And You Wonder Why It’s Called the Armitage Army

Zan has just issued a call to arms. To right a wrong as she puts it. I can do my duty for Richard Armitage. And yeah, I like Aidan Turner too. I have seen him in person, and believe it or not, he’s cuter in real life than he appears in his pictures or video. Yeah, it’s true. He puts a grin on your face. But all that aside, I’m doing this for our guy. :D

Call to arms!

March 25, 2013 by zan

OK, maybe “arms” is a bit harsh. But “call to keyboards” just doesn’t have the same ring to it, y’know?

Anyway … what I’m getting at is that all Thorin devotees and Fili followers, YOU ARE NEEDED!!! NOW!!! There’s less than 12 hours to fix a terrible wrong!

As y’all have probably seen, TORn is running their version of March Madness using our beloved LotR and Hobbit characters. Even though there were some questionable match-ups in Round 1 — Fili v Kili? REALLY??? — a few of our darling Dwarves made it through to Round 2. And now, well … Houston, we have a problem…

Read the rest here

I had to snaffle this gif. It’s so appropriate. Isn’t it the damndest thing when the Army moves into action, Rich? :D Yeah, well, it doesn’t have that name for no reason.

raslump

Gif courtesy of Zan’s sidebar. What you haven’t read that blog piece yet? Move it!

edit: Yes, yes, I get Kili and Fili mixed up, and they’re both cute. Dean O’Gorman’s dimples are so appealing they should be criminal.

March 25, 2013
Categories: The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 11 Comments

A Thank You for Richard

A message from our friend, Janine:

I don’t do big, elaborate gestures.

It’s not me.

Which is why a couple of weeks ago I realized in the midst of the worldwide blitz for “The Hobbit” that all I wanted to say to Richard Armitage was “thank you.”

Eight letters. Two simple words. Overflowing with power and meaning.
The thought bounced around in my head and came to roost while I was on Twitter. After a little back and forth with a friend, what hatched was the idea that sending a flock of thank-you notes would be a lovely gesture from his admirers around the world.

Why? For me, who found this British actor in March of this year, it was because I admire him. And after watching the world premiere from Wellington and reading his thank you to his admirers, I liked him even more. It confirmed what I had felt in my heart about him: a thoughtful man who is cognizant of himself and believes in showing gratitude to the people who support him.

But it was also because I have been welcomed into the fold that is sweetly called the Armitage Army. I have been surprised by the worldwide following that this singular individual has rallied. Because of it, I have encountered people I never would have met otherwise, and the experience makes me grin.

It also makes me thankful.

This simple gesture to thank Richard is quite easy. What you say to him is your business. You can send your own card (nothing bigger than a letter-sized sheet of paper, please) or you can print out the one I built featuring the Hobbit hug from the movie.

You can seal up your letter so I can’t see it. Or not.

Details about what to do are over on my blog, with directions to get to the password-protected page that contains my mailing information.

Deadline to hit the mail is Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. I will be mailing the package out the week of January 7th, looking for stragglers if you let me know in advance.

As for postage, I have asked for a quarter or so if you can. Any money above the amount for postage will be given to one of Richard’s Just Giving charities.

I hope you join this little gesture for a nice guy who has brought us so much.

Thank you.

I’m game. :D

December 27, 2012
Categories: Fandom . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 6 Comments

Have You Been Drafted?

[note: Also read "Where's the Bunny" and "Are You A Fangirl?" to ensure you are adequately indoctrinated into this fine madness]

November 1, 2010

It’s interesting to talk to people around the RA universe about the Armitage Army. Over the last couple of years I’ve found that many I talk to do not consider themselves part of this phenomenon even if they did at the beginning of it, and newcomers really don’t consider themselves part of it. This determination is mostly made on lack of participation with a particular website. I can see where some might think that’s the criterion for membership since it was at the beginning. But it’s become apparent after three years of observing this fandom, that the term Armitage Army long ago transcended association with a particular website.

