News flash: France is smaller than the US. Therefore the geek population is smaller, too.
Plus, we have much less of “community culture” than you American people. We’re probably more into the big-great-classical-culture, common to (almost) everyone.
Sorry about the cliché, but as I’m French myself, and both classical-educated-literature teacher and a geek, I’ll take it upon myself as part of this. Despite all of it, the French geek community is beginning to organize itself. One of the symptoms of this growing consciousness and organization is the Facebook group Culture Geek.
Another is the new festival of Geek Faeries. The first festival, in May 2010, attracted about 1, 300 visitors (which is quite a lot for a fan festival in France) and they’re currently working on the 2011 event. The organizers say they desire to give geek people a place to regroup and to explain their culture to non-geek people. In 2010, people attending had a LARP fighting arena, a Neo Geo board, a conference about the arts of tea, and of course costumes and cosplay. A fan video of 2010 festival may be watched on DailyMotion.
They’ve announced geek concerts for 2011 (the very geeky-frenchy Naheulband), fantasy publishers (such as Argemmios or the Editions du Riez) and fanzine/associations (such as Tolkiendil, an erudite French association promoting the works of Tolkien), a “faery market” featuring many creators of costumes and jewellery (such as Volute Corsets about whom I’ll write again quite soon…), RPG and LARP (a vampire game by night), fan movies, gaming and retrogaming. Their guest star will be Noob, a famous web-serie about MMORPG (all episodes can be see with English subtitles).
As the festival’s founding partner Studio Affects proudly announces it:
The interesting thing is to force us to think about our definition of geekiness. Who is a geek? Do all geeks have a common language or not, do they really have things to share? Fest Director Naya Bié chooses to define the “geek attitude” mostly as a way of life, with freedom as a keyword.
Do we GeekMoms agree with this definition? Do you?
If you happen to be in France next June : Geek Faeries 2011 will begin on June, 3 (Friday night concert and gaming), ending June, 5 about 6 p.m. You’ll have to pay 5€ a day (or a night), free entrance for your younger-than-6 geeklings. The address is 1, rue Gustave Eiffel La Chapelle Saint Mesmin 45380 (Orléans 45). Orleans is about 1h30 from Paris by rail or by car. As they are a geek festival, they even gave us their GPS latitude (47.88) and longitude (1.81) (Decimal).I’m not sure I’ll manage it myself (you all know what it is, being a newborn’s mom…) but if I do, GeekMom will get its own exclusive report! Once we are really famous, we’ll be able to afford “Approved by GeekMom” awards for products and conventions. Hah!
I’m not sure the Geek Faeries would qualify, as strollers aren’t allowed in the main room. They’re of course allowed for all the outdoor activities. But a left-luggage office at the entrance of the room will accept to keep your stroller and let you walk with a baby carrier if you wish so. Plus, they were thoughtful enough to write it on their website, instead of leaving you come with your stroller alone and be, er, embarrassed.
