Student+-+Ant,+A

= ﻿ Belonging in the 21st century.= =__Trekkies.__= Star Trek fans, like fans of any popular culture artefact, choose to belong to a group which celebrates their love for that particular thing. They identify with 'Star Trek' and wish to express this in the company of like minded individuals. The reasons for belonging to a fan group like the 'trekkies' can vary from group member to group member. However, my research into the notion of 'fandom' has centred on the psychology of the 'fan', and it would appear that "Trekkies", like music fans and sports fans, choose to belong to their group because this membership contributes in a positive way to their self-esteem and sense of identity. If this relates to your own work, or you're interested, see this [|article] on sports fanaticism and psychology. media type="youtube" key="9Z9VSOq0nqU?fs=1" height="422" width="527" align="center" //Some Star Trek enthusiasts prefer the term "Trekkie", while some others self-identify as "Trekker". Self-identification as a "Trekkie" became even less popular after a famous national television parody in 1986 (see [|In Popular Culture] below); several self-described "Trekkers" were quoted as saying they "had a life" (contrasting themselves from "Trekkies").// Within the 'Star Trek' fan community, terms like "Trekkies", "Trekkers" and "The Niners" represent different ways of belonging.
 * a. Why do you think people choose to belong in this way?**
 * b) Why do people choose to not belong?**
 * [|Wikipedia on 'Trekkies']**

In the wider community, membership in the "trekkie" club can signify a number of things, including obsession, light-hearted participation etc..