All of that begs the question: who exactly is the Armitage Army? To answer that, it’s important to understand how it came into existence. It’s my understanding that the characterization began with a Yahoo group who was dubbed that by a participant’s husband, and the press picked up on it. The press has more or less become the arbiter of its meaning since then. I did suggest as “the real me” (as if I’m not real here LOL!) that perhaps some of the principals in the fandom could do something to take control of this image, but that was met with resistance. Fair enough. The media’s take on the Army is where the definition remains, and as I said in my last post, I suspect publicists have something to do with it as well.

So how does someone join the Army? From reading countless blogs and articles on Richard Armitage or watching countless interviews with him over several years, it would seem the press characterizes any female fan who manifests herself in some way to Richard Armitage through letters, standing on the red carpet or sending gifts (appropriate or otherwise) as a member of the Army. But membership was initially and is most importantly a female fan who makes her comments known in cyberworld. If you’re a male fan, then you get a pass on being drafted.

Let me make this plain. If you have made comments somewhere in cyberworld (yes, this includes comment sections of individual blogs) or God forbid you run a site or blog that focuses on Richard Armitage even a little bit in a complimentary way, you are probably a de facto member of the Armitage Army. Therein lies the rub for some of you who want to run like hell away from this. My advice: get over the rub and let’s have some fun with this. Two (or more LOL!, oh heck, all of us) can play this game, and I think Richard Armitage has a great sense of humor and is probably laughing himself silly at some of the stuff that’s happened. He DID NOT have to mention the pants from the fan in Australia. C’mon, he’s not stupid. He did it because it’s funny, and it makes good copy! I for one intend to enjoy the joke even if some consider me part of the butt.

I think it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said:

Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Well, I don’t feel inferior and neither should any of you. This is supposed to be fun, and I for one am having a blast. By the way, if you don’t have a blog, you cannot imagine how freeing it is to sit here and type this post. If anyone is tempted to jump in with their own, do it! As long as you don’t come with the attitude of hell hath no fury like a blogger scorned, you should do fine.

Man, I knew all those years of dealing with bs would come in handy. I’m seriously thinking of adding the tag “bs.”

I started to call this piece “Have You Been Shanghaied?” but my pc gene reared its ugly head. It just wasn’t strong enough to keep me from posting the picture below. This is what I think of when I think of the negative comments about the Armitage Army — Bob Geldof in ‘The Wall.’

Oh, there’s another Eleanor Roosevelt quote that comes to mind, but I’m not going to say it. If you want it, send me an e-mail.

November 1, 2010
Categories: Fandom . Tags: , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 24 Comments

What’s So Fearsome?

So Richard Armitage has a fearsome army. But we’re a bunch of pussycats, aren’t we?

Whatever has happened, somewhere along the way this Army has begun to be characterized as something powerful. What else am I to make of such descriptions as “slightly terrifying” or “advancing angrily?” Wow. The Army sounds like a threat. Fear not my fellow troops, we are not a threat. We just make damn good copy. :D

The only trick is for us not to succumb to this kind of talk and go into a full-scale defense. Frankly, if my piddly words about Richard Armitage and the words on a few other blogs and forums or some comments here or there have that much power, then damn! we need to start putting up ads and making some MONEY! Yeah, I like the sound of that. ;-)

Bark off the tree: my jaded self has a hard time believing Richard is really that bothered by all of us, and I sense the work of a publicist. Yep, there’s some manipulation going on, and that screams publicist. If anything, we have been a great means of helping Richard get some press. After a while it’s a little hard to believe he’s trying to marginalize the Army when so many articles have “us” mentioned and sometimes featured.

I will reiterate that this has bored me to tears in the past. When I first started reading articles about RA, I wanted to read about him and not a bunch of women like me. I could think of nothing more BORING. No offense to any of you. But as things go on, I think this is funny as hell, and I’m running with it. Just as Richard has. Smart boy.

