Pennoni Honors College

Kathleen “Kat” Springer Heller

Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design Animation & Visual Effects

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Melinda Maureen Lewis Marketing & Media

Raising Fandom: The Evolution of Fan and Participatory Culture

Participatory culture, defined by Henry Jenkins, is a culture wherein consumers also act as contributors or producers. Modern media fandom - the communities formed around books, film, and television - is where it takes its most identifiable form. As a lifelong fan and creator, my research allowed me to connect myself to the theory and history of media fandom and participatory culture. I also sought to provide a window into how these communities operate and contribute to the narrative around a piece of work. The animation accompanying this presentation illustrates how a lifelong fan may experience the culture at different ages. My project seeks to give historical context to common modern fan practices, explore how modern fandom has come to be, and bring to light the community’s splendors and glooms as someone existing at the nexus of participant and researcher. Academic literature by Jenkins and his contemporaries was my springboard, though recent studies were also heavily consulted. It is important to understand the patterns of these communities in our increasingly mediatized world, as it is easier to get involved than ever. It is important to acknowledge the various effects that engagement can have on its participants.

2021 STAR Scholar