Leisure time today is driven by fandom. Comic book movies dominate the
box office. Sporting events are among the biggest draws on television. Gaming
brings in the most money of any entertainment field. In the past, to be a fan
was to be an outcast, a social pariah, a geek. Now the “fanboy” is the vanguard
and demands study. But fandom is a coat of many colors. Sports fans, comic
collectors, gamers, cosplayers – they are all part of that patchwork. Some
fandoms are long-established and are starting to mutate. Gamers, for instance,
have moved beyond the console and into darker realms where conspiracy theories,
misogyny, and racism meld into a toxic brew. Some fandoms are being enriched.
Consumer brands have always had fans, but now companies recognize the potential
for such loyalists. Fans who not only buy a product, but who actually
incorporate a product or a brand into their own identity are the most
sought-after customers. Marketers are now working hard to make such meaningful
connections. Some fandoms are still developing. Cosplayers (costume play), for
instance, have moved from subculture oddity to headlining conventions. Research
on these fandom trends is desperately needed. Other fandoms have been
completely ignored. For instance, the secondary sports fan exists, but few
studies have explored this topic. Many people identify a second team to follow
or cheer for if their primary team is not available. Not every team makes it to
the World Cup or the playoffs. But people often identify a favorite in such
competitions beyond their primary teams. What are the motivations for such? The
goal of this edited collection is to offer insight into these developments –
insights that will prove both useful to researchers and will add to the
existing body of knowledge for popular culture.
This book will aim to offer original research reviewing some of most
exigent facets of today’s fandom. Chapters will highlight under-studied
cultures of fandom as well as emerging intricacies of established fandom. The
scholarship presented will run the gamut of both paradigm and
methodology—taking both qualitative and quantitative approaches, both social
science and critical perspectives. The authors themselves will also represent a
wide array of backgrounds, including media studies, communication studies,
theater, and the professional world. The common thread among all of the authors
will be that fandom is an important facet in today’s society worth studying and
that such enthusiasm and support shapes not only the fan but also society at
large.
The target audience comprises classroom students, academic scholars, and
any member of the public who wants a deeper understanding of what it means to
be a fan in today’s society. These are audiences who not only want but need
this research as these areas of interest are so new that there is a very real
dearth in available literature. That is perhaps the biggest strength of this book:
its utility as a primary source for researchers. Thus, this book will also find
a place in libraries.
Recommended Topics:
- Anime fandom/animation fandom
- Brand fandom
- Cosplay
- Fan art
- Fan conventions
- Fan fiction
- Fantasy fandom
- Gamer culture
- Gamergate
- Influencer fandom
- Literary fandom
- Movie fandom
- Music fandom/K-pop fandom
- Professional wrestling fandom
- Queer fandom
- Science fiction fandom
- Sports fandom
- Toxic fandom
- TV fandom
- Vidding/fan labor
This book is scheduled to be published by IGI-Global (formerly Idea
Group Inc.), publisher of the "Information Science Reference"
(formerly Idea Group Reference), "Medical Information Science
Reference," "Business Science Reference," and "Engineering Science
Reference" imprints. For additional information regarding the publisher,
please visit IGI-Global. This publication is anticipated to be released
in 2020.
Important Dates
August 5, 2019: Proposal Submission Deadline
September 20, 2019: Notification of Acceptance
October 18, 2019: Full Chapter Submission
November 17, 2019: Review Results Returned
January 12, 2019: Final Acceptance Notification
January 26, 2020: Final Chapter Submission
Robert Andrew Dunn, PhD
Department of Media and Communication
(423) 439-4170
dunnra@etsu.edu
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