Star Wars Theory fits the definition of a “real fan” in my opinion.

Here’s a video that he recently released:

In my opinion, that is a video from a “real fan.” These are the comments of a genuine fan who is heartbroken. And frankly, he’s right; we were all lied to.

But more to the point, a man doesn’t take the time to express words like these unless he’s a “real fan.” He doesn’t produce endless hours of video about the details of lore unless he’s a “real fan.” He doesn’t invest thousands of his own money to produce a fan film unless he’s a “real fan.”

So I have to respectfully disagree with Star Wars Theory when he says the following:

Now, this comment didn’t come out of nowhere. It was spurred on in part by demands for ideological conformity from Pete Fletzer of the Around the Galaxy podcast:

But Pete’s performative moral policing deserves to be completely rejected. Because what constitutes a “real fan,” or indeed even if such a thing as a “real fan” exists at all, is up to individual opinion as it should be. The simple fact of the matter is that neither Star Wars Theory, Pete Fletzer, nor anyone else has any authority whatsoever to make these declarations much less enforce them.

For myself, I do believe there is such a thing as a “real fan.” But it doesn’t have anything to do with being a fan of the Prequel, Original, or Sequel Trilogy, or any combination thereof. ThIs is what a “real fan” is, in my opinion:

A “real fan,” or a true fan, is a fan who focuses on the Intellectual Property itself, rather than worrying about imposing small-minded identity politics drama into the fan base. I’m not differentiating between prequel, original, or sequel fans, gender, or age groups at all here.

What I’m saying is that you see a lot of “fans” going on and on about gender, and race, and equality, and cultural appropriation, and bigotry, and social justice, and istophobia, and oppression, etc. But many of these same people couldn’t tell you the difference between a snow and scout trooper.

So what are they really a fan of?

Star Wars?

Or “community management?”

This has nothing whatsoever to do with elitism. This is about whether or not you’re actually into the thing that you claim to be into, or whether you’re here just to feel important through the fabrication of social drama.

Take for instance the activists at The Mary Sue. They’ve published article after article bemoaning the state of Fandom. But have they ever published an article comparing the flight characteristics of the Y Wing and TIE Bombers? Have they discussed how to add realistic weathering to an X-Wing model kit? Have they written about the metaphysics of The Force?

Because there is a certain breed of “fan” that spends all of their time seething and frothing over perceived “white male” problems in fandom, and other such nonsense.

Those are people who are primarily interested in fabricating drama over contrived moral dilemmas and asserting authority over something – anything – whatever it is. Even when they don’t have a moral leg to stand on. It could be anything. The fact that it’s Star Wars, in this case, is really only incidental for them. These people in my opinion, are not “real fans.”

Now do yourself a favor, and watch the work of a “real fan:”