And if my gut is wrong about all of this, well, that husband who hung the moniker on us is getting a wonderful revenge! I would so love to know about that guy and if he really exists. Truly, I am curious about him and have been since I heard he was the unsuspecting genius who coined the term.

Note to unsuspecting genius:

Dude,

Too bad you couldn’t make any money on this, or maybe you did. LOL!

Signed,
One of Richard’s crazy fans

November 1, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Spooks . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 12 Comments

Where’s the Bunny?

It’s been almost two years since I first read the blog piece about good fans going bad and the referenced Wikipedia page about CWS (Celebrity Worship Syndrome). My cursory reading of the wiki page left me thinking there were huge gaps in the scale; I certainly knew I didn’t quite fit the descriptions. I was so disturbed by my own behavior, I didn’t want to pursue any further information about CWS. Nevertheless, when I was getting ready to start this blog, I reviewed the page, and it seems that others have taken exception to the scale. I’ve been hesitant to highlight this because it might be the ultimate rationalization for fleeing treatment of Richard Armitage addiction, but when did that ever stop me? Plus, my public service gene demands that I bring it to your attention. ;-) That way you will be prepared if someone slaps you with this.

Earlier this year someone updated that wiki page to add a section called “Critical reflection on celebrity worship and mental health.” God Bless ‘Em. (Or maybe I was so addled I missed it the first time around?) It seems the methods of research for this “syndrome” may not have been scientifically applied and the researchers biased. If I were not so busy, I might read more, but maybe someone who is inclined will take it up. All I know is that I got a little antsy when I read that one of the CWS researchers is from the University of Leicester. Uh oh. Could that be one of RA’s relatives who is exasperated with all of us? Or is he someone on the town council who’s sick of hearing that maps of H___________ need to be printed after every tour bus of Radio 4 listeners comes through, or perhaps he read about the building permit needed for the 12 foot fence around the Armitage’s backyard. I don’t know. I don’t know. But then I wondered if this professor heard about the chocolate pants. That would make me wonder about someone’s sanity, and I fleetingly wondered if I might become so far gone I would send RA some chocolate pants. Oh, hell no! Well, not if I were in my right mind. Then I realized I could devise my own scale and make it sound scientific. I did have a thing for Fred Demara. Not quite sure he was my soul mate (but maybe), so I’m certain I can figure out something that sounds scientific.

In the great tradition of the Web playing doctor, I’ve devised a scale and below it is a poll for you to assure yourself honestly assess your situation:

Entertainment-social

This comprises attitudes of fans who gain great pleasure from laughing about chocolate pants sent to a celebrity when they’re not nauseous at the thought. Sometimes they even get sick laughing as they imagine the expression on the celebrity’s face when he receives the chocolate pants. But these fans have no desire to ever send the celebrity (or anyone else) some chocolate pants as actually doing that is sickening to them and they don’t know where in hell anyone would buy them anyway. Well, maybe they wouldn’t send their own chocolate pants if they ever did know where to buy them, but maybe send them as someone else’s just to see what happens, er, rather to embrace the humor of the perceived reaction of the celebrity upon receipt of the chocolate pants as long as they are sent through the post and not by using them as a missile during an interview of the celebrity, which would require being somewhere nearby and possibly being caught out as a nut.

Intense-personal

Intense-personal aspect of celebrity worship reflects intensive and compulsive feelings about sending chocolate pants to the celebrity, akin to the obsessional tendencies of fans often referred to in literature; for example “I share with my favorite celebrity a need to touch chocolate pants — a feeling that cannot be described in words” and “When something bad happens, I know my favorite celebrity would be refreshed by seeing some chocolate pants from me.”

Borderline-pathological

This dimension is typified by uncontrollable behaviors and fantasies regarding how the chocolate pants will be presented to their celebrities, such as “I have frequent thoughts about wearing chocolate pants while standing in front of my favorite celebrity, even when I don’t want to” and “my favorite celebrity would immediately come to my rescue if something were to happen to my chocolate pants.”

