Fans: The Mirror of Consumption

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Polity, Apr 8, 2005 - Social Science - 198 pages
In Fans: The Mirror of Consumption Cornel Sandvoss explores the social, cultural, and psychological premises and consequences of fan consumption. The scope of the book is impressive – he looks not just at the nature and development of whole fan cultures, but also focuses on the experience and identity of the individual fan. In addition, the book proposes a new perspective on fans and popular culture, arguing that the modern self is reflected and constituted through media consumption.

In developing his account, Sandvoss draws on theoretical ideas in an original yet accessible way, and uses a wide range of examples, from Star Trek to Madonna to football, to illustrate his argument. This makes ‘Fans: the mirror of consumption’ an ideal text for upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate students studying fans, audiences and consumption in all areas of contemporary culture.

It is the book’s original contribution, combined with its student-friendly approach, that will make ‘Fans: The Mirror of Consumption’ a ‘must read’ text for students and scholars alike.

 

Contents

Representing Fandom
1
Fandom and Power
11
Fandom between Performance and Place
44
Fandom and Psychoanalysis
67
SelfReflection and Narcissism
95
From Polysemy to Neutrosemy
123
OneDimensional Fan?
153
Notes
166
References
172
Index
189
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About the author (2005)

Cornel Sandvoss, Lecturer in the Department of Department of Culture, Media and Communication at the University of Surrey

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