](https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/microbreweries-in-jordan-909) ["How Beer is made"](http://blog.beeriety.com/2009/07/06/how-beer-is-made/) ["Elitism, or something else? Millennials and the war on Big Beer"](http://www.cnbc.com/2014/11/07/why-those-elitist-millennials-hate-big-beer.html) ["Does craft beer taste better than mainstream beer or do people drink it to benefit their own self-perception?"](https://www.quora.com/Does-craft-beer-taste-better-than-mainstream-beer-or-do-people-drink-it-to-benefit-their-own-self-perception) ["Why is craft beer so white?"](https://bensbeerblog.com/2016/06/08/why-is-craft-beer-so-white/) ["There are almost no black people brewing craft beer. Here's why"](https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/there-are-almost-no-black-people-brewing-craft-beer-heres-why) ["Charting All the Beer Styles"](http://flowingdata.com/2016/12/19/beer-styles/) ["New Brewer FAQ - Reddit"](https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/3yjvxb/new_brewer_faq/) Credits Music: All this week's music is provided by our very own G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Beer"](https://thenounproject.com/term/beer/631694) by [Dilla Chee](https://thenounproject.com/dremchee) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#19 - KISS Army

The Nickscast — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 21:00:00 +0000

It's gettin' late, and we just can't wait... to talk about this week's fandom: KISS Army! How did KISS Army start? Is it just about the music, or is there something more? We're gonna rock and roll all night, and podcast ... once a week? Sure. Everyone's a fan! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com)

#18 - Barbie Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 21:00:00 +0000

Will we be astronauts, debutantes, farmers, or computer scientists today? Today, we'll be podcasters as we talk about Barbie fans! Why do folks become Barbie fans? Why do they collect the dolls? Is it just about the dolls? We're not going shopping on this week's episode! ...But in order to do that, we'll need our special guest, Chloe! Everyone's a fan! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 0:00:05 - Theme Song 0:00:22 - Introduction 0:00:38 - Special Guest Introduction: Chloe! 0:01:08 - Who is Barbie + Trivia 0:05:20 - What are Barbie fans called? + Earring Magic Ken + MORE TRIVIA 0:22:53 - Why Barbie Collecting? 0:30:00 - Thoughts on the 'new' Barbie 0:36:25 - Barbie (the character) as an icon and role model 0:44:42 - Barbie and play 0:48:55 - Barbie Superbowl commercial and men's attitudes towards dolls and play 0:53:45 - Fan of the week 1:01:25 - Spotlight: [Sailor Moon Celebration](http://sailormooncelebration.com/), June 24 2017 @ The Ontario Science Centre 1:03:11 - Where can I find more about Chloe? [Imgur](https://imgur.com/user/lumpyspacepharmacist), [Instagram](http://www.instagram.com/lumpyspacepharmacist) 1:04:07 - Where can I learn more about Fanthropological / The Nickscast? 1:07:16 - Outtakes Citations ["The new realistic Barbies squash kids' imaginations"](http://nypost.com/2016/01/29/the-new-realistic-barbies-squash-kids-imaginations/) ["The 9 Most Expensive Barbies of All Time"](http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/money/g3844/most-expensive-barbies-ever/) ["Barbie collectors from around the globe gather in Jacksonville"](http://www.news4jax.com/news/barbie-collectors-from-around-the-globe-gather-in-jax) ["The History of the Barbie Doll"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIfJiqbgHDY) ["The Zen of Ken, or Life as Barbie's Boyfriend"](http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-collector-jef-beck-on-vintage-ken-dolls-and-ken%E2%80%99s-evolution-in-the-barbie-franchise/) ["Beautiful Trouble - Barbie Liberation Organization"](http://beautifultrouble.org/case/barbie-liberation-organization/) ["16 Questions for the 'Real-Life Barbie,' Valeria Lukyanova"](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/08/05/16-questions-for-the-real-life-barbie-valeria- lukyanova.html) ["What We're Missing by Banishing Barbie"](http://www.themarysue.com/what-were-missing-by-banishing-barbie/) ["Critics Slam New Engineer Barbie for Reinforcing Gender Stereotypes"](http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/family/548135/critics-slam-engineer-barbie-gender-stereotypes) ["R/Barbie - Why Do You Collect Barbies? (Those That Do)"](https://www.reddit.com/r/Barbie/comments/3kpwxq/why_do_you_collect_barbies_those_that_do/) ["13 People At The National Barbie Collectors Convention Tell Us Why They Love Barbie"](https://www.buzzfeed.com/winonadimeoediger/tk-people-at-the-national-barbie-collectors-c-vkvg?utm_term=.jnLEN5NyWO#.pk97NeNd2A) ["The New Barbie Commercial Features a "Typical Man's Man" Playing with Dolls"](http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2017/01/27/new_barbie_ad_features_typical_man_s_man_playing_with_dolls.html) ["Fan Community Nicknames"](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/FanCommunityNicknames) ["From Barbies to Maggots: The Nicknames of 25 Fan Bases"](http://mentalfloss.com/article/28858/barbies-maggots-nicknames-25-fan-bases) ["Barbie Girl - Wikipedia"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie_Girl) ["Ken Dolls - FanLore"](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Ken_Dolls) ["Why does the Barbie Obsession Live On"](http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/29/barbie-handler-doll-opinions-columnists_0130_elisabeth_eaves.html) ["14 Barbie Facts That Will Pop Your Plastic Head Off"](http://mashable.com/2014/03/05/barbie-fun-facts/#y0CpF1vFTiqK) ["12 Reasons People Collect Dolls"](http://collectdolls.about.com/od/beginnerscollectingguide/tp/Why-Do-People-Collect-Dolls.htm) ["7 Reasons I love Barbie"](http://allwomenstalk.com/reasons-i-love-barbie/) ["Why Girls Need Barbie Dolls"](http://guff.com/why-girls-need-barbie-dolls) ["Why I Am Not a Fan of the New Barbie"](http://www.hercampus.com/school/pitt/why-i-am-not-fan-new-barbie) ["Why I AM a Fan of the New Barbie"](http://www.urforummagazine.com/why-i-am-a-fan-of-the-new-barbie/) ["Barbie dolls embrace diversity in bid to win back fans"](http://www.ourwindsor.ca/community-story/6256525-barbie-dolls-embrace-diversity-in-bid-to-win-back-fans/) ["Fans urge Mattel to crate Barbie in Selena's likeness"](http://www.caller.com/story/entertainment/people/selena/2016/12/28/fans-urge-mattel-create-barbie-selenas-likeness/95905212/) Credits Music: All this week's music is provided by our very own G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Ponytail"](https://thenounproject.com/term/ponytail/18427) by [Dave Larsen](https://thenounproject.com/davelarsen) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#17 - LARPers

The Nickscast — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 21:00:00 +0000

This week, we're filling our backpacks with trail rations as we head out into the wilderness to talk about Live-Action Role-Playing (LARP)! Why do folks become LARPers? Is it just Dungeons and Dragons? What's the appeal? Hopefully we level up our knowledge skills and find out! ...But in order to do that, we'll need our special guest, Luke: Scholar, Poet, musician, and "LARP apologist"! Everyone's a fan! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 0:00:09 - Theme Song 0:00:27 - Introduction 0:01:00 - Special Guest Introduction: Luke! 0:01:26 - What, Who, and Why of LARPing 0:41:31 - Differences in expectations in LARP 0:49:20 - LARP vs Re-enactors and more discussion 0:58:09 - Nicks + Guest: Would you LARP? 1:04:20 - Spotlight: [College of Wizardry](http://www.cowlarp.com/) 1:09:56 - Where can I find more of Luke's work? [lukemaynard.wordpress.com](https://lukemaynard.wordpress.com/about/), [Luke's Ukes (Youtube)](http://www.youtube.com/user/lukesukes), [Cthulu Sattva](http://martianmigrainepress.com/Cthulhusattva) 1:11:35 - Where can I learn more about Fanthropological / The Nickscast? 1:13:16 - Outtakes Citations [Live Action Role-Playing Game - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_action_role-playing_game) [What different styles of LARP combat exist](http://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/11861/what-different-styles-of-larp-combat-exist) [Magic Kingdom: Why Live-Action Role Playing is one of Denmark's Most Popular Pastimes](http://world.time.com/2012/07/20/magic-kingdom-why-live-action-role-playing-is-one-of-denmarks-most-popular-pastimes/) [How To: LARP](http://news.nationalpost.com/posted-toronto/how-to-larp) [Live Action Roleplaying | The Feed](https://youtu.be/dQcMKWncRR8) [Here Are Some Of The American Adults Who Started Live-Action Role Playing And Never Stopped](http://www.businessinsider.com/why-people-love-larping-2014-10) [FORGET VIDEO GAMES: Here's What It's Like To Put On A Costume And Go Live-Action Role Playing](http://www.businessinsider.com/we-went-larping-2014-10) [Larp Census](http://larpcensus.org/) [Why Japan does not LARP](https://www.academia.edu/3462882/Why_Japan_does_not_Larp) [LARPing Saved My Life - YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXNGFb2p90k) [16x9 - Role Play: What's it like to LARP? - YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p9AYvoF4VM) [The Basics of Larp - YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JUv-o4UTv0) [What to Bring to LARP - YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RelwC4WUtCg) [Does LARP have to be based around combat : LARP ](https://www.reddit.com/r/LARP/comments/5gk7k8/does_larp_have_to_be_based_around_combat/) [any tips for staying in character? : LARP ](https://www.reddit.com/r/LARP/comments/5edwfk/any_tips_for_staying_in_character/) [Tips for introverts heading to their first LARP? : LARP ](https://www.reddit.com/r/LARP/comments/5cdapo/tips_for_introverts_heading_to_their_first_larp/) [I don't understand the point of High Fantasy LARP : LARP ](https://www.reddit.com/r/LARP/comments/592l4x/i_dont_understand_the_point_of_high_fantasy_larp/) [BAD LARP charaacter sterotypes. : LARP ](https://www.reddit.com/r/LARP/comments/56kp6m/bad_larp_charaacter_sterotypes/) [Storytelling the Darkness: Ten Cliches to Avoid in Character Creation ](http://storytellingthedarkness.blogspot.ca/2011/12/ten-cliches-to-avoid-in-character.html) [How To Run A LARP ](http://www.skaro.com/larpadvice/larp_logistics.html) [How To Start a Larp | LARPING.ORG ](http://www.larping.org/tag/how-to-start-a-larp/) [What is Nordic Larp? - Nordiclarp.org ](https://nordiclarp.org/what-is-nordic-larp/) [Archery Company Sues LARPer over Patents, Then Files Gag Motion to Silence Him](http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/02/archery-company-sues-larper-over-patents-then-files-gag-motion-to-silence-him/) [GoFundMe - Save Larp[sic] Archery in America](https://www.gofundme.com/savelarparchery) [Archery Company Drops Foam-Arrow Patent Case Against LARPer](http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/03/archery-company-drops-foam-arrow-patent-case-against-larper/) [Trademark Lawsuit over LARP Archery Gets Thrown Out of Court](http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/trademark-lawsuit-over-larp-archery-gets-thrown-out-of-court/) [Live Action Role Play (LARP) Insurance: Now Available](http://time.com/money/4309344/live-action-role-play-larp-insurance/) [Become a Wizard at an Ancient Castle in Poland](https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/05/become-a-wizard-at-an-ancient-castle-in-poland.html) [College of Wizardry](http://www.cowlarp.com/) [This Is a Game: A (very) Brief History of Larp[sic] Part 1](http://rhizome.org/editorial/2012/sep/20/game-very-brief-history-larp-part-1/) [Live Role-Play of Medieval Fantasy and its Relationship to the Media](https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10092/9046/thesis_fulltext.pdf;jsessionid=DA03BB1613B6BBCF939F650B363A96B4?sequence=1) [New Online Course: The Middle Ages and the Modern World: Facts and Fiction](http://www.medievalists.net/2016/01/new-online-course-the-middle-ages-and-the-modern-world-facts-and-fiction/) [This Game We Play - Capturing the SCA over Three Years](http://www.medievalists.net/2015/02/game-play-capturing-sca-three-years/) Credits Music: All this week's music is provided by our very own G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Shield"](https://thenounproject.com/term/shield/48531) by [Sweet Farm](https://thenounproject.com/sweetfarm) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#16 - Fantasy Football Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 20:50:28 +0000

