Displaying my fandoms


Displaying my fandoms
by Jen Davies, nerd
May 6, 2026

Happy May the Fourth (belated)!

I've worked in roles where displaying my nerd side hasn't always been possible. For instance, my primary profession is counsellor, which means that as a rule I don't share a lot about myself at all! Until recently I worked as a middle-manager in colleges and universities which also meant that a significant amount of "professionalism" (suit jackets, meetings with agendas, and staying on track) were required for relationship maintenance both inside and outside the institution. And more recently as a professor I can be a little free-er, but I also have to stay on-topic in class and as such there isn't always room for nerdiness (though I do my best to bring it in once or twice each term).

But my car is my own, and while I used to eschew bumper stickers, I decided when I got a new (to me) vehicle last year that I would decorate the heck out of the rear end. Nobody can tell me I can't make my car nerdy, and it turns out this is a popular model of SUV, so mine is way easier to find in the parking lot with all this colour on it.

You might notice first that all but one of these bumper stickers is science fiction related. Can you name them all? I'll include the list below.

I can vividly remember times in my life when I felt shy about sharing the things that I was excited about. Somewhere in my late thirties I decided that I didn't care if people judged me for liking nerdy things, because that's what I like. I'm too old to be "cool" anymore anyway.

I love science fiction (I have seen Project Hail Mary twice and it's only busy-ness that kept me from seeing it a third time). I love action movies (not rom coms). I love art/movies/theatre that makes me uncomfortable (Waiting for Godot is one of my favourite pieces of theatre). There's a huge range of music that I love, from metal and hard rock like Big Wreck and Jack White through EDM and instrumental music like The Chainsmokers and movie soundtracks (Hans Zimmer, Cliff Martinez [eg Drive] and Johann Johannsson [eg Arrival] especially).

Let me encourage you to embrace your fandoms too.








Bumper stickers from top to bottom and left to right:

The Mandolorian (Star Wars)
Rey and Kylo Ren (Star Wars)
Rebel Alliance (and it says in small print, "I have friends everywhere" which is an Andor reference - Star Wars)
Darth Vader (Star Wars)
USCSS Nostromo (Alien)
So say we all (Battlestar Galactica - I prefer the newer series)
Sacred Harp (a kind of music I like to sing - this is my favourite song: https://youtu.be/EqWd0912bQ0)

Doctor Who's TARDIS
TIE fighter (Star Wars)
Tyrell Corporation (Bladerunner)
weird symbols from Twin Peaks
Kylo Ren (Star Wars)
I must not fear... (Dune)
I am one with the Force... (Star Wars)

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