Fans, fandoms, or fanaticism?

Abstract

Research in consumer culture focuses on the role of fans in creating social spaces or fandoms in contrast with larger society, where new cultural meanings and values are socially negotiated. Drawing on media and cultural studies, this article describes fandoms as a process rooted in the larger phenomenon of fanaticism and its interaction with the current society. The article posits the study of fanaticism as a fruitful lens for a deeper understanding of the role of consumption and brands in today’s consumer societies.