We all think that fans are at least slightly loopy, right? With their crazy fantasies, virtual communities, fan conventions...
There have been a number of ways to categorize and stereotype the typical fan. However, there are two which seem more prominent to me, over the rest. The first is the description of the fan as 'pathological'. According to this typification, there are two models or types of this 'pathological' fan. Firstly, there is the 'obsessed loner', who, under influences by the media, constructs a fantasy relationship with a celebrity. This leads them to stalk, threaten or even kill the celebrity. The second type is the 'frenzied or hysterical member of a crowd' where the fan acts irrationally by shouting or misbehaving at an event. There have been arguments that the fan can be seen to suffer from a type of psychological inadequacy and be vulnerable to influences from the media and crowds. These types of fans are further characterized by their desire to have contact with a celebrity or famous figure in order to make up for their inadequate lives. Drawing on this 'obsessed loner' concept, these fans develop "relationships" with the celebrities and attend concerts and events to create an illusion of a community. After all this, we can see a division between fans and non-fans emerge. People who consider themselves to be non-fans would accuse the 'others' of being abnormal.
On the other hand, and moving away from this very cynical approach, we can also look at the creativity of fans. We have studied the emergence of fan communities and the productivity of fans through semiotics and texts. Fans do actually form their own communities revolving around, for example, a certain band or a movie star. They may also attend conventions where they can dress up like their favourite character from a film, like a large number of Star Wars and Star Trek fans do. With these aspects in mind, this provides a balance with the pessimistic look at fan culture above. However, the effect of the pathological metaphor applied to the fan is more lasting albeit very radical than the other accounts to render them as 'creative'.
There have been a number of ways to categorize and stereotype the typical fan. However, there are two which seem more prominent to me, over the rest. The first is the description of the fan as 'pathological'. According to this typification, there are two models or types of this 'pathological' fan. Firstly, there is the 'obsessed loner', who, under influences by the media, constructs a fantasy relationship with a celebrity. This leads them to stalk, threaten or even kill the celebrity. The second type is the 'frenzied or hysterical member of a crowd' where the fan acts irrationally by shouting or misbehaving at an event. There have been arguments that the fan can be seen to suffer from a type of psychological inadequacy and be vulnerable to influences from the media and crowds. These types of fans are further characterized by their desire to have contact with a celebrity or famous figure in order to make up for their inadequate lives. Drawing on this 'obsessed loner' concept, these fans develop "relationships" with the celebrities and attend concerts and events to create an illusion of a community. After all this, we can see a division between fans and non-fans emerge. People who consider themselves to be non-fans would accuse the 'others' of being abnormal.
On the other hand, and moving away from this very cynical approach, we can also look at the creativity of fans. We have studied the emergence of fan communities and the productivity of fans through semiotics and texts. Fans do actually form their own communities revolving around, for example, a certain band or a movie star. They may also attend conventions where they can dress up like their favourite character from a film, like a large number of Star Wars and Star Trek fans do. With these aspects in mind, this provides a balance with the pessimistic look at fan culture above. However, the effect of the pathological metaphor applied to the fan is more lasting albeit very radical than the other accounts to render them as 'creative'.
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