Disclaimer for idiots who think this is serious: NO, nothing I’ve said about anyone in Leicester or the Armitage family is real. Well, except that one of the CWS researchers really is a professor from the University of Leicester — according to Wikipedia.

I ran across this in my uh research for this post: Inkblot Test. If you have some time, take the test. Trust me you’ll like it. And many thanks to the creators of it for the title of this piece.

edit:

I HATE it when I make a horrible typo or when I realize I made a horrible typo. Will I ever get over that? LOL!

September 10, 2010
Categories: Fandom . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 19 Comments

Diary of an RA Fan — Part 21 Now I’ve Done It

See Diary Part 20 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

Entry — And Still Fall, 2008:

I’m not sure I can read any more of the Armitage Army forum. There are some lovely people there, but I’m scaring myself, and then I discover this! Just the title alone has made me really stop and think about what I’m doing. But haven’t I been doing that all along the way? Haven’t I gut checked myself so much that I’ve worn myself out with it? It seems I’m so tightly bound with circumspection that I’m a small package which bores me silly. And now it seems I can’t even have a little fetish that doesn’t make me stereotypical and potentially a nut case. CWS? What the hell? I guess the first stage isn’t so bad, and that’s certainly where I fit, but just knowing there is a scale creeps me out.

A few days later:

I feel so dumb most of the time when I’m reading all of these web pages about Richard Armitage, and now I’ve made a few posts on the Army site which have sort of wearied me. All I know at this moment is that I’m tired of typing the words Richard Armitage. It feels funny to type his name. It hits me sometimes when I get to his last name that I’m almost incessantly discussing someone I do not know and never will. But somehow it feels like I know him. NOOOOO! That sounds like something further up the CW Scale. I will bust a gut before moving up that scale or even looking like I have. I don’t even want to type anything less formal than Richard Armitage. Maybe I should make that Mr. Armitage. No, that just sounds uh, I don’t know what it sounds like. A bit of the lady doth protest too much? Yeah, that would almost be like banging a gong and saying, “I’ve got a problem and need to keep my distance!”

Anything less than his full name just seems too personal. But isn’t pondering whether it’s personal kind of creepy as well? Why do I care if I’m too personal? Hell, I don’t know. I just know I’m a bit creeped out at myself, but I can’t seem to stop watching his stuff. I really do think he’s a great actor the likes of which I’m not sure I’ve ever seen. But I feel like a fool being on a fan site. It really bothers me. Mostly because it jacks with the image I have of myself. Hang what anyone else may think. The identity I embrace does not include being a fan. It’s just not me. So why the hell am I doing this, and why am I writing journal entries about it?

But the other fans are interesting, and I’m finding new sources for watching Richard Armitage’s performances. Maybe I’ll stay.

A few more days later:

I mentioned that I was curious about ‘Between the Sheets,’ and someone at the Army forum sent me a zip file of it. So I’ll get to watch it without having to order it. What am I saying?! No, if I watch it for free now, I’ll have to buy it, and I’m not sure I want to buy this. And I still hate the name of that show. No imagination. If I can submerge my conscience long enough, I’ll start watching sometime soon. What am I thinking? Besides, I’m doing a stutter step at what I’ve read on the Army site. It seems the watchword for ‘Between the Sheets’ is peaches. Whatever the hell that means. I didn’t delve any further. I don’t want to feel any dumber than I already do.

See Diary Part 22 here.

September 1, 2010
Categories: Uncategorized . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 28 Comments

Diary of an RA Fan — Part 20 My Kingdom for a Plastic Horse

See Diary Part 19 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

Entry — Still Fall, 2008:

I joined the Armitage Army forum today. The lure of it was too much to resist any longer. My desperation to talk to others about Richard Armitage and Stanislavski and identities and art simply overcame any hesitance I had about looking like a fangurl with exploding ovaries. I want to wallow in a discussion about what I’m discovering, and IMDb is not enough. What I’ve read on the Army site has given me tons to check out, but it’s a little daunting knowing where to start.

