Chapter 4: The Fanatics
This page is going to take a bit of a turn to focus on identity. Clothing holds a lot of weight and passion in people’s lives. People have the ability to see a pair of pants or t-shirt and remember a specific scene or moment in their life. This is especially true with items that have been worn for years or passed down from generation to generation. Clothing can be treasured like a family heirloom. With this being said, it is clear that clothing can make up a person’s identity or at least represent it. This section is dedicated to the personal collection of one of our curators, Joshua Johnson. As a fan of science fiction, these items allow him to showcase his passion. They have the power to notify others of his identity while also connecting to other fans of science fiction. Diehard fans of science fiction will sometimes go as far as cosplaying their favorite characters or icons. There are countless images and videos online of such fans attending conventions such as Comic-Con. Fans of science fiction are able to infuse icons with themselves to create a unique fashion statement.
Have you ever wanted to feel like Spider-Man? Perhaps you would like to have as much freedom as Spider-Man does in the image above. This Spider-Man mask can get the job done and allow you to look like the web-slinger himself. The mask is form fitting and has eye pieces that you can see out of if you were to wear the mask. You may wear jeans and casual shirts for your daily style like Peter Parker, but just like him, when you pull this mask out of your closet and put it on you will feel like a superhero. The best part about it all is no one will recognize you. Yet they will remember what you were wearing while being the friendly neighborhood spider.
Perhaps you view yourself as a die hard fan of Black Panther. Ever since the film was released in 2018 there has been an influx of its merchandise. This black t-shirt allows you to don the original Black Panther suit from the comics. Black Panther’s look can go as far as making you feel like The King. The shirt also has a sentimental feel with the text bubble and writing stylistically being exactly like a comic book. We included this piece to represent what fans of the Black Panther may wear on a regular day or even wore to the movie opening. A lot of fans in preparation for the movie opening wore outfits similar to what the characters wore in addition to symbols that represented Black Pride in general. Black Panther is an inspiration for many young Black children that look to this character and see someone that looks like them. This piece is particularly significant now with Chadwick Boseman, the actor who played Black Panther, passing away from cancer. Marvel Studios has announced that they will not be recasting him so his character will definitely be remembered forever.
Join the fan club of Blade Runner! The club is one of the oldest sci-fi fanatics since it started in 1982, the year of the movie. Many people have admired the visual beauty – it is hard to believe the setting was created in 1980s – and the philosophical depth of the storyline. The movie did not simply describe a fight between human and humanoids, but raise questions of this age: how should an artificial intelligence or a robot be treated? Do we have to give them a citizenship? Is it possible to share emotions with a robot? Even though the actual advances in technology of 2019 could not reach the imagination of the movie, but that’s why we can still be passionate on the future in this movie. The video game will also invite you to live in the dystopian Los Angeles of 2019 in the view of 1980s!
Are you tired of being considered a Marvel bandwagon? There is no doubt that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been dominating the film industry over the last 5 plus years. This grey t-shirt will show your love and passion for the original Marvel Comics. Even if you are a new member of this ever growing fan base, this shirt is a great way of hiding this new identity. This t-shirt includes most of the Marvel characters from Iron Man and Captain America to Iron Fist and Luke Cage. One fascinating aspect of the t-shirt is the diversity of the superheroes in terms of color and gender; there are 4 women and three Black men. It is also fun to find the differences between the original comic costumes vs. film adaptations. You will be able to join in on this debate and showcase your passion with others!
Are you sweltering in hot and humid weather? Looking for a way to show off your interests, but a t-shirt would be too hot? Well we have just the answer for you with this Deadpool tank top. This tank top will allow you to embody Ryan Reynolds hilarious performance as Deadpool. However, we cannot promise the misinterpretation of the logo for Spider-Man. In fact, Deadpool has a very different story from Spider-Man. The name Deadpool means he survived many life-threatening situations – including cancer, dreadful bio-test, and a fire – with his remarkable regenerative ability. Deadpool is a great example of someone who has overcome adversity, allowing fans who have experienced what he has to feel empowered. Wearing this tank reminds you and others that you are not what you’ve been through, instead you’re Deadpool.
Fan of Star Wars but don’t know whether you prefer the Light or Dark side? This grey long-sleeve shirt gives you the best of both worlds. One side embodies the Light while the other embodies the Dark. On the left sleeve, the strong ‘DARK SIDE’ letters expressively indicate the evil that lurks around the galaxy, while the three white logos of the Rebel Alliance represent the remaining hope. These two sides have been battling for hundreds of years. This struggle between the two has now reached our planet! Will you take up the call and bring balance to the Force? The Force is definitely strong with this shirt for those who are willing to accept the call and fulfill their destiny.
