No, it's not new, but the infrastructure that creates these micro-fandoms and makes them economically viable is new-ish, or at least more widespread. The comparison with concerts that attendees just want to hear the same songs (talking points) also highlights how much more of a fannish engagement it is, with the intellectual being more o…
No, it's not new, but the infrastructure that creates these micro-fandoms and makes them economically viable is new-ish, or at least more widespread. The comparison with concerts that attendees just want to hear the same songs (talking points) also highlights how much more of a fannish engagement it is, with the intellectual being more of a fan object and totem for audiences more than anything.
Especially if we look at the declining revenues for concert tours--being able to replace/supplement that with pundits on tour, the merch game, the online fostering of stan culture... I think the climate is quite different than it used to be. Obsessive fandom isn't new either (hi, Lisztomania) but it has become a big business in a way it wasn't before, which by default perpetuates and spreads it as a cultural model.
I suppose it’s possible that platforms like Substack and Twitter make it easier for pundits to gather dedicated audiences who are increasingly willing to pay to see them in the flesh.
I like to call all these sites fandom greenhouses! I've seen (and written about) the toxic fandom around anti-scientology activists, there's no subject that's safe from being shepherded in that direction when you interact on certain sites.
No, it's not new, but the infrastructure that creates these micro-fandoms and makes them economically viable is new-ish, or at least more widespread. The comparison with concerts that attendees just want to hear the same songs (talking points) also highlights how much more of a fannish engagement it is, with the intellectual being more of a fan object and totem for audiences more than anything.
Especially if we look at the declining revenues for concert tours--being able to replace/supplement that with pundits on tour, the merch game, the online fostering of stan culture... I think the climate is quite different than it used to be. Obsessive fandom isn't new either (hi, Lisztomania) but it has become a big business in a way it wasn't before, which by default perpetuates and spreads it as a cultural model.
I suppose it’s possible that platforms like Substack and Twitter make it easier for pundits to gather dedicated audiences who are increasingly willing to pay to see them in the flesh.
I like to call all these sites fandom greenhouses! I've seen (and written about) the toxic fandom around anti-scientology activists, there's no subject that's safe from being shepherded in that direction when you interact on certain sites.