This week we're placing bets as we enter the season, of FANTASY FOOTBALL (or an episode, at least)! Why do folks become fantasy football fans? Is a familiarity with (American) football required? Hopefully our draft picks work out in this episode! Especially because we have guests Rebecca and Laura! Everyone's a fan! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 0:00:00 - Editor's Note 0:00:39 - Theme Song 0:00:57 - Introduction 0:01:21 - Special Guest Introduction: Laura and Rebecca! 0:01:55 - Who are Fantasy Football Fans? 0:02:50 - Why are people fans of Fantasy Football? 0:19:04 - Fantasy football, related fandoms, and more discussion 0:59:16 - Fans of the week 1:05:06 - Spotlight: [Fantasy Movie League](https://fantasymovieleague.com/) 1:06:54 - Where can I find more of Rebecca's work? [GetBookish (Youtube)](http://youtube.com/getbookish) 1:07:48 - Where can I find more of Laura's work? [Adlaya's Animals](http://adlayasanimals.wordpress.com/) 1:08:30 - Where can I learn more about Fanthropological / The Nickscast? 1:10:34 - Outtakes Citations ["Fantasy Football (American) - Wikipedia"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy_football_$American$) ["The Beauty (and Ugliness) of Fantasy Football"](http://thesportsfeen654.sportsblog.com/posts/31509896/the-beauty--and-ugliness--of-fantasy-football.html) ["The Popularity of Fantasy Sports Continues to Grow"](http://www.fordhamobserver.com/the-popularity-of-fantasy-sports-continues-to-grow/) ["Top Ten Reasons To Play Fantasy Football"](http://thesportsfeen654.sportsblog.com/posts/2976952/top-ten-reasons-to-play-fantasy-football.html) ["What's behind fantasy football's surprising popularity"](http://fortune.com/2015/09/12/fantasy-football-growth/) ["Fanlore - Television Without Pity"](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Television_Without_Pity) ["Fanlore - How do I Quit Wasting my Life on Online Escapism"](http://fanlore.org/wiki/How_do_I_quit_wasting_my_life_on_online_escapism%3F) ["Know Your Meme - American Football"](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/american-football) ["Jack Kerouac Was a Secret, Obsessive Fan of Fantasy Baseball"](http://www.openculture.com/2015/04/jack-kerouacs-secret-obsessive-fantasy-baseball-hobby-before-fantasy-sports-became-a-phenomenon.html) ["Fantasy Football Draft Prep, Part 1 - Fake Quarterbacks"](https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/fantasy-football-draft-prep-part-1-fake-quarterbacks) ["Fantasy Football Draft Prep, Part 2 - Fake Running Backs"](https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/fantasy-football-draft-prep-part-2-fake-running-backs) ["Fantasy Football Draft Prep, Part III - Fake Everything Else"](https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/fantasy-football-draft-prep-part-3---fake-everything-else) ["The Finances of a Fantasy Football Player"](http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2013/09/04/finances-fantasy-football-player.html) ["r/fantasyfootball - Fantasy Football is like Porn"](https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasyfootball/comments/1t5046/fantasy_football_is_like_porn/) ["r/fantasyfootball - Cognitive Biases and Fantasy Football"](https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasyfootball/comments/2dh7m5/cognitive_biases_and_fantasy_football_which_ones/) ["r/fantasyfootball - My Experience with Fantasy Football"](https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasyfootball/comments/5ddxat/my_experience_with_fantasy_football/) ["r/fantasyfootball - Would You Watch a Documentary about a Family's Fantasy Football League"](https://www.reddit.com/r/fantasyfootball/comments/3o5sf7/would_you_watch_a_documentary_about_a_familys/) ["Vimeo - Fantasy Football"](https://vimeo.com/115218128) Credits Music: All this week's music is provided by our very own G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Magic"](https://thenounproject.com/term/magic/731216) by [anbileru adaleru](https://thenounproject.com/pronoun) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Football"](https://thenounproject.com/term/football/582) by [Edward Boatman](https://thenounproject.com/edward) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#15 - Homestucks

The Nickscast — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 21:00:00 +0000

Fire up your Pesterchum (or Trollian) folks, this week we're talking about Homestuck fandom! Who are Homestucks? What's the appeal? And why are they (literally) trolls? There's no gigapause this week as we start our SBURB session! Everyone's a fan! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:07 - Theme Song 00:26 - Introduction 01:30 - Who are Homestucks? 02:09 - Special Guest Introduction: Soph! 03:02 - Trivia 08:14 - Why are people Homestucks? 30:45 - Homestuck and other fandoms 56:43 - Fans of the week 1:03:27 - Spotlight: [Otaking77077](https://www.patreon.com/otaking77077) (via [Kotaku](http://kotaku.com/one-guy-is-making-his-own-street-fighter-movie-1791140485)) 1:04:52 - Where can I learn more about Fanthropological / The Nickscast 1:06:45 - Where can I find more of Soph's work? [Tumblr](http://sofa-cushion.tumblr.com/) and [DeviantArt](http://sofa-cushion.deviantart.com/) 1:08:07 - Outtakes Citations ["A Noob's Guide to Homestuck"](http://observer.com/2012/09/a-noobs-guide-to-homestuck-the-favorite-webcomic-of-internetty-teens-everywhere/) ["Metatext of Doom"](http://www.hoodedutilitarian.com/2012/07/metatext-of-doom/) ["When fandoms collide: The present and future of anime cons"](http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/anime-boston-conventions-multi-fandom-homestuck/) ["The Bright side of Homestuck fandom"](http://homestuckfansgood.tumblr.com/post/27273200575/guys-i-just-realized-why-the-homestuck-fandom-is) ["What is Homestuck and why is it considered annoying"](https://www.reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/1pr3ym/what_is_homestuck_and_why_is_the_fandom/) ["How did Homestuck get a bad rap"](https://theninjagang.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/how-did-homestuck-get-a-bad-rep/) ["Homestuck Horror Stories"](http://homestuckstories.tumblr.com/) ["Fate of the MSPA Forums"](http://omegaupdate.freeforums.net/thread/27/fate-mspa-forums) ["Inside the strange, brave new world of Homestuck"](http://www.dailydot.com/society/inside-webcomic-homestuck-guide-interviews/) ["What the Fuck is Homestuck!?"](https://what-the-fuck-is-homestuck.tumblr.com/) ["Homestuck fan prepare for webcomic release"](http://thetartan.org/2011/10/17/pillbox/comics) ["Stuck on Homestuck: How Andrew Hussie Turned a Tumblr Craze Into a Teenage Empire"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121005192003/http://betabeat.com/2012/10/tumblr-andrew-hussie-homestuck-kickstarter-game-adventure-text-teens-young-adult) ["Homestuck is the First Great Work of Internet Fiction"](http://www.tor.com/2012/09/18/homestuck-is-the-first-great-work-of-internet-fiction/) ["Wikipedia - Homestuck"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homestuck) ["Fanlore - Homestuck"](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Homestuck) ["Mayor of Meme Town"](http://captchalogue.livejournal.com/) ["Homesmut"](http://homesmut.dreamwidth.org/) ["Home | Omegaupdate"](http://omegaupdate.freeforums.net/) ["Listen to This: 20 of the Best 'Homestuck' Songs in Honor of its Ending"](http://move.themaneater.com/stories/2016/6/12/listen-20-best-homestuck-songs-honor-its-ending/#.WHhMDt9idOA) ["'Hiveswap' and the Tenacity of Fandom"](http://www.popmatters.com/post/hiveswap-and-the-tenacity-of-fandom2/) ["Homestuck Fans Want You to Know that It's still Weird"](http://fusion.net/story/172690/homestuck-fans-want-you-to-know-that-its-still-the-weirdest-comic-on-the-internet/) ["Thanks for Playing: The Weird Legacy of 'Homestuck'"](http://www.martlet.ca/thanks-for-playing-the-weird-legacy-of-homestuck/) ["Goodbye to Homestuck, the Most Elaborate Webcomic You've Never Heard Of"](http://motherboard.vice.com/read/goodbye-to-homestuck-the-most-elaborate-webcomic-youve-never-heard-of) ["What is Homestuck? Who is Homestuck? Why is Homestuck? And WTF is Homestuck"](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dante-basco/what-is-homestuck-who-is-_b_6159280.html) Credits Music: All this week's music is provided by our very own G! [Regea Syren sound effect](https://www.freesound.org/people/AndreOnate/sounds/135117/) by AndreOnate used under [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) Homestuck's Sburb logo recreated by T

#14 - Speedrunners

The Nickscast — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 21:00:00 +0000

