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Yes You Con!

For those of you unfamiliar with the term "con" or " fandom", this blog will help you master the lingo on all things having to do with the con and fandom world. First some terms of endearment, I will offer a starter fandom glossary taken straight out of a School Library Journal article. Following that, I will list some sites where you can get more information on upcoming fandom and Comic Con events around the country.

Level 1- The Basics

Cosplay: A mash-up of the words costume and play, cosplay is both a noun and a verb. Cosplayers dress as favorite characters, celebrities, or anime characters; truly anything is fair game in cosplay. Imagine a cross between Halloween and your favorite pop culture phenomenon.

Cons: An abbreviation of "convention". Comic-con San Diego (held annually in July for the past 46 years) is likely the most famed of cons.

Fandom: A combo of the words fan and kingdom, which identifies a group of people with a common interest.

Fangirl/boy: Used to describe an avid fan.

LARPing: Live Action Role-Playing. People who role-play games while dressed in character garb are considered LARPers. See larping.org for further details about the very active community.

Manga/anime: Manga are Japanese comics, typically in black-and-white, and read right to left. Anime are Japanese animated films. Some anime are based on manga, but not all.

RPG: Short for Role-Playing Game. Players are guided by one player (a "referee") who oversees adventurous game play, which is either played out on cards or computerized. Think Dungeons and Dragons or Pokemon.

Steampunk: A sci-fi genre that incorporates 19th century steam-powered technology. Think Jules Verne and H.G. Wells.  Usually refers to garb, but there is also an active community at steampunkworldsfair.com.

Resources for inspiration if planning or attending an event:

Convention Scene
conventionscene.com
This website offers a concise look at what conventions are slated to meet in the United States. Cons can be broken down by type of fandom- anime, gaming, collectibles, horror, sports, sci-fi and fantasy, and more.
Upcoming Cons
upcomingcons.com
Similar to the site above, Upcoming Cons includes international cons as well as domestic. A big highlight is the interactive map showing cons around the globe.
The Fandom
thefandom.net
This website started by two Harry Potter aficionados gives an inside look at media beyond the Potter franchise. Movies, TV shows, comics, and the YA world are explored. Reviews, sneak peeks, quizzes, and a book club are all included.


In the next blog, we'll dig a bit deeper into specific groups and offer a brief sampling of literature-related fandoms.

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