Meta: Academia and Fandom: What is the Role of the Ivory Tower?

What is the relation between academia, acedmic concerns or interests, and fandom? I take up the issue at fanthropology.

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( Just follow the fake lj-cut. )

My flist is chiefly composed of acafen--both teachers and students--so I'd be very much interested in what you think on the issue. You can comment here rather than at fanthropology if you like.