Playing games makes sense, but racing against the clock in games? This week, we're talking about Speedrunners! What is a speedrun? What is sequence breaking? Is cheating in video games ok in a speedrun?? We're going to go fast in this week's episode! Everyone's a fan! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:09 - Theme Song 01:10 - Who are Speedrunners? 03:33 - Trivia 21:52 - Why are people speedrunners? 30:47 - Different kinds of speedruns, and specifics of speedrunning 51:06 - Fans of the week 1:00:12 - Spotlight: [Games Done Quick!](https://gamesdonequick.com/) 1:01:50 - Secret Spotlight: [Race Against Time!](https://raceagainsttime.io/) 1:02:25 - Where can I learn more about Fanthropological / The Nickscast 1:04:10 - Outtakes Citations ["Wikipedia - Speedrun"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speedrun) ["An Animated 'Speedrun' Through Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"](http://www.openculture.com/2013/06/speedrun_through_fear_and_loathing_in_las_vegas.html) ["The 10 Best Videogame Speedruns"](https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/07/the-10-best-videogame-speedruns.html?a=1) ["Speedrun.com"](http://www.speedrun.com/) ["Speedrun.com - Forums: Why did you Decide to Run Your Most Recent Speedgame"](http://www.speedrun.com/Speedrunning/thread/4wit4) ["Speedrun.com - Forums: Drug Testing"](http://www.speedrun.com/Speedrunning/thread/lzny6/5) ["SpeedRunsLive - Frequently Asked Questions"](http://www.speedrunslive.com/faq/) ["Gamers Divided Over Freakish Feats Achieved With Tool-Assisted Speed Runs"](http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1528811/20060417/index.jhtml) ["5 Lessons to Take Away from Awesome Games Done Quick 2015"](https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2015/01/5-lessons-to-take- away-from-awesome-games-done-quick-2015.html) ["TASVideos - Welcome to TAS Videos"](http://tasvideos.org/WhyAndHow.html) ["Awesome Games Done Quick 2016 - Donation Index"](https://gamesdonequick.com/tracker/donations/agdq2016) ["Why The Super Mario Bros. World Record Has Been Broken So Many Times Recently"](http://kotaku.com/new-glitch-reignites-the-super-mario-bros-speedrun-rac-1787596081) ["14 Years Later, Zelda Fans Discover New Way to Kill Wind Waker Boss"](http://kotaku.com/14-years-later-zelda-fans-discover-new-way-to-kill-win-1787459259) ["Why Speedrunners Use Glitches"](http://kotaku.com/why-speedruners-use-glitches-1582919382) ["SDA Knowledge Base - What is a Speedrun"](https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/What_is_a_speedrun) ["Speedrunners Finally Pull off the 'Holy Grail' of Mario 64 Glitches"](http://kotaku.com/speedrunners-finally-pull-off-the-holy-grail-of-mario-6-1787247119) ["SpikeVegeta on the Growth and Competition of Speedrunning: I Want Something 'On-The-Line' for these Runners"](https://pvplive.net/c/spikevegeta-on-the-growth-and-competition-of-speed) ["Trihex on the Future of Speedrunning: We Could Definitely use a Twitch Speedrun Directory"](https://pvplive.net/c/trihex-one-thing-we-could-definitely-use-is-a-spee) ["Hanging Out With a Pro Video Game Speedrunner Defending a World Title"](http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/hanging-out-with-a-pro-video-game-speedrunner-defending-a-world-title) ["What makes a speedrunner popular? : speedrun"](https://www.reddit.com/r/speedrun/comments/5hicw9/what_makes_a_speedrunner_popular/) ["How we Can Fix Speedrunning - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bt8hd_nfTPc) ["Super Mario World Credits Warp Explained - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAHXK2wut_I) ["Top 5 Speedruns To Watch To Get Into Speedrunning (feat. Razbuten) - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8xXtoIm76s) ["The New Speedrun Thread - Old thread obsolete by 2 frames - The Something Awful Forums"](https://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3429276) ["The Death of Speedrunning - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=valJLPAr5KU) ["Top 10 Biggest Skips In Speedrunning - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N5J5_Q2miA) ["How To Start Speedrunning - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxhd4tGuhf4) ["Speedrunning is the most degenerate act man has ever come up with"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08Ju7nel5cQ) ["Explanation of speedrunning - Reddit"](https://www.reddit.com/r/speedrun/comments/4apr63/explanation_of_speedrunning/) ["Nintendo's cracking down on speedrunning and ROM hacking videos"](https://www.destructoid.com/nintendo-s-cracking-down-on-speedrunning-and-rom-hacking-videos-310152.phtml) ["Mario betrays some of his most devoted fans with new youtube copyright claims"](http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/nintendo-targets-speedrunners-with-youtube-copyright-claims/) ["Nintendo Creators Program Information"](http://en-americas- support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13259/~/nintendo-creators-program-information) ["Speedrun - TV Tropes"](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Speedrun) ["12 Little-Known Gaming Trivia Facts You Won't Believe"](http://whatculture.com/gaming/12-little-known-gaming-trivia-facts-you-wont-believe?page=12) ["List of Super Mario speedrunning records"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Super_Mario_speedrunning_records#Super_Mario_World) ["What GDQ is and why that's ok - Reddit"](https://www.reddit.com/r/speedrun/comments/34gfd6/what_gdq_is_and_why_thats_ok/) ["Controversies in speedrunning"](https://speedrunninganditsimpact.wordpress.com/24-2/) ["Why Speedrunners Use Glitches"](http://kotaku.com/why-speedruners-use-glitches-1582919382) ["What is a speedrun"](https://kb.speeddemosarchive.com/What_is_a_speedrun%3F) ["Hey longtime runners and fans! What do you miss"](https://www.reddit.com/r/speedrun/comments/3xognd/hey_longtime_runners_and_fans_what_do_you_miss/) Credits Music: Al this week's music is provided by our very own G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Samus Aran"](https://thenounproject.com/term/samus-aran/711160) by [Gabriel Weller](https://thenounproject.com/ezay56789) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#13 - Star Wars Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 21:00:00 +0000

It's a new season, and what better than to draw parallels to our first season by talking about Star Wars fans! What do you call Star Wars fans? Is there really a big difference between them and Star Trek fans? How have they kept fans interested in the 40 years of Star Wars?? May the force be with you on this week's episode! Everyone's a fan! Want to see more awesome fandom content? [Become a Patron on Patreon!](http://patreon.com/thenickscast) Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:07 - Theme Song 00:00 - Introduction 01:27 - Who are Star Wars Fans? 03:34 - Trivia 20:06 - Why are people fans of Star Wars? 38:36 - Gender segregation in (Star Wars) Fandom 44:09 - Fans of the week 56:07 - Spotlight: [The 501st Legion!](http://www.501st.com/) 59:32 - Where can I learn more about Fanthropological / The Nickscast 1:01:19 - Outtakes Citations ["Meet the Star Wars Fans Who Lined Up Two Weeks Before the Premiere"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuVrWbc9ijo) ["Why we love Star Wars: an explainer for 'normal' people"](http://www.wired.co.uk/article/why-i-love-star-wars-explained) ["People Watch Star Wars For The First Time | Syfy Wire"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BVxK0GUpWI) ["I watched all 6 'Star Wars' films for the first time, in one sitting"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ni7mxRCBrA) ["STAR WARS subreddit, I need your help! Why do you love STAR WARS?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWars/comments/34agxp/star_wars_subreddit_i_need_your_help_why_do_you/) ["This Is What It's Like To Watch Star Wars For The First Time"](https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWars/comments/34agxp/star_wars_subreddit_i_need_your_help_why_do_you/) ["'I Got Emotional Reading This': Diego Luna Shares Touching 'Star Wars' Fan Tribute to Importance of Diversity"](http://ktla.com/2017/01/04/i-got-emotional-reading-this-diego-luna-shares- touching-star-wars-fan-tribute-to-importance-of-diversity/) ["An Unofficial 'Star Wars' Convention in England Was Incredibly Depressing"](https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/people-are-really-mad-at-an-unofficial-star-wars-convention-because-dreams-are-very-foolish-109) ["Carrie Fisher's Unsung Legacy"](http://legit-writing-tips.tumblr.com/post/155032253840/carrie-fishers-unsung-legacy) ["Culture Wars"](https://thewalrus.ca/culture-wars/) ["Fanlore - Don't Call Me "Widow""](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Don%27t_Call_Me_%22Widow%22) ["Fans Reconstruct Authentic Version of Star Wars, AS It Was Shown in Theaters in 1977"](http://www.openculture.com/2014/08/fans-reconstruct-authentic-version-of-star-wars.html) ["Hardware Wars: The Mother of All Star Wars Fan Films (and the Most Profitable Short Film Ever Made)"](http://www.openculture.com/2014/06/hardware-wars-the-mother-of-all-star-wars-fan-films.html) ["Hundreds of Fans Collectively Remade Star Wars; Now They remake the Empire Strikes Back"](http://www.openculture.com/2012/10/hundreds_of_fans_collectively_remade_istar_warsi_now_they_remake_ithe_empire_strikes_backi.html) ["Reylo: The 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Fan Fiction Ship Between Rey and Kylo Ren is Popular and Controversial"](http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/03/reylo/471768/) ["Selling the Soul of Star Wars"](http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/09/the-most-soulful-soulless-reboot-of-star-wars-yet/380054/) ["Star Wars Gets Dubbed into Navajo: A Fun Way to Preserve and Teach a Fading Language"](http://www.openculture.com/2013/07/star-wars-gets-dubbed-into-navajo.html) ["The Force of Collecting Star Wars Cards"](http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-star-wars-card-collector-paul-holstein/) ["The Star Wars George Lucas Doesn't Want You To See"](http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/08/the-star-wars-george-lucas-doesnt-want-you-to-see/379184/?single_page=true) ["Thousands of Turkish Students Sign Petition to Build Jedi Temple on University Campus"](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/thousands-of-turkish-students-sign-petition-to-build-jedi-temple-on-university-campus-10161225.html) ["What It Looked Like to be a Star Wars Fan in 1977"](http://time.com/4148344/star-wars-fans-1977/) ["Wikipedia - Cultural Impact of Star Wars"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_impact_of_Star_Wars) ["What should Star Wars fans be called"](https://www.inverse.com/article/9271-what-should-star-wars-fans-be-called) ["Star Trek Fans may be more upscale than Star Trek fans"](http://www.forbes.com/sites/debraborchardt/2016/12/15/star-wars-fans-are-more-upscale-than-star-trek-fans/#1f9f15fe3c9b) ["How to become a star wars fan"](http://www.wikihow.com/Become-a-Star-Wars-Fan) ["Simon Pegg's Blunt Opinion Of Star Wars Prequel Fans"](http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Simon-Pegg-Blunt-Opinion-Star-Wars-Prequel-Fans-93467.html) ["Why does Star Wars have so many passionate fans"](https://www.quora.com/Why-does-Star-Wars-have-so-many-passionate-fans) ["Why do many people identify as a "Star Wars" or a "Star Trek" fan? Does it have to be either/or"](http://screenprism.com/insights/article/why-do-some-people-identify-as-a-star-wars-or-star-trek-fan-does-it-have-to) ["How Female fans made 'Star Wars' their own"](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/movies/how-female-fans-made-star-wars-their-own.html) ["Young Jedi ready for 'Rogue One' with Lowe's help"](https://newsroom.lowes.com/inspiring-people/lowes-helps-young-star-wars-fan/) ["Fanlore - Star Wars"](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Star_Wars) ["Rebellions are built on hope: why rogue one matters now more than ever"](http://www.cbr.com/rebellions-are-built-on-hope-why-rogue-one-matters-now-more-than-ever/) ["Rebellions are built on hope: Rogue One writers share safety pin logo"](http://www.themarysue.com/star-wars-safety-pin/) ["Why we love Star Wars: an explainer for 'normal' people"](http://www.wired.co.uk/article/why-i-love-star-wars-explained) ["Star Trek and Star wars"](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Star_Trek_and_Star_Wars) ["Who Comes With Summer"](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Who_Comes_With_Summer) Credits Music: Al this week's music is provided by our very own G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Darth Vader"](https://thenounproject.com/term/darth-vader/40308) by [ARudmann](https://thenounproject.com/ARudmann) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#12 - Christmas Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 18:33:11 +0000

As we get closer to the new year, the Nickscast explores a seasonal fandom: Christmas fans? Is there really a fandom for Christmas? If so, what is it? What is it about Christmas? Be sure to deck the halls, and settle in (but not for a long winter's nap!) as we get to the 'Why' of Christmas fandom! Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:05 - Theme Song 00:24 - Introduction 02:02 - Who are Christmas Fans? 02:58 - Trivia 17:30 - What is it about Christmas Fans? 39:41 - Fans of the week: Mick Foley on Santa Claus and belief in Christmas magic 53:32 - New year plans for the podcast? 59:08 - Spotlight: [The Internet Archive!](http://archive.org/donate) 1:01:40 - Goodbye! 1:03:18 - Outtakes Citations ["Christmas Fans - Rankings - Anime :: Manga"](http://christmasfans.com/) ["12 Reasons To Be A Christmas Enthusiast"](https://www.theodysseyonline.com/12-reasons-to-be-christmas-enthusiast) ["Confessions Of A Hardcore Christmas Enthusiast | Thought Catalog"](http://thoughtcatalog.com/kathryn-kvas/2014/12/confessions-of-a-hardcore-christmas-enthusiast/) ["The Christmas Enthusiast - Light Knights"](http://lightknights.ca/christmas-enthusiast/) ["About | International Santa Trackers Association"](http://santatrackers.org/about/) ["Christmas junkies call to arms - Christmas Fan Club"](http://www.christmasfanclub.com/forum/christmas/general-christmas-discussion/4955-christmas-junkies-call-to-arms) ["Mick Foley Explains How He Became Santa Claus"](http://www.slate.com/articles/life/holidays/2012/12/becoming_santa_claus_a_pro_wrestler_learns_the_secrets_of_father_christmas.html) ["Why Japan is Obsessed with Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas | Arts & Culture | Smithsonian"](http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/why-japan-is-obsessed-with-kentucky-fried-chicken-on-christmas-1-161666960/) ["Christmas Expo|Learn about holiday lighting"](http://www.christmasexpo.com/) ["Community for Christmas Fanatics - Christmas Fan Club"](http://christmasfanclub.com/) ["Christmas Stay Auction | A Christmas Story House"](http://www.achristmasstoryhouse.com/christmas-stay-auction/) ["r/Christmas: What are Some Christmas Traditions You like to do During the Holidays? Why do you Love Christmas so Much"](https://www.reddit.com/r/christmas/comments/2dafmc/what_are_some_christmas_traditions_you_like_to_do/) ["r/Christmas: Why do You Love Christmas"](https://www.reddit.com/r/christmas/comments/2efr3i/why_do_you_love_christmas/) ["r/Christmas: Why do You Believe in Christmas"](https://www.reddit.com/r/christmas/comments/14t6xf/why_do_you_believe_in_christmas/) ["Reasons Why Christmas is a Terrible Holiday"](https://newrepublic.com/article/115994/reasons-why- christmas-terrible-holiday) ["Madrid Christmas Parade - Los Cerrillos, New Mexico"](http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/madrid-christmas-parade) ["Bronner's Christmas Wonderland - Frankenmuth, Michigan"](http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/bronners-christmas-wonderland) ["Christmas Eve in the Trenches"](http://www.openculture.com/2008/12/christmas_in_the_trenches.html) ["Christopher Hitchens Gets Contrarian on Christmas from the Grave (Plus Some Tom Lehrer)"](http://www.openculture.com/2011/12/christopher_hitchens_gets_contrarian_on_christmas.html) ["Gift Giving Tradtions Around the World in a Handy Infographic"](http://www.openculture.com/2012/12/gift_giving_traditions_around_the_world.html) ["A brief history of the ugly Christmas sweater"](http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/12/22/a-brief-history-of-the-ugly-christmas-sweater/) ["This is the most popular Christmas song ever"](http://time.com/3613551/christmas-song/) Credits Music: _"Carol of the Bells"_ by Mykola Leontovych, performed by Michel Rondeau via [musopen.org](http://musopen.org) used under [CC PL 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode) _"Deck the Halls (brass arr.)(Trad.)"_ performed by Michel Rondeau via [musopen.org](http://musopen.org) used under [CC PL 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode) _"Joy to the World"_ by Lowell Mason, performed by Michel Rondeau via [musopen.org](http://musopen.org) used under [CC PL 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode) Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Christmas Ornament"](https://thenounproject.com/term/christmas-ornaments/715251) by [Made Somewhere](https://thenounproject.com/made.somewhere) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#11 - Coca-Cola Fans

