Fan Cultures

by Matt Hills

Fans are one of the most widely-studied groups of media consumers. Often knowing more about a character or series than the star or program-makers themselves, and ready to make active, sometimes surprising readings of plot lines and characters, they are the ultimate active audience.

Fan Cultures is the first comprehensive overview of fans and fan theory. Emphasising the contradictions of fandom, Matt Hills outlines the ways in which fans have been conceptualised in cultural theory and challenges many of these established paradigms. Hills draws on case studies of specific groups, such as Elvis impersonators, X-Philes and Trekkers, and discusses a range of approaches to fandom. Taking all of this into account, he ultimately questions whether the development of new media creates the possibility of new forms of fandom and explores the significance of the term 'cult' for media fans.

Matt Hills is Lecturer in Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University. He is co-editor of Intensities: The Journal Of Cult Media (http://intensities.org/).

Genres: Nonfiction, Fandom, Academic, Pop Culture, Sociology, Theory, Psychology

237 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2002

Reviews

[John Carter McKnight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've heard this book referred to as a classic of academic fan studies, so felt obligated to bear with it. I have to confess to skimming/skipping most of the back half, however.

Much of the book is preoccupied with academic sniping and one-upmanship: given that Hills critiques some of the worst of 1990s postmodernist third-rate claptrap, on the one hand, it's understandable. On the other hand, it's barrel-fishing.

Hills is particularly fond of the term "cult," which he claims fans use self-referentially. This may be an example of a UK term unproblematically assigned to US fandom, or of something else. The only times I've ever heard the term used outside a UK context are to refer to low-budget horror movies, "alternative" (not indie) comics, and only by Baby Boomers. Thus, the back half, which focuses on theorizing the term "cult," seems to miss the mark.

Internet fandom is only mentioned in a few pages in the Conclusion, though the literature on online fannish practices, even by 2002, was extensive and sophisticated.

The "fandoms" he describes aren't ones I recognize, despite having been fairly immersed in both academic and practical fandom in the era he writes about. While he ranges from X-Files location tours to Elvis impersonators, Hills seems to view fandom through coke-bottle lenses of male Whovianism. In an era where US fandom seemed to be predominantly an emergent women's discourse, women are strangely silent and absent from this book.

There are some good bits, particularly in the early chapters about ethnographic method and the aca/fan conflict and awkwardness of positioning. Much of the book, though, was just oddly detached from other contemporary studies of fandom.

[Jessica Dyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The theoretical discussion that collates foundation research on popular cultural that studies (such as Jenkins, Marx, Adorno, Bourdieu) is highly beneficial. However the focus of hegemony to highlight the relationship between the fan and academic is widely miss appropriated. When discussing gender impersonation and slasher fiction, there is a lack of actual conversation on marginalised fandom and how the central arguments need to be critiqued to facilitate those experiences. As a reader this feels like a natural focus because the point of Hills work is to critique “moral dualism” which is presented in fandom culture as their mirror social political hierarchical structures - so where is the deeper and critical exploration that is so needed.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hills>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Jenkins

[Rebecca]

Dissertation reading~

[Virginia Rand · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I picked this up I didn't realize it was academic. Maybe I'll try again at a later date. :-/

[Taylor Ellwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author explores fandom as a culture from the lens of religion, cult enthusiasm, and psychology. He offers an alternative perspective to the works of other pop culture studies academics. I found his insights about pop culture fandom and religion to be particularly fascinating. This book will give you a lot to consider about how fandom engages pop culture and makes it part of their lives, as well as what can be learned by exploring fandom from disciplines outside the norms of cultural studies. What I also found insightful was hit detailed exploration of the hierarchy of fan culture, which was useful for understanding how fan communities work. If you are interested in pop culture studies or pop culture in general, this is a good book to read.

[Casey Browne · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author explores fandom as a culture from the lens of religion, cult enthusiasm, and psychology. He offers an alternative perspective to the works of other pop culture studies academics. I found his insights about pop culture fandom and religion to be particularly fascinating. This book will give you a lot to consider how fandom engages pop culture and makes it part of their lives and what can be learned by exploring fandom from disciplines outside the norms of cultural studies. I also found insightful was hit detailed exploration of the hierarchy of fan culture, which was useful for understanding how fan communities work. If you are interested in pop culture studies or pop culture in general, this is a good book to read.

[Vi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hills' book deals little with fandom and members of fandom. Fan Cultures is a a critique of other theorists who have written about fandom and Hills' ideas of how fan cultures can be better theorized. Though he makes some good observations and critiques of other scholars that write on fan cultures, a strong knowledge of both scholarship in this field and fandom itself is necessary to contextualize many of Hills' assertions. A useful text for those involved in fan culture scholarship, but the book does little to advance the field in terms of new research.

[erin cosens · Rating 2 out of 5]

if you've ever been a fan of anything, then the knowledge in this book is already intuitive to you.

[Heatherblakely · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more of an overview of theories on fan culture than I wanted it to be. I wish there had been more of Hill's own opinions, research, and theories than there was.

[Stotropama Mukherjee]

One of the most amazing books that tells you, you are not alone in your endeavours and pursues regarding fandom.