There is a lot to be said by the titles we allow to label ourselves. Many of which revolve around a fandom. This is what I want to take a look at today, and how the New Star Trek fits in to it all.
The very word fandom is a relatively new term that Wikipedia describes as: a term used to refer to a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of sympathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest.
This general term has been the label to describe the phenomenon that is most famously recognized by Star Trek fans. These fans are commonly called Trekkies or Trekkers
The distinction between the two titles vary, the more derrogatory split indicating that a Trekker is a Trekkie without the social stigma attached to the more awkward stereotype, while others describe Trekkies as Original Series fans, while Trekkers are fans of the Next Generation. It is possible to be a fan of the show, and not earn either of these titles, as they tend to refer to the real diehards.
So this brings me to the meat of my discussion. Those labels were interchangeable but identified you as a particularily devoted fan of Star Trek. And now this weekend, Star Trek is about to be changed forever.
In the new film, a time travelling badguy (Nero) will be followed by an aged Spock to their earlier days, and the future timeline will be forever altered. We are not just seeing a prequel, but rather a sequel that has a time travel element that will reboot the franchise and clean the slate. Anything is possible now.
So presuming this starts a whole new franchise and revives a sleeping following, what do we call the new breed of fans? After International Friend Kristina was raving about how she was not a fan and far from a Trekkie, she eloquently stated this new film “owned her ass” to which another TMB regular said she was doomed to be called a Trekkie now!
Will there be a new varient of the fan title? New Trekker? Trekatonian? I know, lets just call them Trekites!!
But have we transcended the need for fan titles here? Now that comic book movies and possibly Star Trek are treading on the mainstream, would there even be an evolved title, or has our little Star Trek fandom grown up and thrown off the need for nicknames?
My boyfriend is a huuuuuge fan of star trek and consider himself as a trekkie, but i’m so lucky he didn’t wander around with that star trek costumes. that’s the last thing that i would’ve wanted him to do. lol
My geeky boyfriend has finally converted me after the new movie which I love, a hand full of episodes form TOS,TNG, and DS9. Now I have a lot of catching up to do but…Thank God the movie didn’t become a freak show fandom like twilight. I don’t know I tend to resist fads and be drawn to the geekyest things: Star Trek, Star Wars(4-6), Pokemon, Scooby Doo.
On the subject of playful ways to refer to Trek fans, how’s this for an idea? Fans of the JJ Abrams timeline could be called either, JJists or Neotreks.
Just a thought, though i do see how people could see this whole thing as juvenile. i guess i would tend to agree with that faction unless the nerd community can come to some universal agreement on what differs your standard fan from a fanboy who might be refered to more playfully.
We know we’ve crossed a line once were, as someone who posted here mentioned, dressing up to go to films, speaking klingon, or god forbid naming our children after Vulcans. I find anyone who names their first born Sarik i’m calling the boys in the white coats.
Good post. I don’t know what these fans should be called, but I’m pretty certain they will remain Trekkies, as its the popular term.
Wow, there sure is a lot of interest in the Star Trek Corset picture I used.
I don’t know who the model is but yes I agree she is stunning. The corset was designed by Esty user EveningArwen and goes for $200.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20121538
If you google “Star Trek Corset” you will see how many sites like BoingBoing and Gizmodo covered it.
Nice Blog, my first time here.
Who is the absolute BABE at the top of the story, in the red top ??, and is ever planning on passing through Niagara Falls, Canada ?? :-) ;)
That woman is definitely not Debra Messing.
ANY OTHER GUESSES?
With all due respect to John (9/10 is too much i feel, what will you give to Transformers,UP,Terminator Salvation,etc->if they turn out to be better than Star Trek->maybe 10/10)…Star Trek according to me would not be the best movie this year.
I’m hoping for Terminator Salvation to be the one.
Its a long summer & there are some superb movies lined up for us. Lets have a blast!
If it doesn’t perform well then the best movie will be UP for sure…This adventure looks amazing from the pictures. Bring it on.
I thought it was Debra Messing, and I couldn’t figure out why Debra Messing of all people was showing up in a Star Trek post.
Can anyone tell me who that lady in the red top is?
I’m talking about the one in the picture alongside this article.
Beamed us up a bit, didn’t she?
I don’t consider myself a Trekkie–I don’t speak Klingon and I didn’t give my kids Vulcan names–but I am a devoted fan of the original series. While Abrams appears to be trashing the entire previous canon, I hope he retains the most important element of Star Trek: GOOD WRITING! My kids mock the “cardboard sets and christmas lights” of the original series, but they do enjoy the stories without the distracting special effects.
IMO you cant be a trekker by jumping on the bandwagon…me im a star wars guy….but this new movie looks fucking sweet…i give them props for having something actually solid to love…though i did like stTNG …plus that big booby trekkie is hot!
Objection your honour, I never said she was ‘doomed’ to be a trekkie. If trek is awesome now, everybody going’s to want to be in on it. If you love it, flaunt it, celebrate it, share it and never give a damn what anyone else thinks.
I’ve never made any secret to my much cooler friends that, even though I never dressed up in a costume or have been to a convention, I know Star Trek’s I-VI backwards. I don’t care if that gets me labelled.
I’m calling the new breed ‘Kristinites’ as she has clearly begun the new wave of fandom that begins this week.
I’m telling you, I was joking so hard on my Trekkie friend who took me as his guest to the screening before the movie started, but this movie fucking RULES. I had more fun with this than I did with Iron Man last year.
The movie is fucking awesome. I have been converted.
I am a Trekkie!
I love Star Trek, always have. TOS, TNG, DS9… etc. But I’ve never been a trekkie or a trekker because those are the dorks that show up in costume to the movies.
Nerd. Labels, who needs them?