The Nickscast — Sat, 17 Dec 2016 02:35:05 +0000

This week, we take a 0 calorie (but still great taste) break as we talk about Coca-Cola Fans! Who are Coca-Cola Fans? What sets them apart from other collectors? Why do they start? Relax, and enjoy! Also, this episode was not sponsored at all (surprisingly). Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:00 - Cold Open 00:06 - Theme Song 00:26 - Introduction 01:38 - Who are Coca-Cola Fans? 02:44 - Trivia 22:19 - What is it about Coca Cola Fans? 48:08 - Fans of the week 55:48 - Spotlight: [Dani Oliver (Pixel Artist)](http://ahruon.tumblr.com/) 57:39 - Goodbye! 58:54 - Outtakes Citations ["The Coca-Cola Collectors Club - The Coca-Cola Collectors Club"](http://www.cocacolacollectors.club/wp/) ["For collector, 300K things go better with Coca-Cola | Lubbock Online | Lubbock Avalanche-Journal"](http://lubbockonline.com/not-online/2016-10-09/collector-300k-things-go-better-coca-cola#.WBd2Y7vLgVE) ["My Coke collection: 'I love 90s stuff' | Life and style | The Guardian"](https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jul/24/my-coke-collection-i-love-stuff-from-the-90s) ["Bidders 'Taste The Feeling' Of Coca-Cola Advertising"](http://www.antiquesandthearts.com/bidders-taste-the-feelingof-coca-cola-advertising/) ["Going ga-ga for all things Coca-Cola - The Rakyat Post - The Rakyat Post"](http://www.therakyatpost.com/life/2016/05/07/going-ga-ga-for-all-things-coca-cola/) ["Fizzy mood at collectors' fair - Community | The Star Online"](http://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/05/16/fizzy-mood-at-collectors-fair-soft-drinks-80th-anniversary-celebrated-in-malaysia- with-memorabilia-e/) ["LaGrange Daily News | Vanishing Troup: History of the Coke bottle"](http://www.lagrangenews.com/2016/07/16/vanishing-troup-history-of-the-coke-bottle/) ["Coca-Cola Collection"](http://kwqc.com/2016/09/01/coca-cola-collection/) ["A public rant: Diet Coke with Lime : cocacola"](https://www.reddit.com/r/cocacola/comments/4ed43d/a_public_rant_diet_coke_with_lime/) ["Coca-Cola Cookbook | Warehouse of Weird"](https://www.warehouseofweird.co.uk/food-drink/coca-cola-cookbook/) ["10 Strange Coca-Cola Flavors From Around the World"](http://thefw.com/weird-coke-flavors/) [""We only sell Pepsi, is that okay?" : cocacola"](https://www.reddit.com/r/cocacola/comments/46hu7o/we_only_sell_pepsi_is_that_okay/) ["My Coke-Cow | Collectors Weekly"](http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/176612-my-coke-cow?in=92) ["Coca cola swastika ae22 medallion | Collectors Weekly"](http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/154157-coca-cola-swastika-ae22-medallion?in=92) ["Coke Captures Cola Fandom in First-Ever User-Generated Ad"](http://brandchannel.com/2014/05/21/coke-captures-cola-fandom-in-first-ever-user-generated-ad/) ["Starting Your Private Coca-Cola Collection"](http://www.coca-cola.ca/stories/starting-your-private-coca-cola-collection) ["Coca Cola Antiques and Collectibles - Collector Information"](http://www.collectorsweekly.com/coca-cola/overview) ["About Me - Blaine Martin's Guide to Vintage Coca-Cola Memorabilia"](http://earlycoke.com/about-me.html) ["Coca-Cola's Historian and Archivist Talks About His Favorite Frosty Beverage"](http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-coca-cola-historian-and-archivist-phil-mooney/) ["Schmidt Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia - Elizabethtown, Kentucky"](http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/schmidt-museum-of-coca-cola) ["Coca-Cola Auction: Largest Collection of Memorabilia Hits the Block"](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/24/coca-cola-auction_n_1299897.html) ["Coca Cola Inventor's Grave - Columbus, Georgia"](http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/coca-cola-inventors-grave) ["What's It Worth? Collectors Guess the Value of Rare Coke Memorabilia"](http://www.coca-colacompany.com/coca-cola-unbottled/whats-it-worth-collectors-guess-the-value-of-rare-coke-memorabilia) ["The Coca-Cola Collectors Club"](http://www.cocacolacollectors.club/wp/) ["ALWAYS COCA_COLA 1-1 by DarkPharaoh on DeviantArt"](http://www.deviantart.com/art/ALWAYS-COCA-COLA-1-1-20901649) ["Coca-Cola by Ry-Spirit on DeviantArt"](http://ry-spirit.deviantart.com/art/Coca-Cola-244175338) ["For Amarillo Collector, 300K Things Go Better With Coca-Cola"](http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2016-09-29/amarillo-collector-300k-things-go-better-coca-cola) ["San Fran Fizzes Over 'Ghost' Coca-Cola Sign"](http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/san-fran-fizzes-over-ghost-coca-cola-sign/) ["Coca-Cola Collector Explains Why Things Go Better With Coke"](http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-coca-cola-bottle-and- memorabilia-collector-bobby-liao/) ["Coca-Cola Author Doug McCoy on the Beverage Company's Bottles"](http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-coca-cola-bottle-collector-and-author-doug-mccoy/) ["Coca-Cola: Collector Obsessed with the Real Thing"](http://pilotonline.com/life/coca-cola-collector-obsessed-with-the-real-thing/article_53d4b228-29be-5de6-8a1f-c309871bf286.html) ["The Fandom Phenomenon: Winning Over Today's Super Fans"](https://www.spredfast.com/social-marketing-blog/fandom-phenomenon-winning-over-todays-super-fans) ["Guide to the 2015 MTV Fandom Awards and Fan Fest at San Diego Comic-Con"](https://nerdgeist.com/2015/06/30/guide-to-the-2015-mtv-fandom-awards-and-fan-fest-at-san-diego-comic-con/) ["The Claus That Refreshes: Was the modern image of Santa Claus created by the Coca-Cola Company?"](http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/santa/cocacola.asp) ["#OutofOffice: Coke Executive Moonlights as Young Adult Novelist"](http://www.coca- colacompany.com/stories/outofoffice-coke-executive-moonlights-as-young-adult-novelist) ["Coca-Cola: A Meta Symbol?"](https://foodacrossborderz.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/coca-cola-a-meta-symbol/) ["Coke Captures Cola Fandom in First-Ever User-Generated Ad"](http://brandchannel.com/2014/05/21/coke-captures-cola-fandom-in-first-ever-user-generated-ad/) ["The Pitfalls of Relying on Brand Fandom: Part 1"](https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/blog/pitfalls-of-brand-fandom-part-1/) ["Collector Connections: Coca-Cola Unites Fans Worldwide"](http://www.coca-colajourney.com.au/stories/collector-connections-coca-cola-unites-fans-worldwide) ["Coca-Cola fan decks out house in memorabilia: 'I drank a can between Austria and Germany... my lightbulb moment'"](http://www.thesun.ie/irishsol/homepage/news/7216422/Coca-Cola-fan-decks-out-house-in-memorabilia-I-drank-a-can-between-Austria-and-Germany-my-lightbulb-moment.html) ["The Psychology of Collecting - Wikipedia"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology_of_collecting) ["Gaming Fandom Sweeps New York: How Brands Fit Into E-Sports Matches"](http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/league-legends/300073/) Credits Music: All music this week comes via our very own composer, G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Soda"](https://thenounproject.com/term/soda/576204) by [Chanut is Industries](https://thenounproject.com/chanut-is) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Soda Bottle"](https://thenounproject.com/term/soda-bottle/715021) by [Effach](https://thenounproject.com/francois.hardy.359) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#10 - Anglophiles

The Nickscast — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 04:00:35 +0000

