STAN CULTURE

“We all want to live a diff erent and better life, and reading about celebrities,watching them on TV, or following them on Instagram and other social networks, makes us feel that we are participating and taking part in their glory.”

-Remez Sasson, SuccessConsciousness.com

Although some might lose touch with those in which they once idolized as they move through di erent stages in life, some allow their idols to remain constant infl uences. Included in that group, is a subgroup commonly referred to as ‘stans’. With the nickname stemming from the early 2000’s song ‘Stan’ by Eminem, one that tells the story of an imaginary fan who obsesses over the rapper’s life and attention, a stan is a type of fan who strives to uncover each detail involving the celebrity’s life. The modern stan is not quite as extreme as the song, but most still follow the philosophies of a diehard fan, one that devotes attention to all aspects of an idol’s being. Some of the most devoted fans present their dedication for a celebrity through multiple forms of expression, which can come in di erent forms. A typical stan could be seen proving their dedication through purchasing merchandise and creating social media fan accounts involving the celebrity. One example is senior Sarah Ballard, a self-described stan of pop singer Adam Levine. “I own a cardboard cutout of Adam Levine and own many concert T-shirts, along with a [Maroon 5 themed] pillowcase and blanket,” Ballard said. “I follow every band member on every platform of social media, and I am constantly liking and retweeting them.” Another case is senior Kathryn Solomon, who fulfi lled all requirements of a stan at a younger age. “As a kid, I became a stan of OneDirection after watching the movie about them,” Solomon said. “I was always updated on the drama involving each member and was constantly liking and re-tweeting all of their posts on Twitter and Instagram.” One of the most defi ning qualities of a stan is their continuous support of a celebrity, no matter the circumstances. “My favorite musical artist is Iann Dior,” junior Zhane Smith said. “I always support his music whenever it’s released and if he came to Indiana on tour I’d instantly buy tickets to see him.” Through dedication, fascination and occasional obsession, stan culture has been able to grow rapidly due to the ease of access that is available now. With the use of di erent online platforms, tools like video livestreams and discussion threads have not only made the action of stanning more popular, but has allowed for fans from all over the world to experience the content put out by their favorite creators.

10 THE ORB “Ellen Degenerous is my celebrity idol. Ellen inspires society through her acts of kindness and humanitarian acts.” Annabella Batuyong, 10 “Ethan Klein is my celebrity idol because he started from a humble background and makes everyone smile through his podcast.” Cole Comer, 10

“[My celebrity idol is] Blake Lively because she donates towards di erent youth organizations.” Darby Haase, 11 “My celebrity idol is Elon Musk. I think he is the most genuine billionaire and has his hands on a lot of di erent things” Joseph Malone, 11 “My celebrity idol is Tom Hanks because he recognizable for his good character and how genuine acts towards others.” Colin Brier, 9