About Filk
Jul. 9th, 2012 05:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I was asked to write "something about filk" for the 2012 Westercon program book.
Filk is the music of science fiction and fantasy fandom. Filk can be parody or original music, in all sorts of styles. Filk is writing songs about fandom and fen. There are filk songs about art, books, computers, cons, movies, NASA, pets, plays, ren faires, science, TV shows, video games and writing. The are filk songs about filkers. There are filk songs about filking.
Sometimes filk is about writing songs you want to sing. Sometimes it's about writing songs to make your friends laugh - Andrew Ross and Tom Smith are great at that - but filkers can also write tearjerkers. Alexander James Adams and Tom Smith have both memorialized Jim Henson. Talis Kimberley wrote "Good Night, Sarah Jane". Filkers sing of ghost starships, Dr Who, and going on to colonize another place. ConClusion's song contest focuses on the theme "ConClusion", but the entries are sure to vary.
Filk is also sharing songs in a ciricle. Filk can mean following a song about Star Wars with a song about The Hobbit. Or a robot. Or a cat. Filk recordings are available for download and CD. You may have heard that Seanan McGuire's filk album "Wicked Girls" is nominated for the Hugo for Best Related Work. You might not know that our Filk Guests of Honor, Vixy & Tony, performed on "Wicked Girls". (Plug: If you buy a Chicon supporting or attending membership, you get a download of all the nominees, including "Wicked Girls", and can vote for the Hugo Awards.)
Filk is a part of fandom. Like fandom, it is a community of people who like to play. In this case it's playing with music. Filkers tend to show up at many conventions, but we have also spawned our own filk conventions, such as Seattle's Conflikt. Whether you want to listen, sing, or play an instrument - you are welcome.
Filk is the music of science fiction and fantasy fandom. Filk can be parody or original music, in all sorts of styles. Filk is writing songs about fandom and fen. There are filk songs about art, books, computers, cons, movies, NASA, pets, plays, ren faires, science, TV shows, video games and writing. The are filk songs about filkers. There are filk songs about filking.
Sometimes filk is about writing songs you want to sing. Sometimes it's about writing songs to make your friends laugh - Andrew Ross and Tom Smith are great at that - but filkers can also write tearjerkers. Alexander James Adams and Tom Smith have both memorialized Jim Henson. Talis Kimberley wrote "Good Night, Sarah Jane". Filkers sing of ghost starships, Dr Who, and going on to colonize another place. ConClusion's song contest focuses on the theme "ConClusion", but the entries are sure to vary.
Filk is also sharing songs in a ciricle. Filk can mean following a song about Star Wars with a song about The Hobbit. Or a robot. Or a cat. Filk recordings are available for download and CD. You may have heard that Seanan McGuire's filk album "Wicked Girls" is nominated for the Hugo for Best Related Work. You might not know that our Filk Guests of Honor, Vixy & Tony, performed on "Wicked Girls". (Plug: If you buy a Chicon supporting or attending membership, you get a download of all the nominees, including "Wicked Girls", and can vote for the Hugo Awards.)
Filk is a part of fandom. Like fandom, it is a community of people who like to play. In this case it's playing with music. Filkers tend to show up at many conventions, but we have also spawned our own filk conventions, such as Seattle's Conflikt. Whether you want to listen, sing, or play an instrument - you are welcome.