This week, we take a small jump across the pond to talk about fans of those dashing Brits: Anglophiles! Who are Anglophiles? Is it just Americans who are Anglophiles? What is the appeal? Stay tuned for a smashing good time! Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:00 - Cold Open 00:08 - Theme Song 00:31 - Introduction 02:06 - Who are Anglophiles? 04:50 - Trivia 09:28 - Why are people Anglophiles? 52:03 - Fans of the week 55:17 - Spotlight: [Watchtower Restaurant KW](http://www.watchtowerrestaurant.com/) and the [Nickscast Youtube](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) 59:12 - Goodbye! 1:00:25 - Outtakes Citations ["What is an Anglophile? - ANGLOPHILES UNITED"](http://www.anglophilesunited.com/what-is-an-anglophile.html) ["Lost in the Pond: Why Are There So Many American Anglophiles? - Anglotopia.net"](http://www.anglotopia.net/anglophilia/lost-in-the-pond-why-are-there-so-many-american-anglophiles/) ["10 Reasons Why This US Dude Loves the English | The Huffington Post"](http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/norm-schriever/10-reasons-why-this-us-guy-loves-the-english_b_3737122.html) ["Why America's Anglophiles Are Missing the Point of the Royal Wedding - TIME"](http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2068118,00.html) ["Is the UK an introvert's paradise? - The Student Room"](https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1605906) ["Separated by a Common Language: accent attitudes"](https://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.ca/2011/06/accent-attitudes.html) ["Anglophilia: Anglophile Problems That We Have to Accept - Anglotopia.net"](http://www.anglotopia.net/anglophilia/anglophilia-anglophile-problems-that-we-have-to-accept/) ["Wikipedia - Anglophile"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglophile) ["Anglophones United"](http://www.anglophilesunited.com/) ["25 Signs You're an Anglophile"](https://www.buzzfeed.com/keelyflaherty/signs-youre-an-anglophile?utm_term=.plKnNk0Rn#.hf3veZQDv) ["Lost in the Pond: Why Are There so Many American Anglophiles"](http://www.anglotopia.net/anglophilia/lost-in-the-pond-why-are-there-so-many-american-anglophiles/) ["Confessions of an Anglophile"](http://landlopers.com/2011/02/09/confessions-anglophile) ["Reddit - Brits of Reddit, How Long Would an Anglophile Last in the UK"](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/3azxzm/brits_of_reddit_how_long_would_an_anglophile_last/) ["Reddit - What Do You Think of Anglophiles"](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/28p7r1/what_do_you_think_of_anglophiles/) ["Reddit - What Are Your Thoughts on Anglophilia and Anglophiles"](https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/comments/4h30hq/what_are_your_thoughts_on_anglophilia_and/) ["Wikipedia - Paris Syndrome"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome) ["Anglicon 2017 ― Christmas in Whoville"](http://anglicon.com/) ["TV Tropes - Foreign Culture Fetish"](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ForeignCultureFetish) ["Know your meme - Anglophiles"](http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/subcultures/anglophile) ["Professor Elemental's "I'm British""](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkF_XpA5P48) ["Mr. B The Gentleman Rhymer's "Straight Out of Surrey""](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj7J7vXCf5w) ["Lost in the Pond: Why are there so many American Anglophiles"](http://www.anglotopia.net/anglophilia/lost-in-the-pond-why-are-there-so-many-american-anglophiles/) ["Why Anglophilia"](https://americananglophile.wordpress.com/why-anglophilia/) ["The Mystery of Stephen Harper's Anglophilia"](https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2012/09/27/the_mystery_of_stephen_harpers_anglophilia.html) ["The New Anglophilia: How the Brits Are Colonizing Our Telly"](http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/06/new-anglophilia-how-brits-are-colonizing-our-telly/327018/) ["Dubbing and Anglophilia: Doctor Who in South Korea"](http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/imr/2013/12/18/dubbing-and-anglophilia-doctor-who-south-korea) ["An Open Letter to Fangirls on Anglophilia"](http://thelearnedfangirl.com/2013/07/an-open-letter-to-fangirls-about-anglophilia/) Credits Music: Pomp and Circumstance, March No 1 by Edward Elgar performed by the Eastern Wind Symphony via [musopen.org](http://musopen.org) Abeldazer - II. Rondeau by Henry Purcell performed by Philip Adler via [musopen.org](http://musopen.org) Mars, the Bringer of War by Gustav Holst performed by the US Air Force Band via [musopen.org](http://musopen.org) Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["United Kingdom"](https://thenounproject.com/term/united-kingdom/628430) by [Nikita Kozin](https://thenounproject.com/kozinn) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#9 - Steampunks

The Nickscast — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 21:53:31 +0000

Do you have your your goggles fastened? Are your firmly seated on your velocipede or dirigible? Tune in over the wireless as we talk about Steampunks! What is Steampunk (and is it over)? Who are they and what makes them... tick? Stay tuned (as we stoke the coals)! Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:00 - Cold Open 00:05 - Theme Song 00:25 - Introduction 01:10 - Who are Steampunks? What is Steampunk? 03:31 - Trivia 09:42 - Why Steampunk? 1:03:38 - Spotlight: [Soulless](http://yenpress.com/soulless/) and [Girl Genius](http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/) 1:06:17 - Goodbye! 1:07:40 - Outtakes Citations "Steampunk = Mad Scientist Inventor [invention(steam x airship or metal man/baroque stylings) x (pseudo) Victorian setting] + progressive or reactionary politics x adventure plot" -Jeff Vandermeer, The Steampunk Bible ["Steampunk - Fanlore"](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Steampunk) ["Beyond Victoriana | A Multicultural Perspective on Steampunk"](https://beyondvictoriana.com/) ["Airship Ambassador »"](http://www.airshipambassador.com/) ["What is Steampunk, and is it over?"](http://www.themarysue.com/what-is-steampunk-and-is-it-over/) ["What the hell is Steampunk?"](http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/william-higham/steampunk-what-the-hell-is-it_b_1015192.html) ["An Anthropological Perspective of the Steampunk Culture"](https://www.academia.edu/6727453/Steam_Culture_An_Anthropological_Perspective_of_the_Steampunk_Subculture) ["Steampunk: Reimagining Trash and Technology"](http://blog.castac.org/2013/08/steampunk-reimagining-trash-and-technology/) ["Does Steampunk have an ideology?"](http://drupagliassotti.com/2009/02/13/does-steampunk-have-an-ideology/) ["Does Steampunk have politics?"](http://drupagliassotti.com/2009/02/11/does-steampunk-have-politics/) ["Glue some gears on it (and call it Steampunk)"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFCuE5rHbPA) ["Wikipedia - Steampunk"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steampunk) ["Oxford Dictionaries - Steampunk"](http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/steampunk) ["Steampunk Moves Between 2 Worlds"](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/08/fashion/08PUNK.html) ["K.W. Jeter's Letter to Locus"](http://i.imgur.com/M7ema1o.png) ["Crafting Yesterday's Tomorrows: RetroFuturism, Steampunk, and the Problem of Making in the Twenty-First Century"](http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.2752/174967714X14111311182767) ["Steam Dream"](http://thephoenix.com//Boston/Life/61571-Steam-dream/) ["Steampunk Preppers.."](https://www.gunandgame.com/threads/steampunk-preppers.146495/) Vintage Tomorrows, Dir. Byrd McDonald (Netflix), 2015 Steampunk'd (Documentary), 2015, Game Show Network Credits Music: All music this week is courtesy of our very own, Nick G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Steampunk"](https://thenounproject.com/term/steampunk/203055) by[Imangalieva Luiza](https://thenounproject.com/mangoluiza) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Gears"](https://thenounproject.com/term/gears/661364) by[David](https://thenounproject.com/kaxgyatso) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#8 - Esperantists

The Nickscast — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 23:29:43 +0000

We take a departure from the ordinary as we get a bit more international, and talk about the "fandom" of this week: Esperantists! What is Esperanto? Are speakers of a language "fans"? What is its appeal and how did its followers come to be? Stay tuned for an educational episode! Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:00 - Cold Open (Esperanto???) 00:07 - Theme Song 00:29 - Introduction (Esperanto???) 00:56 - Introduction (English) 01:20 - Who are Esperantists? What _is_ Esperanto?! 41:30 - Fans of the week 47:16 - Spotlight: [Springboard to Languages](http://www.springboard2languages.org) 50:46 - Goodbye! 52:03 - Outtakes Citations ["The Joy of Esperanto - The Daily Beast"](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/10/30/the-joy-of-esperanto.html) ["The Serious History Behind Esperanto | TIME"](http://time.com/4417809/esperanto-history-invention/) ["Esperanto: the language that never was | Prospect Magazine"](http://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/the-language-that-never-was-esperanto-languages) ["The Secret Jewish History of Esperanto - Culture - Forward.com"](http://forward.com/culture/348344/the-secret-jewish-history-of-esperanto/) ["Regina home to smallest Esperanto language club in Canada - Saskatchewan - CBC News"](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/esperanto-language-canada-smallest-club-regina-1.3557994) ["Esther Schor's Bridge of Words, reviewed."](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2016/10/esther_schor_s_bridge_of_words_reviewed.html) ["Springboard… to Languages - an innovative introduction to language learning for KS1 and KS2"](http://www.springboard2languages.org/) ["Pasporta Servo - Wikipedia"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasporta_Servo) ["Learn Esperanto first: Tim Morley at TEDxGranta - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gSAkUOElsg) ["paculo comments on Why learn Esperanto?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/Esperanto/comments/4ujrc4/why_learn_esperanto/d5qccpg/) ["Adventures in Esperanto - Finding Esperanto's little quirks"](https://adventuresinesperanto.wordpress.com/) ["Wikipedia - Esperanto"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto) ["The Secret Language of George Soros"](http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-arts-and-culture/books/216065/secret-language-of-george-soros) ["The Joy of Esperanto"](http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/10/30/the-joy-of-esperanto.html) ["The Hidden Perverse Effects of the Current System"](http://claudepiron.free.fr/articlesenanglais/effects.htm) ["Esperanto in China Faces Uncertain Future"](http://www.china.org.cn/china/2016-07/26/content_38959660.htm) ["Parolas Esperanton? Esperanto Language still has Appeal in Brazil"](http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/national/article99066207.html) ["Johnson: Simple, Logical and Doomed"](http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2013/09/esperanto-0) ["Are there any esperantization movements - Reddit"](https://www.reddit.com/r/Esperanto/comments/3xx6xx/are_there_any_esperantization_movements/) ["Gufujo - Wikipedia"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gufujo) ["Oomoto - Wikipedia"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oomoto) ["Esperanto Culture - Wikipedia"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto_culture) ["Esperantido"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperantido) ["Esperanto Stack Exchange"](http://esperanto.stackexchange.com/) Credits Music: "Tarantelle, Op. 43" by Frederic Chopin, played by Olga Gurevich "Polonaise in F sharp minor" by Frederic Chopin, played by Olga Gurevich "Fantaisie, Op. 49" by Frederic Chopin, played by Olga Gurevich Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Speech Bubbles"](https://thenounproject.com/term/speech-bubbles/711323) by[iconosphere](https://thenounproject.com/iconsphere) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#7 - Potterheads

The Nickscast — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 21:50:04 +0000

