Art Quote by Steve Silberman
““Pulp devotees did not invent the word fan (derived from the Latin fanaticus , "possessed by divine madness") but they established the first fandom in the modern sense with its own elaborate customs, art forms, specialized jargon, conventions, and absurdly bombastic internecine warfare. Sam Moskowitz's 1954 chronicle of the early days of fandom, The Immortal Storm , inspired one critic to quip, "If read directly after a history of World War II, it does not seem like an anti-climax.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Immortal Storm by Sam Moskowitz, 1954
Early fan communities created their own culture, language, and intense rivalries, shaping modern fandom despite the term “fan” predating them.
In simple terms: Fans built a unique culture and fierce conflicts.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how subcultures evolve and influence mainstream.
Themes
culture
identity
conflict
community
history
Mood
nostalgic
analytical
reflective
Type
historical
observational
When to use this quote
- convention planning
- online community building
- creative collaboration
- historical research
Key Concepts
subculture formation
social dynamics
media studies
Questions to Reflect On
- How do modern fan practices differ from early ones?
- What drives intense rivalries in subcultures?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overstate the universality of early fandom experiences.
![“After [Paul] Schilder mentioned that he had treated a schizophrenic teenager with psychoanalysis because the “sex center” and “fear center” of the brain are adjacent, he could no longer contain himself. [Leo] Kanner pointedly asked if people call their spouses “honey” because the sex center and…” quote by Steve Silberman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/87b/steve-silberman-69835_fear_after-paul-schilder-mentioned-that-he-ha_1586731.jpg)
