Wrapunzel Community “Groupies” – your FANDOM WRAPS gave you the chance to put on your thinking caps (lol!) and create colorful, crazy, and yes some quite creepy headwraps to sing the praises of whatever “tichels” your fancy! Be it a book, movie or television series, fictional character, sports team, college or university, favorite color, whatever, your heads carried the message of your unfaltering devotion to your fandoms. You can read more about fandom below, but NOW, Wrapunzel sings YOUR praises! GO WRAPUNZELISTAS!
What is a “fandom?” Well, back in the ‘olden’ days, people with fandoms were called “groupies.” Groupies would usually show up at every concert a particular music band had to offer, no matter its geographic location. Some would take their “groupiness” on the road, traveling from coast to coast to see their faves perform their biggest hits night after night. The crowds would go wild – and the groupies would end one show waiting for the next time when they could eagerly worship their ‘heroes.’ Offhand, Deadheads (The Grateful Dead), Parrotheads (Jimmy Buffet) and Metalheads (Heavy Metal Music) come to mind, and they’re still roaming the globe today in hot pursuit of their beloved celebrity.
Today, “fandom” seems to have taken on a broader scope. Wikipedia defines a “fandom” as a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of empathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest. Fans typically are interested in even minor details of the object(s) of their fandom and spend a significant portion of their time and energy involved with their interest, often as a part of a social network with particular practices (a fandom); this is what differentiates “fannish” (fandom-affiliated) fans from those with only a casual interest.
A fandom can grow around any area of human interest or activity. The subject of fan interest can be narrowly defined, focused on something like an individual celebrity, or more widely defined, encompassing entire hobbies, genres or fashions. While it is now used to apply to groups of people fascinated with any subject, the term has its roots in those with an enthusiastic appreciation for sports. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary traces the usage of the term back as far as 1903.[1]
Fandom as a term can also be used in a broad sense to refer to the interconnected social networks of individual fandoms,[vague] many of which overlap. There are a number of large conventions that cater to fandom in this broad sense, catering to interests in film, comics, anime, television shows, cosplay, and the opportunity to buy and sell related merchandise. Annual conventions such as Comic Con International, Wondercon, Dragon Con and New York Comic Con are some of the more well known and highly attended events that cater to overlapping fandoms.
Regardless of its definition, fandom is a mindset of celebration, an opportunity to let your creative juices flow. A way for one to express love for anything at all. A way to let others know a little of what YOU are all about, and each and every one of you is beautiful inside and out – others just can’t wait to know you. OUR Favorite Fandom is YOU, Sweet Wrapunzelista! Keep that in mind, and on your HEAD, each and every time you wrap!
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