You'd best _Accio Seat_ for this episode, as we enter the wizarding world of Harry Potter fandom and talk about Potterheads! What's it like growing up along side the object of fandom? Is Young Adult (YA) just for kids? Why do people of all ages love Harry Potter? Whether you're Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin, you won't need a Nimbus 2001 to catch this week's episode! Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:00 - Cold Open 00:04 - Theme Song 00:31 - Introduction 01:22 - Who are Potterheads? 02:10 - Trivia 21:00 - The work and the fans growing up together 36:35 - YA on the rise and Harry Potter fandom 56:16 - Fans of the week 61:58 - Spotlight: [Harry Potter Alliance](http://www.thehpalliance.org/) & [GeekyCon](http://www.geekycon.com/) 66:19 - Goodbye! Citations ["Political Scholar Studies the Harry Potter Generation"](http://www.metronews.ca/entertainment/2013/08/18/political-scholar-studies-the-harry-potter-generation.html) ["Harry Potter Did Help Shape the Political Culture of a Generation"](http://theconversation.com/harry-potter-did-help-shape-the-political-culture-of-a-generation-29513) ["The Times Plans a Children's Best-Seller List"](http://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/24/books/the-times-plans-a-children-s-best-seller-list.html) ["Warner Brothers' Bullying Ruins Field Family Xmas"](http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/12/21/warner_brothers_bullying_ruins_field/) ["Warner Bros backs down on Harry Potter Web Site"](http://www.theregister.co.uk/2000/12/15/warner_bros_backs_down/) ["Grave of Real Life Harry Potter Killed 71 Years Ago: A Tourist Attraction for Fans"](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1333853/Grave-real-life-Harry-Potter-killed-71-years-ago-A-tourist-attraction-fans.html#ixzz4FKfqbxL3) ["AU Lily and Snape by julvett on DeviantArt"](http://julvett.deviantart.com/art/AU-Lily-and-Snape-318542315) ["Hogwarts Student Maker by Hapuriainen on DeviantArt"](http://hapuriainen.deviantart.com/art/Hogwarts-student-maker-302435099) ["How Ginny Should Have Looked by viria13 on DeviantArt"](http://burdge.deviantart.com/art/how-Ginny-should-have-looked-269991758) ["Harry Potter Chibis + Quotes by ShadowSeason on DeviantArt"](http://shadowseason.deviantart.com/art/Harry-Potter-Chibis-Quotes-243928228) ["#6 Polyjuice Potion y Picolo-kun on DeviantArt"](http://picolo-kun.deviantart.com/art/6-Polyjuice-Potion-565044947) ["Harry Potter and the Childish Adult"](http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/07/opinion/harry-potter-and-the-childish-adult.html) ["The New Powers That Be: Harry Potter, the Triumph of Fandom, and the Future of Creativity"](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_next_20/2016/09/online_harry_potter_fans_transformed_what_it_means_to_love_a_story.html) ["Pottermania: Harry Potter Tourism, Where the Pilgrims are Adults and the Books are a Religion"](http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/roiphe/2013/05/harry_potter_tourism_a_religion_for_young_adults.html) ["Hogwarts Is Here"](http://www.hogwartsishere.com/) ["Fans are leaving heartfelt notes in Harry Potter books"](http://www.themarysue.com/potter-it-forward/) ["Harry Potter Fans Won A Four-Year Fight Against Child Slavery-Produced Chocolate"](http://www.themarysue.com/harry-potter-fans-chocolate/) ["From Young Adult Book Fans to Wizards of Change"](http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/from-young-adult-book-fans-to-wizards-of-change/?_r=1) ["How Harry Potter shaped a generation"](http://boingboing.net/2014/07/23/how-harry-potter-shaped-a-gene.html) ["Fanlore: Harry Potter"](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Harry_Potter) ["How Harry Potter Changed Publishing"](http://io9.gizmodo.com/5821271/how-harry-potter-changed-publishing) ["The New Powers That Be"](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_next_20/2016/09/online_harry_potter_fans_transformed_what_it_means_to_love_a_story.html) ["Is Harry Potter classic children's literature?"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/college-inc/post/is-harry-potter-classic-childrens-literature/2011/07/16/gIQA0RS1HI_blog.html) ["The five levels of YA fiction fandom"](https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/apr/13/the-five-levels-of-ya-fandom-ya-fiction-hunger-games) ["Read whatever the hell you want: why we need a new way of talking about young adult literature"](http://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2014/10/read-whatever-hell-you-want-why-we-need-new-way-talking-about-young-adult-literature) ["Children's and Young Adult Books: Why is it okay to be a Harry Potter fan but not a Twilight fan?"](https://www.quora.com/Childrens-and-Young-Adult-Books-Why-is-it-okay-to-be-a-Harry-Potter-fan-but-not-a-Twilight-fan) ["#PotterItForward"](https://twitter.com/MuggleNet/status/772229322019069952) ["Make Harry Potter even nerdier with detailed stats on all the series' spells * Great Job, Internet! * The A.V. Club"](http://www.avclub.com/article/make-harry-potter-even-nerdier-detailed-stats-all--244582) ["Harry Potter fandom - Wikipedia"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_fandom) ["MuggleNet - The World's #1 Harry Potter Site"](http://www.mugglenet.com/) ["Types of Harry Potter Fans | POPSUGAR Entertainment"](http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Types-Harry-Potter-Fans-35370029#photo-35370029) ["Online Harry Potter fans transformed what it means to love a story."](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/the_next_20/2016/09/online_harry_potter_fans_transformed_what_it_means_to_love_a_story.html) ["A Harry Potter fan has called out JK Rowling in the best way possible"](http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13896504.A_Harry_Potter_fan_has_called_out_JK_Rowling_in_the_best_way_possible/) ["Religions | Free Full-Text | 'Snapewives' and 'Snapeism': A Fiction-Based Religion within the Harry Potter Fandom"](http://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/5/1/219) ["Potter sites wild about Harry | Toronto Star"](https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2007/04/11/potter_sites_wild_about_harry.html) ["Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality, Chapter 1: A Day of Very Low Probability"](http://hpmor.com/chapter/1) ["Petrosexuals | News Stories | St. Louis News and Events | Riverfront Times"](http://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/petrosexuals/Content?oid=2456373) Credits Music: "The Carnival of the Animals - VII. Aquarium" by by Camille Saint-Saens, performed by the Seattle Youth Symphony (solos performed by Markus Staab on the piano) Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Harry Potter"](https://thenounproject.com/term/harry-potter/7729) by [Ryan Thomas Noll](https://thenounproject.com/rtnoll) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#6 - Bruce Campbell Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 19:11:04 +0000

If chins could kill, you'd want to watch out for fans of this week's topic: Bruce Campbell Are fans of Bruce Campbell distinct from similar fandoms (e.g. Evil Dead, Horror)? What makes them special? Does Bruce Campbell do a better job with fanalysis that we do?! Good. Bad. We're the one's with this week's episode. Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:00 - Cold Open 00:06 - Theme Song 00:26 - Introduction 02:01 - Who are Bruce Campbell fans? 04:25 - Trivia 16:05 - Is Bruce Campbell fandom a thing (vs Evil Dead)? 30:02 - Does celebrity fandoms exist (through the lens of Bruce Campbell)? 36:06 - So, what is it about Bruce Campbell then?? 46:32 - Fans of the week 52:19 - Spotlight: [Anime Feminist](http://www.animefeminist.com/) 56:08 - Goodbye! 57:32 - Outtakes Citations ["'Ash vs Evil Dead' star Bruce Campbell reveals weird fan gift - Business Insider"](http://www.businessinsider.com/ash-vs-evil-dead-star-bruce-campbell-reveals-weird-fan-gift-2015-10) ["Bruce Campbell on How the Fans Brought 'Ash vs. Evil Dead' to Life"](http://variety.com/video/ash-vs-evil-dead-bruce-campbell-starz-tv-show/) ["I'm Bruce Campbell. I'm back. Ask Me Anything. : IAmA"](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3saj8z/im_bruce_campbell_im_back_ask_me_anything/) ["Fans Call For Bruce Campbell As Mysterio In 'Spider-Man 4' - MTV"](http://www.mtv.com/news/2595331/fans-call-for-bruce-campbell-as-mysterio-in-spider-man-4/) ["LAST FAN STANDING Episode 1 FREE on CONtv - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I2R65bUmvY) ["Fanalysis"](http://www.bruce-campbell.com/product.asp?specific=199) ["Bruce Campbell - Encyclopedia Dramatica"](https://encyclopediadramatica.se/Bruce_Campbell) ["Help Bruce Campbell fund the Last Fan Standing - Kickstarter"](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1774323088/help-bruce-campbell-fund-the-last-fan-standing/description) ["Hail to the King: Bruce Campbell on Fandom - Kickstarter"](https://medium.com/kickstarter/hail-to-the-king-92c2e2a92a35) ["Cult hero Bruce Campbell has fun with Fan Expo - The Toronto Star"](https://www.thestar.com/amp/entertainment/2009/08/29/cult_hero_bruce_campbell_has_fun_with_fan_expo.html) ["Bruce Campbell and Lucy Lawless talk about Comic Con and the difference between their fans - AOL"](http://build.aol.com/video/57f5893fc7480e39fd58fca0/) ["Strong Lineup Kicks Off First Edition of Bruce Campbell's Horror Film Fest in Chicago"](http://www.fangoria.com/new/strong-lineup-kicks-off-first-edition-of-bruce-campbells-horror-film-fest-in-chicago/) ["Bruce Campbell's Horror Film Festival: Special Groovy Report"](http://www.ew.com/article/2016/08/22/bruce-campbell-horror-film-festival) ["Bruce Campbell Interview: Evil Dead, Being Ordained, Making Bombs"](http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/25111/bruce-campbell-interview-evil-dead-being-ordained-making-bombs) ["Bruce Campbell Fan Page (Facebook)"](https://www.facebook.com/Bruce-Campbell-Fan-Page-207086332659072/) ["Deadite Hills Retirement Home (Nostalgia Thread)"](http://www.deadites.net/forums/showthread.php?tid=375) ["Books Bound in Human Skin... (Thread)"](http://www.deadites.net/forums/showthread.php?tid=300) ["I'm Bruce Campbell. I'm back. Ask Me Anything"](https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3saj8z/im_bruce_campbell_im_back_ask_me_anything/) ["Bruce Campbell Talks Trump and Personal Legacy"](http://www.vulture.com/2016/10/bruce-campbell-talks-trump-and-personal-legacy.html?mid=twitter_vulture) ["Change.org: Nicolas Cage take me to prom"](https://www.change.org/p/nicolas-cage-take-me-to-prom) Credits Music: All music this week comes from our very own co-host (and in-house composer), G! Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) Derivative of ["Man"](https://thenounproject.com/term/man/222647/) by [Simon Child](https://thenounproject.com/Simon%20Child) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) Derivative of ["Man"](https://thenounproject.com/term/man/222652/) by [Simon Child](https://thenounproject.com/Simon%20Child) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#5 - Moonies

The Nickscast — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 06:57:01 +0000

Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight, never running from a real fight, they are the fans of Sailor Moon: Moonies! Why was Sailor Moon so influential in its time? Why has it endured as long as it has? And for that matter, what was it like being a fan in the 90s? In this week's episode, we fight in the name of love and justice... stay tuned! Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:00 - Cold Open 00:06 - Theme Song 00:26 - Introduction 00:56 - Who are Moonies? 02:59 - Trivia (Yes, we had a lot this time!) 40:42 - Feminism, Femininity and Fandom 64:19 - Community Posts 68:20 - Spotlight: [Sailor Moon Screenshots Redraw](https://www.tumblr.com/search/sailor%20moon%20screenshot%20redraw) and [Moon Animate Make-Up!](https://www.facebook.com/moonanimate) 74:36 - Goodbye! 75:43 - Outtakes Citations [Official Sailor Moon Fan Club Finally Opening to Fans Overseas](http://otakumode.com/news/57dc92c1473fd73969f9f755/Official-Sailor-Moon-Fan-Club-Finally-Opening-to-Fans-Overseas!) [Saying No To "The Other Name" - We Want Serena!](http://www.wewantserena.com/saying-no-to-the-other-name.html) [Sailor Moon Fans Are the Best People on Earth | VICE | Canada](http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/why-sailor-moon-fans) [Male Sailor Moon fans - It Just Bugs Me!](https://itjustbugsme.com/forums/discussion/530/male-sailor-moon-fans) [Sailor Moon reboot far from magical | The Sheridan Sun](http://thesheridansun.ca/blog/2016/04/01/sailor-moon-reboot-far-from-magical/) [Sailor Moon Crystal Failures](http://sailormooncrystalfailures.tumblr.com/) [THEM Anime Reviews 4.0 - Sailor Moon](http://www.themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=405) [The Comics Journal: Essays](https://web.archive.org/web/20080531153057/http://www.tcj.com/269/e_own1.html) [How 'Sailor Moon' Fandom Became a Refuge for 90s Queer Kids | VICE | Canada](http://www.vice.com/en_ca/video/american-obsessions-sailor-moon-queer-indentity) [Sailor Moon: Fanlore](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Sailor_Moon) [What I learned about gender and power from Sailor Moon](https://bitchmedia.org/post/what-i-learned-about-gender-and-power-from-sailor-moon) [7 Authors who wrote fanfiction because its actually the best](https://www.bustle.com/articles/160939-7-authors-who-wrote-fanfiction-because-its-actually-the-best) [List of Sailor Moon Soundtracks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sailor_Moon_soundtracks#Sailor_Moon_-_Songs_from_the_Hit_TV_Series) [What is a Moonie Code?](http://www.tuxedounmasked.com/2016/01/08/what-is-a-moonie-code/) [Ballet-fu](http://wikimoon.org/index.php?title=Ballet-fu) [Nerd Royalty #1: Linda Ballantyne on Sailor Moon & Love for Fandom](https://www.espionagecosmetics.com/blogs/community/linda-ballantyne-sailor-moon) [How Sailor Moon Made Me a Feminist](http://www.autostraddle.com/how-sailor-moon-made-me-a- feminist-an-ode-to-magical-girl-shows-177393/) [Frill Clad Warriors of Justice and Girl Power](https://theafictionado.wordpress.com/2013/05/16/frill-clad-warriors-of-justice-and-girl-power/) [Women, men, and feminist works part 3: Sailor Moon is serious business the blog](http://ladyloveandjustice.tumblr.com/post/34249014343/women-men-and-feminist-works-part-3-sailor-moon) [The Feminism of Sailor Moon](https://bitchmedia.org/post/the-feminism-of-sailor-moon) [Why Sailor Moon is one of the greatest feminist stories ever](http://theabsolutemag.com/26731/longreads/why-sailor-moon-is-one-of-the-greatest-feminist-stories-ever/) [The return of Sailor Moon](http://boingboing.net/2014/05/07/the-return-of-sailor-moon.html) [Homosexuality in Sailor Moon](http://wikimoon.org/index.php?title=Homosexuality_in_Sailor_Moon) [Alt.fan.sailor-moon](http://wikimoon.org/index.php?title=Alt.fan.sailor-moon) [A Ridiculously Comprehensive History of Sailor Moon, Part 3: Tales from Fandom](http://www.themarysue.com/sailor-moon-history-part-3/) [Sailor Stars Fan Dub](http://starsfandub.com/) [She is the one called Takeuchi Naoko](https://web.archive.org/web/20090221051150/http://www.ex.org/3.6/13-feature_takeuchi.html) [Sailormoon: Manga (Comics) and Anime (Cartoon) Superheroine Meets Barbie: Global Entertainment Commodity Comes to the United States](https://web.archive.org/web/20120617030124/http://www.yorku.ca/jjenson/4303/readings/comics/sailormoon.pdf) [Our Cultural Heritage Faces Another Threat](http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-03-28/lifestyle/9503240962_1_morphin-power-rangers-sailor-moon-mighty-morphin) [Sailor Moon 101: Pretty, Powerful, and Pure of Heart](http://www.mtv.com/news/2621750/sailor-moon-101-pretty-powerful-and-pure-of-heart/) ['SAILOR MOON' FANS EAGER FOR REVIVAL](http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/16995/sailor-moon-fans-eager-revival) [Moon Chase](http://www.moon-chase.com/) [Toronto Sailor Moon Celebration](http://sailormooncelebration.com/faq) [Fans Sending an SOS for 'Sailor'](http://articles.latimes.com/print/1996-06-19/entertainment/ca-16327_1_sailor-moon) [She's Got Her Own Thing Now](https://web.archive.org/web/20080531153057/http://www.tcj.com/269/e_own1.html) [Sailing the Internet It's a treasure trove of trivia for Sailor 'Moonies'](http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/doc/437515836.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:&type=current&date=&author=&pub=&edition=&startpage=&desc=) [Grrrl Power: Why Female Superheroes Matter](http://www.popmythology.com/grrrl-power-why-female-superheroes-matter/) [Moon Prism Power! Why Sailor Moon is the Perfect Female Superhero](https://web.archive.org/web/20140223101605/http://leslieirl.com/2013/10/17/moon-prism-power-why-sailor-moon-is-the-perfect-female-superhero/) [Can Sailor Moon Break Up the Superhero Boys Club](http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/09/can-sailor-moon-break-up-the-superhero-boys-club/244648/) [Sailor Moon Fan Club to Open to Overseas Members, Adorable Merchandise Assured](http://www.idigitaltimes.com/sailor-moon-fan-club-open-overseas-members-adorable-merchandise-assured-557663) ['Sailor Moon' Tribute Orchestra Fundraises New Album](http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/press-release/2016-09-22/sailor-moon-tribute-orchestra-fundraises-new-album/.106749) [Sera Symphony](http://www.serasymphony.com/) [Save Our Sailors (SOS) Campaign Headquarters](http://www.saveoursailors.org/) ["In My High Heels, I Will Punish You": The Cultural Importance of Gender Representation in Sailor Moon](https://adventuresofcomicbookgirl.wordpress.com/2013/05/01/in-my-high-heels-i-will-punish-you/) Credits Music: The Wand of Youth Suite, No 1 by Edward Elgar, performed by Steve's Bedroom Band (via [musopen.org](http://musopen.org)) Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Moon"](https://thenounproject.com/term/moon/620894) by [Icons Bazaar](https://thenounproject.com/iconsbazaar89) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Eyes"](https://thenounproject.com/term/eyes/645424) by [MAXICAT](https://thenounproject.com/maxicat) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#4 - Twilighters

The Nickscast — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 08:41:23 +0000

Love them or hate them, they have definitely been a very visible and vocal fandom, even in the mainstream. This week, we're talking about fans of the Twilight movies and books: Twilighters. What happens when fandoms hit the mainstream? What's the backlash like? What was it that allowed the franchise to connect people across different generations? We cunningly avoid taking sides, and instead focus in on what defines Twilight fans. Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com)Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:00 – Cold Open 00:04 – Theme Song 00:29 – Introduction 01:03 – Who are the Twilighters? 05:07 – Trivia 19:07 – When fandom hits the mainstream 43:13 – Cross-generational fandom 57:57 – Community Post 61:12 – Spotlight: [Her Eternal Moonlight](http://hereternalmoonlight.com) 63:52 – Goodbye! 65:00 – Outtakes Citations ["Tree Graveyard – Forks, Washington"](http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tree-graveyard) ["Awesome Places (Arguably) Ruined By Popular Books"](http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/awesome-places-arguably-ruined-by-popular-books) ["Twilight | Forks Washington Chamber of Commerce"](http://forkswa.com/twilight/) ["Teen 'Twilight' Vampire Tourism: Volterra's Battle for Authenticity"](http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/teen-twilight-vampire-tourism-volterra-s-battle-for-authenticity-a-690073.html ) ["Forever Twilight in Forks"](http://forkswa.com/forevertwilightinforks/) ["Crazy Twilight Fans"](http://oddculture.com/crazy-twilight-fans/) ["When 'Twilight' Fandom Becomes Addiction"](http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/27/entertainment/la-ca-twilight-addiction-20100627) ["Stephenie Meyer 'Twilight' Author Q&A 'Austenland' Keri Russell Movie"](http://variety.com/2013/film/news/qa-stephenie-meyer-twilight-author-trades-undead-for-well-bred-in-austenland-1200577471/) ["Midnight Parties to Rage on at Walmart Despite 'Twilight' Ending"](http://variety.com/2013/digital/news/midnight-parties-to-rage-on-at-walmart-despite-twilight-ending-1200001723/) ["Studios Love and Fear Fans"](http://variety.com/2010/film/columns/studios-love-and-fear-fans-1118021212/) ["South Korean Werewolf Romance Eclipses 'Twilight' with 6.5 Million Admissions"](http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-korean-werewolf-romance-eclipses-twilight-396698) ["Twilight fans: No wonder they are called Twihards - Telegraph"](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/9675725/Twilight-fans-No-wonder-they-are-called-Twihards.html) ["Twilight Ruined Comic-Con - YouTube"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbA1a7M7nx0) ["How the Nerds Lost Comic-Con - The Atlantic"](http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2013/07/how-nerds-lost-comic-con/313106/) ["When Comic Con Ruined Twilight – A Look Back At San Diego 2011 - Bleeding Cool Comic Book, Movie, TV News"](http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/07/26/when-comic-con-ruined-twilight-a-look-back-at-san-diego-2011/) ["Is this Comic-Con? Fans debate 'mainstream' panels - CNN.com"](http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/07/22/is.this.comicon/) ["What Belongs at Comic-Con and who decides?"](http://thestake.org/2013/08/16/what-belongs-at-comic-con-and-who-decides/) ["Twilight - Fanlore"](https://fanlore.org/wiki/Twilight) ["The Twilight Fandom Has Very Strong Feelings About the New Gender-Swapped Novel"](http://www.eonline.com/ca/news/703589/the-twilight-fandom-has-very-strong-feelings-about-the-new-gender-swapped-novel) ["Twilight Fandom - Wikipedia"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_fandom) ["How fangirls changed the future of publishing"](http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/10789/twilight-fandom-publishing-motu/) ["The Twilighters Are Mad, And They're Not Going To Take Our Crap Anymore"](http://jezebel.com/5343390/the-twilighters-are-mad-and-theyre-not-going- to-take-our-crap-anymore) ["Does Twilight Really Ruin Real-Life Romance?"](http://entertainment.time.com/2012/11/16/does-twilight-really-ruin-real-life-romance/) Credits Music: "Nocturne in C Minor", Frederic Chopin - Diana Hughes "Moonlight Sonata", Ludwig van Beethoven - Paul Pitman "Fur Elise", Ludwig van Beethoven - Simone Renzi Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Apple"](https://thenounproject.com/term/apple/691380) by [Arthur Shlain](https://thenounproject.com/ArtZ91) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Vampire Fangs"](https://thenounproject.com/term/vampire-fangs/600693) by [Artem Kovyazin](https://thenounproject.com/kosmofish) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#3 - Leafs Fans

The Nickscast — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 22:44:48 +0000

Continuing on their journey out of typical fandoms, this week's Fanthropological starts a foray into sports fandom: Toronto Maple Leafs fans! How are Leafs fans different from other hockey fans? From other sports fans? What is it about one of the most losing-est teams in NHL history that draws people to it? We try to unravel the puzzle of this much beloved (and hated?) team and ask: Who are Leafs fans? Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com)Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play00:00 – Cold Open00:10 – Theme Song00:43 – Introduction00:56 – Who are the Toronto Maple Leafs and Leafs fans?02:20 – Trivia14:30 – Loyalty and fandom47:05 – Z Rants: Leafzilla48:48 – Community Post52:32 – Spotlight: [Voices.com](http://www.voices.com/)55:16 – Goodbye!56:23 – Outtakes Citations ["Demographics - Toronto Maple Leafs"](http://www.coremedia.ca/mapleleafs/demographics) ["Ten Most Hated Toronto Maple Leafs of All Time"](http://thehockeywriters.com/ten-most-hated-toronto-maple-leafs-of-all-time/) ["Two Decades of Misery: A Guide to Toronto's Losing Generation"](http://specialreports.torontoobserver.ca/two-decades-of-misery-a-guide-to-torontos-losing-generation/) ["Leafs Fans Charged for Throwing Jerseys on Ice During Play"](http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/leafs-fans-charged-for-throwing-jerseys-on-ice-during-play-1.2197312) ["A history of Leafs fans not getting what they want"](http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/a-history-of-leafs-fans-not-getting-what-they-want/) ["ESPN names Maple Leafs worst franchise in sports - again"](http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/espn-names-maple-leafs-worst-franchise-in-sports-again) ["Toronto Maple Leafs Fan Site! Catch the TML Fever."](http://www.tmlfever.com/) ["The Great NHL Dynasties"](http://thehockeywriters.com/the- great-nhl-dynasties/) ["Waffles fly in protest as Leafs losses pile up"](https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2010/12/22/waffles_fly_in_protest_as_leafs_losses_pile_up.html) ["Empty rinkside seats an insult to Maple Leafs fans"](https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/12/22/empty-rinkside-seats-an-insult-to-maple-leafs-fans.html) ["Greediness of Maple Leafs franchise knows no bounds"](https://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/08/22/greediness_of_maple_leafs_franchise_knows_no_bounds_dimanno.html) ["Survey says, the Toronto Maple Leafs are the country’s most hated hockey team"](http://www.macleans.ca/society/for-canadians-the-toronto-maple-leafs-are-the-most-hated-team-in-the-nhl/) ["Go neurons go! Science explains why it hurts to be a Leafs fan – sports diehards are wired that way"](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/science/go-neurons-go-science-explains-why-it-hurts-to-be-a-leafs-fan-sports-diehards-are-wired-that-way/article15214848/?page=all) ["Habs Fans vs Leafs Fans"](http://thehockeywriters.com/habs-fans-vs-leafs-fans/) ["Message to Maple Leafs: 'Yes, you can lose a fan base'"](https://www.thestar.com/sports/breakaway_blog/2015/03/message-to-maple-leafs--yes-you-can-lose-a-fan-base-.html) ["Why the Leafs can Shock the World and Make the Playoffs"](https://www.reddit.com/r/leafs/comments/54jtbi/why_the_leafs_can_shock_the_world_and_make_the/) ["Superstitions"](https://www.reddit.com/r/leafs/comments/1e5uka/superstitions/) ["Meta Discussion Thread: How Do You Feel about Upvote Parites?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/leafs/comments/2kpdgj/meta_discussion_thread_how_do_you_feel_about/) ["New Leafs Fan Reaction"](https://www.reddit.com/r/leafs/comments/58j0bn/new_leafs_fan_reaction/) ["Leafzilla Invades TO"](http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/12/27/16682691.html) ["HFBoards – NHL Message Board and Forum for National Hockey League"](http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/) ["Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Blog"](http://theleafsnation.com/) ["Leafs Nation – Toronto Maple Leafs"](http://mapleleafs.ice.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=106987) Credits Music: "The Hockey Theme" - Dolores Claman "The Maple Leaf Forever" - The 48th Highlanders of Canada Pipers & Drums "Maple Leaf Rag" - Scott Joplin Logo: ["Glasses"](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/) ["Maple Leaf"](https://thenounproject.com/term/maple-leaf/658626) by [Artem Kovyazin](https://thenounproject.com/kosmofish) used under [CC BY 3.0](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