A couple of weeks later:

I didn’t get very far. I became distracted by a discussion that may have cured me of my fascination with Richard Armitage. Me, the cheapskate, has totally had my purse strings loosened by this guy, so once again I had to buy something that had several posters atwitter. It’s amazing to me what I’ve bought in the last several months. Thankfully, this item wasn’t very expensive, but I did have it sent express mail, which costs a young fortune, and now I’m the owner of one of these.

My only problem is that I can’t let this thing see the light of day. I mean I don’t even know where to put it. I’m not quite ready to take a page out of the book of the ladies who went on about theirs. Several of them said they used their kids for cover. The little SOs would not let me do that. They would call bull on me so fast, it would make my head spin. I don’t have that luxury, so I’m stuck with this thing crammed, er, lovingly placed at the back of my lingerie drawer. I CANNOT BELIEVE I’m writing this. What’s really sad is that I’m bummed I didn’t get what I really wanted. One of these.

So much for art.

Present day:

I hid that doll so well I couldn’t find it to take a picture for this post. I moved it from the lingerie drawer so it wouldn’t be discovered there and given a significance that it doesn’t hold. Now I’m wondering where it will emerge, and what my explanation, if any, will be. LOL!

See Diary Part 21 here.

August 25, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Robin Hood . Tags: , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 20 Comments

And So It Goes

Mulubinba did a wonderful post, “The End of an Era” to honor the Armitage Army site as it closes today.

I want to add my appreciation for all of the work done there by Eli, and I send all my best wishes to her.

July 24, 2010
Categories: Fandom . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 7 Comments

The Question

Hopefully, RA has turned the proverbial corner with his fame, and journalists will not fall back on the one question that’s bound to get a bit of a visceral reaction from him. Oh, you don’t know what it is? Where have you been for the last five plus years of interviews? It seems some journalists just can’t help asking about his Army. Granted, it’s quite a feat that he raised an Army almost overnight, and the first few years it might have been interesting. Now it’s boring beyond belief. It’s just boring to those of us who follow him so closely? I doubt that.

The guy has so many more interesting things to talk about than some “middle-aged, quite well-educated, Radio 4 listeners,” who some like to send him their pants (panties as we call them in the U.S.). Phew, I got bored typing that description. Now I don’t know for sure about all the pants coming his way. Also, I’m not very familiar with Radio 4, refuse to call myself middle-aged, and I haven’t sent my pants to anyone outside my house, so I know this doesn’t apply to me. But still, who wants to hear about it? No offense to any of you middle-aged, quite well-educated, Radio 4 listeners. ;-)

I wonder how long I can wax on about this before you get bored? Oh, you’re bored already? Well, it seems the PR machine for Spooks is revving up so I’m compelled to talk about it. I really do hope journalists have enough going on in their heads that they don’t ask. But thank God the circus question has died.

I’m sure the journalists think we’re all nuts. I don’t care. If I cared, I wouldn’t be writing this blog. Wait. I’m anonymous, so I guess some part of me cares. I think, not sure, but I think that’s a healthy sign. LOL!

I did toy around with the idea of sending Richard some “orders” from the Army (Rogue Branch) where it would have been explained to him that he was not allowed to talk about it. But this post is my confession that I’m chickening out. It just isn’t my style to send something to a celebrity. Maybe it’s my pride. Oh, yeah, it’s my pride.

A fake fan letter will have to rid me of my angst:

Dear Richard,

It’s abundantly clear you have been schooled in manners. I do not remember one instance of you being impolite. You are politeness itself. But I must ask if there’s a possibility you could be rude to journalists who insist on delving into a subject that I believe makes you groan? I find myself hoping to hear that rudeness. Oh, couch it in whatever you like. Last time out was actually pretty funny. I laughed whether anyone else did. But then I don’t place myself squarely in that group you described. Could that have been a slip into a little rudeness? I don’t think so, but it was close. Oh, it was skating really closely.

