Media Fandom

3 units

This course explores the diverse ways individuals engage with, transform, and resist media texts through fandom. Students will examine the evolution of media fandom discourse and fan studies, tracing its development from early work on gender and sexuality to contemporary research addressing race, nationality, and transcultural fandoms. The course investigates the unique practices of a range of fan communities, including cult, mainstream, and genre-specific fandoms. Key topics include transformative works, the dynamics of industry-fan relationships, gatekeeping within fan communities, and the effects of fan activism. Assignments emphasize the development and application of ethical fan studies research practices. Through readings, case studies, and analysis of fan-created content, students will gain a deeper understanding of media fandom as a site of cultural production, negotiation, and identity formation.