Con culture: A survey of fans and fandom

Fandom is a collective subculture composed of fans of wide range of media whose shared interests serve as the basis of their communal identity. Fan conventions serve as loci of fan activity uniting fans from multiple fandoms. Whether the convention is industry or fan run, whether it is dedicated to anime, gaming, sci-fi, a specific show, or another fandom, there are certain essential elements that are part of the prototypical convention. The convention will feature guests of interest to the attendees, provide entertaining content in the form of panels and events, and will have a commerce space. This paper, and the survey data it was derived from, focuses on identifying the basics of convention participation. Data analysed includes demographics of attendees, standards of fandom participation, trends in convention attendance, frequency of and preference for participation in convention activities, attitudes towards conventions in general, and barriers preventing convention attendance or participation.