#2 - Deadheads

The Nickscast — Fri, 14 Oct 2016 18:38:07 +0000

At the Nickscast Fanthropological Institute this week we move away from our wheelhouse and get into a crunchy groove as we dig into an interesting fandom of Americana: Deadheads. In what ways are Deadheads like the modern day fans we've come to know? Which prominent figures also happen to be Deadheads? What's the enduring legacy that Deadheads have contributed to fandom-at-large? We can't answer everything, but we'll try not to noodle around too much as we give a history of deadhead fandom, rap about how it has changed over time, its impact on the world, and, in general, keep on truckin'. Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com)Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play00:00 – Cold Open00:08 – Theme Song00:30 – Introduction01:27 – What is the Grateful Dead and who are Deadheads?02:30 – Trivia19:33 – Communities and subcultures39:20 – "The Vibe" / Fandom as Religion57:52 – Community Comments61:05 – Spotlight: [Forest City Comic Con](http://www.forestcitycomicon.ca/)65:10 – Goodbye! Citations[Official site of the Grateful Dead](http://dead.net/)["'Deadheads are what Liberals Claim to Be But Aren't': An Interview with Ann Coulter."](http://www.jambands.com/features/2006/06/23/deadheads-are-what-liberals-claim-to-be-but-aren-t-an-interview-with-ann-coulter)["'Extreme' Deadheads form Religious Cult."](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19920120&id=6eVLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0IsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=966,1745154&hl=en)["A Long, Staid Trip: How Deadheads Ruined the Grateful Dead."](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2002/08/a_long_staid_trip.html)["COMPANY NEWS - Ben & Jerry's."](http://www.nytimes.com/1987/07/30/business/company-news-ben-jerry-s.html)["Confessions of a Deadhead: 40 Years with the Grateful Dead."](http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/01/confessions-of-a-deadhead-40-years-with-the-grateful-dead.html)["Grateful Dead Donates Archives to UC Santa Cruz."](http://news.ucsc.edu/2008/04/2142.html)["Happiest Hour: Raising the Dead at the Top Hat."](http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/IndyBlog/archives/2014/08/18/happiest-hour-raising-the-dead-at-the-top-hat)["How an Army of Deadheads (and their LSD) Invented Silicon Valley."](https://www.wired.com/2016/04/heads-jesse-jarnow-excerpt/)["How Grateful Dead Fans Became Deadheads."](http://time.com/3919040/history-deadheads/)["Scholarship is Dead: A Profile of Nicholas G. Meriwether, Grateful Dead Archivist, UC Santa Cruz."](https://jamesdmccallister.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/scholarship-is-dead-a-profile-of-nicholas-g-meriwether-grateful-dead-archivist-uc-santa-cruz/)["Spinner Phenomenon."](http://archive.org/post/90523/spinner-phenomenon)["Understanding Counterculture: The World's Biggest Deadhead Visits Austin, Explains the Importance of Preserving the Grateful Dead's Legacy."](http://austin.culturemap.com/news/arts/10-28-11-08-29-one-of-the-worlds-biggest-deadheads-comes-to-austin-to-talk-about-preserving-the-bands-legacy/)["Welcome Wharfrats!"](http://www.wharfrat.org)["Who or What is Dupree's Diamond News?"](http://www.dead.net/features/who-or-what-duprees-diamond-news)["How Grateful Dead Fans Became Deadheads"](http://time.com/3919040/history-deadheads/)["How Deadheads Ruined the Grateful Dead"](http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2002/08/a_long_staid_trip.html)["Deadheads Are What Liberals Claim to Be But Aren't: An Interview With Ann Coulter"](http://www.jambands.com/features/2006/06/23/deadheads-are-what-liberals-claim-to-be-but-aren-t-an-interview-with-ann-coulter)["The Grateful Dead's Followers Broke New Ground in Fandom"](http://www.goldminemag.com/article/the-grateful-deads-devoted-followers-broke-new-ground-in-fandom)["1972 Newsletter"](http://www.gdtstoo.com/deadfile/newsletter.html)["Rock Religion? A Religious Cult That Sprang From the Extreme Fringe of the Grateful Dead's Following is Drawing Critics Who Say Devotees Are Brainwashed"](http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-01-18/features/9201030888_1_dennis-mcnally-jerry-garcia- sect)["Deadhead - Deadheads Through the Years"](http://www.liquisearch.com/deadhead/deadheads_through_the_years)[Official Grateful Dead Forums](http://dead.net/forum)["25th Anniversary of 'Deadheads' Documentary"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYp-A4oopcM)["Bill Walton is psyched to attend his 855th Grateful Dead concert"](http://www.sbnation.com/2015/6/28/8859695/bill-walton-is-psyched-to-attend-his-855th-grateful-dead-concert)["Why Do Conservatives Love The Grateful Dead? We Ask Tucker Carlson"](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/15/grateful-dead-fans_n_7797674.html)["Why Republicans and Millennials Love the Grateful Dead All the Same"](http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-07-02/why-republicans-and-millennials-love-the-grateful-dead-all-the-same) Credits"[Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894)" by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)"[Skull](https://thenounproject.com/term/skull/131074)" by [Andrew Cameron](https://thenounproject.com/CrocodileJock) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)"[Lightning](https://thenounproject.com/term/lightning/331594)" by [Gülce Akdogan](https://thenounproject.com/gulce3) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)"[Dark Star](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftQ0A7SMFuU)" by The Grateful Dead (from the Veneta, OR show on August 27, 1972)

#1 - Trekkies

The Nickscast — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 16:13:56 +0000

We start off Fanthropological with a look at the fans that often get credit for starting it all: Trekkies. Which activist leader loved Star Trek? What did the fans do when the original series ended? How did the first Star Trek conventions get started? We'll answer all of these questions and more as we deliver a history of Star Trek fandom, its key players, and its greatest moments directly to your ears. And be sure to set your phasers to fun! Everyone's a fan! Find more like this: [fanthropological.com](http://fanthropological.com) Find us on social media Twitter: [@thenickscast](http://twitter.com/thenickscast) Instagram: [@thenickscast](http://instagram.com/thenickscast) Facebook: [fb.com/thenickscast](http://fb.com/thenickscast) Youtube: [youtube.com/thenickscast](http://youtube.com/thenickscast) Email us about fandoms you want to hear about: [nick@thenickscast.com](mailto:nick@thenickscast.com) Play-by-play 00:00 – Cold Open 00:05 – Theme Song 00:45 – Introduction 01:05 – What is Star Trek and who are Trekkies? 03:20 – Trivia 17:05 – Special Trivia: Nichelle Nichols and Martin Luther King Jr. 20:55 – History of Star Trek? No, the history of fandom! 37:10 – Who owns a fandom? 50:37 – Community Comments 60:19 – Spotlight: [Starfleet](http://sfi.org) 63:32 – Final Notes 70:28 – Goodbye! 71:30 – Outtakes Citations["Trekker vs Trekkie: The Controversy"](http://www.science-fiction-corner.com/trekker-vs-trekkie.htm)[Memory Alpha](http://memory-alpha.wikia.com)["Secret files reveal police feared that Trekkies could turn on society"](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11611086/Secret-files-reveal-police-feared-that-Trekkies-could-turn-on-society.html)["What are the main differences between Trekkies and Star Wars fans?"](https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-main-differences-between-Trekkies-and-Star-Wars-fans)["What Makes a 'Star Trek' Fan?"](http://www.space.com/33996-star-trek-fans-stories-cosplay-slideshow.html)["On this day in pop culture history Trekkies gather for the first Star Trek convention" ](http://www.hitfix.com/news/on-this-day-in-pop-culture-history-trekkies-gathered-for-the-first-star-trek-convention)["'Star Trek' Fandom Lives Long and Prospers"](http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2016/09/01/star-trek-fandom/85714934/)[Timeline of Star Trek Fandom](http://fanlore.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Star_Trek_Fandom)["A Fragment in Time"](https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7989303/1/A-fragment-in-time)["Star Trek and the Culture of Fandom"](http://www.startrek.com/article/star-trek-and-the-culture-of-fandom)["Bjo Trimble: The Woman Who Saved Star Trek"](http://www.startrek.com/article/bjo-trimble-the-woman-who-saved-star-trek-part-1)["Notes for a Star Trek Bibliography: Fanzines!"](http://www.openlettersmonthly.com/stevereads/2010/08/notes-for-a-star-trek-bibliography-fanzines/)["Why 'Star Trek' was so important to Martin Luther King Jr."](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/09/08/why-star-trek-was-so-important-to-martin-luther-king-jr/)[Where no man has gone before](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_no_man_has_gone_before)[Developer Survey Results 2016](http://stackoverflow.com/research/developer-survey-2016)["'Star Trek' still cruising space on TV"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=a-9VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DuEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6581%2C3716284)["Star Trek Fan Film In Legal Fight With Paramount"](http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Star-Trek-Fan-Film-Legal-Fight-With-Paramount-102997.html)["'Star Trek' Lives Despite Taboos"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QPFOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nQEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7135,2042483&hl=en)["Tampa Bay Rays Tales: Star Trek fan Joe Nelson hopes to pitch long and prosper"](http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-tales-star-trek-fan-joe-nelson-hopes-to-pitch-long-and/997573)["How William Shatner Changed the World - Martin Cooper, mobile phone Inventor"](https://youtu.be/wN-_VA5HFwM)["The Trekkie Fad..."](http://web.archive.org/web/20081029051859/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,917809-1,00.html)[Bob's ART du Jour - "STAR TREK 1978"](http://bobsartdujour.blogspot.ca/2008/12/star-trek-1978.html)["Joan Winston, 'Trek' Superfan Dies at 77"](http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/nyregion/21winston.html)["Marc Okrand on Klingon"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Did-eVQDc) Credits"[Glasses](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894)" by [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)"[Command Insignia](https://thenounproject.com/term/command-insignia/561684)" by [Chris](https://thenounproject.com/allthingschris) used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/)

Welcome to Fanthropological

The Nickscast — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 17:08:53 +0000

Welcome to The Nickscast's new show, Fanthropological! In Fanthropological, The Nickscast crew of G, T, and Z pick a fandom and then talk about it. We'll be talking about Trekkies, Deadheads, Leafs fans, and many many more. Every episode we'll bring you facts and trivia about that episode's fandom, give you a brief history of the fandom, discuss issues in that fandom (and in fandom at large), and share what that fandom's community is saying. New episodes release every Friday. Subscribe to us on [PodBean](http://fanthropological.com "Fanthropological on PodBean"), or add us to your pod catcher of choice (Z recommends Podcast Addict to all you Android users out there!). Thanks for checking out the new show, and remember: Everyone's a fan. The [“Glasses”](https://thenounproject.com/term/glasses/132894) icon featured in the Fanthropological logo is the creation of [Anton Anuchin](https://thenounproject.com/antonwebium) and is used under [CC BY 3.0 US](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/).