Fan Cultures

Download or read book Fan Cultures written by Matthew Hills and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2003-09-02 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Emphasising the contradictions of fandom, Matt Hills outlines how media fans have been conceptualised in cultural theory. Drawing on case studies of specific fan groups, from Elvis impersonators to X-Philes and Trekkers, Hills discusses a range of approaches to fandom, from the Frankfurt School to psychoanalytic readings, and asks whether the development of new media creates the possibility of new forms of fandom. Fan Cultures also explores the notion of "fan cults" or followings, considering how media fans perform the distinctions of 'cult' status.