Fan Culture and it’s implications towards existential authenticity
The terms “Fan Culture” and “Cult Following” frequently surface within entertainment discourse. Fan culture emerges when individuals unite over their shared passion for elements of popular culture. It manifests both virtually and in traditional settings, celebrating components such as films, music, and novels through shared communication. This epitomizes the essence of a participatory culture because fans often view interactions with media, like movies or TV shows, as rituals that enhance their connection to communities and destinations. Sociologists identify fandom as a realm where enthusiasts converge to exchange ideas and creative expressions
Now, if we pivot to Tourism and Events, Comic-Con emerges as a prime representation of fan culture. Welcoming enthusiasts from all age brackets, it offers a revered gathering space. For attendees, it’s more than just an event; it’s an immersion in pop-culture rituals and knowledge. Many enthusiasts describe Comic-Con as vital aspect of pop-culture where arts and academics come together.
Yet, it’s crucial to draw a distinction between the motives driving the fans and what drives a typical tourist. Both might traverse similar paths, consuming tourism-centric offerings, but their core motivations diverge. As entertainment avenues expand and social media bridges gaps, fan communities have found amplified platforms for interaction. It’s here we discern that Pop-Culture Tourism is tailored to cater to these fans, transforming them into a unique sub-set of tourists.
Talking from a sociological standpoint, fan culture can be linked with the theory of existential authenticity, where fans of certain pop-culture phenomenon can find their authentic self during their time on a film location or at pop-culture events like comic-con.
Therefore, interacting with destinations, these fans activate an existential relationship that is unique and can only occur while the individual is on site. Existential Authenticity is the state of simply being. This theme of authenticity doesn’t end there. Fans, with their deep-rooted passions, often align with the idea of constructive authenticity. For them, a place like the Comic-Con exhibit hall isn’t just a venue; it’s an authentic representation, resonating with their beliefs and convictions. This quest for genuine experiences and connections underscores the philosophy of tourism, elevating it beyond mere sightseeing.
References
Grinnell College. (2017). Fandom and Participatory Culture — Subcultures and Sociology. Retrieved 3 December 2019, from https://haenfler.sites.grinnell.edu/subcultural-theory-and-theorists/fandom-and-participatory-culture/
Jenkins, H. (2012). Superpowered Fans: The many worlds of San Diego’s Comic-Con. Boom: A Journal Of California, 2(2), 22–36. doi: 10.1525/boom.2012.2.2.22
Seymor, J., Lamerichs, N., & Chauvel, A. (2014). Fan Studies: Researching Popular Audiences. Inter-Disciplinary Press.
Wang, N. (1999). Rethinking authenticity in tourism experience. Annals Of Tourism Research, 26(2), 350–364. doi: 10.1016/s0160–7383(98)00103–0