Frankly, a good shit here or there might help. Perhaps you already say that, and it’s edited to insert your politely crafted manna to the fans. Maybe that wouldn’t work, since too many journalists have the persona of shrikes — impaling their subjects with questions designed to get a reaction that will inspire them to write something clever. Plus, it seems I’m remembering one interview where the shit got through (or maybe I dreamed that). That guy must not have liked you, or he was jealous. Whatever the case, I thought your reply was really honest and a breath of fresh air. No one is that polite all the time. At some point you were bound to get tired of the question. I know the fans are. Well, this fan.

Man, I sound angsty about your replies. But really I’m not angsty about your replies at all. Your replies are not the problem. I don’t care what you say if it makes the reporters stop asking the question.

Sincerely,
One of your minions in the Army

P.S. Have you ever laid eyes on the guy who came up with that name?

That felt good. I’m really getting addicted to these fake fan letters. If you haven’t tried one, do it! They are so satisfying without any of the embarrassment you would have if he really read it. Plus, I imagine the wait would be hell.

So what about Nat’s group letter? That’s special like Nat, and should stand alone. I really do hope he gets it, reads it, and most important sees Nat’s work. He would love it!

And because in recent days I’ve been remiss in posting pics, here’s one of my favorites:

Yes, it puts your focus squarely on his beautiful mouth and eyes.

Screencap courtesy of my stash.

June 27, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Interviews . Tags: , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 10 Comments

Diary of an RA Fan — Part 15 Not by Strength, But by Guile

See Diary Part 14 here, or to access all entries, hit “The Diary” tab above.

Entry — a couple of years ago minus a few months and a couple of days:

I shouldn’t have made it obvious I spent $89 to watch Richard Armitage. Will I ever hear the end of that? Probably not. Oh, well, I’ll just have to be more discreet. I just got sick of watching so much on my computer. There is a lot to be said for watching Richard on the big screen. Well, on my tv’s big screen. But I would love to see him on the big screen. WHEN IS SOMEONE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHO HE IS AND PUT HIM IN A GREAT MOVIE ROLE?! Then again, I have mixed emotions about him going to Hollywood. They seldom have anything of the caliber of North and South, and so many good parts are given to mediocre actors — Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Zach Efron. Vomit.

I’m not sure what to watch next. I did see a couple of things listed on Netflix that were not there before. YEA!! So it’s a toss up between Miss Marple and George Gently. Haven’t heard too much about those on IMDb, but I have heard incessantly about the Armitage Army. Something about ovaries exploding. I already feel like an idiot. Do I even want to go to that site? Then again, no one is going to know. I just need to hear what others thought about those shows and maybe someone there will know.

A little while later:

Blast! I have to join the site in order to surf the forum. I’m not ready for that. I guess it will be George Gently since I outgrew Miss Marple awhile ago.

A day or so later (or however long it took Netflix to get a disc to the boonies):

He’s done it again! I love this! I entered Ricky Deeming’s world. He’s a rebel and a schmuck, but he’s got a cause. I love his scathing indictment of society. Wonderfully written scene. Oh, what this guy can do when he has some great writing. Even poor writing he can deal with, but great writing? I may pass out from watching. Why can’t we have more roles like this for Richard?!! And SO ended up watching some of it. He liked it, and he didn’t even recognize Mr. Embouchure. MUHAHAHAHA. I’m not breathing a word.

I didn’t realize that AlisaGB on YouTube had some clips of it. I thought I knew all of her videos since she was so kind to upload so many clips of Robin Hood. Just like Heather, she has been a boon to me in the pursuit of watching Richard Armitage. Thank you Alisa!

[note: if you haven't seen this episode, there are spoilers in this video]

Alisa has something uploaded called “Between the Sheets.” I may check that out next!

See Diary Part 16 here.

June 24, 2010
Categories: George Gently, Spoilers . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 6 Comments

Previous page Next Page »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 2,255 other followers