culture – Page 46 – Steven Savage

Hobby As Language

October 26, 2011 by Steven Savage

When we have a particular passion, be it for sports figures or media properties or specific foods, we learn a lot. Our "fandom education" may include statistics or instructions or timelines, but learning those things means that we need to have the proper words, terms, and ideas to express and understand them. Our geekery, our fandoms, require us, in a way, to learn a new language.

Soon these languages we learn become part of our lives, our friendships, and our activities. We are probably not aware of it in many cases, just the way a good craftsman's tools feel a part of their body, or a musician finds themselves automatically learning music. We have this part of us, perhaps a part that was a radical change/addition to who we are, and quickly we loose direct awareness of it.

The fact that our hobbies have a language all their own fascinates me. It fascinates me partially because of it's obscurity – we become easy to it so quickly, I wonder what we're missing. I also realize it's a powerful tool we have, and wonder what it means for us as professional geeks, fans, otaku, and more.

We're equipped with concepts, words, ideas that connect us with our passions – and that few others experience, understand, or even know of. So how do we put them to use professionally?

It gives us a language to share with people of similar interests. Many is the time I've found a common enthusiasm, book, or passion let me communicate better with others.
It gives us the ability to think differently – which can be valuable for solving problems. RPG players are used to thinking in statistics and numbers and breakdowns. Cooking enthusiasts know spice and mix and visceral feelings. You see the world differently- that may mean you see solutions others can't.
It gives us the opportunity to reuse terms and ideas in "non-fandom situations." Ever find you lack the right word or term? Introduce one from your hobbyist experiences that fits – and you have a tool you and at least some others can relate to.
It gives us the tools to understand parts of the culture and even economy others may not. Anyone who's an enthusiast for any technology or culture knows what that's like – we have concepts and ideas and terms to communicate and analyze that others do not.

Ask yourself about your fandom/hobby/geekiness languages and what opportunities they give you. You may be surprised.

– Steven Savage

ADDENDUM: For myself, I'd say video games gave me a huge boost in the "fandom language" format. From being able to bond over them to understanding the tech industry, or being able to introduce new concepts (I'm fond of "nerfing"), it's been quite helpful.

The Value Of Cultural Engagement

October 25, 2011 by Steven Savage

Here's what I learned from Angry Birds, beyond the fact you can weaponize fowl and where the Green Ham part of "Green Eggs and Ham" comes from.

I really learned about creating cultural engagement.

Just look at how Angry Birds is everywhere. Its in merchandise, its in jokes, it's in the news. It's on a bunch of platforms. There's talk of movies and cartoons – which seems weird because, let's face it, we're kinda facing limited characterization and specialized elements.

It's part of our culture when, truth be told, we're not exactly talking a deep concept here.

That's something to learn for those of us working to create new tinges.

Cultural engagement, truly becoming part of the culture, is an important path to success for anyone promoting a professional creation, be it software, a clothing line, or video games. You don't just want to sell to people – you need to become part of the way they think. You want to make it cultural.

Just look at Apple. There, enough said.

A lot of creations do not just fill their specific need – a need for shelter or entertainment or word processing software. They fill a cultural need as people are creatures of shared identity and references – if you can give them that, then you have vastly increased your chance of success.

Angry Birds. Apple. Linux. Star Wars. Star Trek. People bought not just products and watched more than television and films – they went for meaning and shared experience.

So, in your endeavors, you want to provide that. For those of us into the geeky scene, we're probably working on something like that professionally or on the side anyway – geeks are beings of shared information. Anyway, shared culture means success.

I also mean this in more than a mercenary way – if you realize that selling meaning is important, you can focus on delivering real value culturally. If your novel is meant to inspire, go all out to make a classic for the ages that will have true meaning. Your game can set the stage for new mechanics or social bonding. Your simple piece of software can introduce useful new terms.

So you want to sell your product, and to do that you need to make sure you become part of people's culture – and if you do that responsibility, you'll do a lot of good, as well as making money. That's a pretty nice win-win.

– Steven Savage

Geekonomy, Technology, Homosexuality, Culture, and Apple

August 29, 2011 by Steven Savage

This may be one of my longest post names.

Last week I mentioned I was curious about Tim Cook's appointment as Apple's CEO and the fact he was gay, though it was a subject he didn't talk about (and frankly there's no reason he should or have to). For me he's a reliable, wonkish, even-handed appointment who's good for a temporary CEO as Apple deals with the change of Jobs – but may have the chance to set a vision and go long term (his stock options hint at that).

As Cook was outed by Gawker (and 'Out' magazine listed him as the most powerful gay person in the world), I'm concerned that his sexual preference might become a Geekonomic/Geek culture issue due to some other trends I want to discuss. Thus I consider this relevant to the blog, but at the same time feel a bit invasive.

That's a long-form way of kind of apologizing to Mr. Cook if against the odds he reads this or hears about this.