Theorizing Fandom: Fans, Subculture and Identity

by Cheryl Harris (editor), Alison Alexander (editor)

Developing a theoretical perspective on the phenomenon of fandom, this work examines the role of fandom in contemporary Western society. It focuses on issues such as social class, power, and gender as themes to build an understanding of theories of fandom.

Genres: Nonfiction, Fandom, Academic, Pop Culture

257 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 1997

Reviews

[Clare]

This short review is also posted on my blog at http://inputs.wordpress.com/2008/12/2...

This is a rather useful edited collection about various media fandoms and fan practices. There is the usual stuff on slash included. Of course the book's appearance in 1998 means that it was published before the real take off of online fandom.

I particularly enjoyed (the non slash focused) chapter by Cinda Gillalan on the TV series War of the Worlds> fandom and its rejection of the hero codified by the makers of the series as being attractive to female viewers in favour of a character in the series with more marginal attributes.

[Felipe]

I did skip a few chapters (on comic book collections, couponing, and the audience as a text) as they were not immediately (or in the one case, even tangentially) relevant to my current research. However, based on what I did read (nine out of twelve chapters), I feel that I can recommend this book to anyone interested in fan studies. The papers are all very readable, and there is a nice variety in terms of subject matter and theory.

Admittedly, as a number of the papers concern internet communities, it is a little dated (it's from 1998, what do you want), but it is still very much worth a read.

Also: footnotes! Huzzah!