Oct 03
Thought this would be useful:
- Fandom:The fanbase for a series.
- Pre-Fandom: The fanbase of a now-yet-released series.
- Series vs Season:What is called a season in the United States is a series in the United Kingdom.
- Episode notation: Somewhat related. An episode can be referred to several ways. Using “Asylum of the Daleks”, the first episode of the seventh series of revived Doctor Who, as an example:
- “Asylum of the Daleks”
- Series 7 Episode 1 or Episode 1 Series 7
- S7E1
- 7.01 or 7×01 (zeroes may or may not be used)
- Canon: If it is canon, it happened or is mentioned in the actual series or novels. The term for something that isn’t canon is noncanon. Not to be confused with cannon, though both sink ships.
- Headcanon: Something that a fan holds to be personally canon. It canon in their head, hence the term. Not to be confused with canon. Headcanon may or may not contradict canon.
- Shipping: When a fan believes that two characters have romantic feelings for one another that could potentially lead to a relationship or that two character could develop a romantic relationship. Derived from the word relationship. It means that you hope two characters would start a romantic relationship. It could range from supporting a canon relationship to wanting two characters who haven’t even met to fall in love to cross-fandom shipping.
- Ship names: Ships are usually rendered as TomxSybil; the order of the names depends on personal preferences, and it’s generally without spaces though spaces on each side of the x is acceptable. Edith/Evelyn form is also used, though I see it less and less these days. Ships can also have nicknames, for example: Kataang (Katara and Aang in Avatar: The Last Airbender) or Blue Whale (Dr Whale and the Blue Fairy from Once Upon a Time). Sometimes, a ship is referred to by a phrase that is associated with the ship. I sometimes see “Bet on me,” a phrase from Tom’s proposal, as a way of referring to TomxSybil. But that form doesn’t happen often.
- Captain: Pretty self-explanatory. The person who leads the ship. A ship doesn’t need a captain, and some ships (usually canon ones or ones with really strong canon support) sail themselves. In fact, most ships don’t have captains. Larger ships (ships with large fanbases) generally don’t have a captain. Smaller ones, such as EdithxEvelyn (Downton Abbey), may have one, Brendan Patricks (the actor for Evelyn and a supporter of EdithxEvelyn).
- Shipping war: When fans argue over ships. What the argument may be about differs, but it’s usually over which ship is superior or more likely to happen. Intense shipping wars tear fandoms apart, and considering many are very devoted and emotionally attached to their ships most shipping wars are intense.
- Crackship: A ship that a fan jokingly supports, even if the ship doesn’t make any sense or has no evidence. Simply making no sense or having little basis does not make a crackship. It is only a crackship if you jokingly support it. At least, in my definition.
- OTP (One True Pairing): This is a fan’s ship that they support no matter what. They will support this ship even if a character has died without the ship happening or even if both halves of the ship are in happy canon relationships. Those with OTPs will “go down with the ship.” For example, my OTPs include: TomxSybil (Downton Abbey), RoyxRiza (Fullmetal Alchemist), RoryxAmy (Doctor Who), DaenerysxJorah (A Song of Ice and Fire), and HarveyxDonna (Suits). I support these ships no matter what and I will go down defending them.
- Brotp: Two characters that a fan wants to be best friends forever or “broskis”. Related to OTP. I can imagine that it could apply to male/female friendships or friendships between females. For example, my Brotps include: Tom and Matthew (Downton Abbey), Roy and Hughes (Fullmetal Alchemist), and Shawn and Gus (Psych).
