Fanationalism

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959

Despite its minuteness, fandom has in its thirty-odd years of existence developed a distinct national spirit similar to the nationalism of modern states. The idea of a national government, covering all the slan race, is seen in many drives for a general fan organization. The idea of a homeland is exemplified in dens, science fiction houses, clubrooms, and finally in the proposed Slan Center and Fantasy Foundation. This dictionary is a work in the national language; another facet of the same thing was the old plugging of Esperanto as Science Fiction's Tung of Tomoro. In the matter of national religion we have Roscoe, plus such things as ghughuism, foofooism, khamsin, etc, but more truly religious is the quest for a Purpose for fandom, and the idea of swearing on your honor as a fan. The fannish idea of the mission of the nation has been satirized in fan fiction about the setting up of a Fantastocracy and the like. Race superiority is implied in the claims of starbegottenness and slanhood. A national literature complete in all fields has encouraged work in fan and fantasy drama, narrative poetry, music, and so on. National heroes have had tough sledding because of our iconoclastic bent, but a few near-deities have emerged (plus a few near-demons). Expansionism is expressed in recruiting activity. A number of distinctive fan folkways are described scattered thru this encyclopedia.

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944

Despite its minuteness, fandom is in its decide or so of existence developed a distinct national spirit, similar to the nationalism of modern states. The idea of a national government, covering all the slan race and nobody else, is seen in the many drives for a general fan organization. The ideal of a homeland is exemplified in dens, science fiction houses, clubrooms, and finally in proposed Slan Center and Foundation. This dictionary is a work in the national language; another facet of the same thing is the plugging of Esperanto as Science Fiction's Tongue of Tomoro. In the matter of a national religion, we have ghughuism and FooFooism but most truly religious is the question for a Purpose for fandom and the idea of swearing on your honor as a fan. The fannish idea of the mission of the nation has been satirized in fan fiction about the setting up of a Fantastocracy, and the like. Racial superiority is implied in the claims of star-begottenness and slanhood. A national literature complete in all fields has encouraged work in fan and fantasy drama, narrative poetry, music and so on. National heroes have had tough sledding because of our iconoclastic bent, but a few near-deities has emerged. Expansionism is expressed in recruiting activity. A number of distinctive fan folkways are described scattered thru this encyclopedia.

The term fanationaliam appears to be a Deglerism. In Cosmic Circle Commentator 1 (September 1943), Claude Degler enthused:

We have created a fannationalism, a United World Fandom. Someday soon we will have our own apartment building, then our own land, our own city of Cosmen, schools, teachers, radio programme -- later; our own laws, country perhaps! Our children shall inherit not only this -- but this universe! Today we carry 22 states, tomorrow, nine planets! We can and will help to make a better world of the future -- have influence and be an active force in the furtherance of scientific democracy in the post-war world! -- attempt to conquer space travel and see another world -- in our own lifetimes -- while we of the council are alive! Our children will carry on this organization after we are gone -- The Cosmic Circle now exists for all eternity.

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Fanspeak

1943—

This is a fanspeak page. Please extend it by adding information about when and by whom it was coined, whether it’s still in use, etc.