Opening Doors: African Fan Personas and the Growth of Fan Studies Perspectives

Natalie Le Clue

doi:10.21153/psj2024vol10no2art2061

Authors

Natalie Le Clue Cape Peninsula University of Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3224-139X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21153/psj2024vol10no2art2061

Keywords:

Fan Studies, Global South, Participation, Political Discourse, Online Discourse, African Fan Studies

Abstract

Traditionally, political affiliation has proven to be one of the most fruitful mechanisms to create division and derision amongst the voting masses. So polarising is the topic of politics that it has coined its own phrase – political divide. Drawing from insights in fan studies, this article explores toxic fan practices within political fandom, as highlighted by Petersen et al. (2023) and Le Clue (2024). It examines the participation and practices of online users/fans within South African politics by focusing on the use of #voestsekanc via X (formerly Twitter) as a case study.
In the constantly evolving landscapes of online communities, fan studies provides a lens to comprehend the complexity of participation and engagement, which can both empower and disempower individuals (Pearson 2010, p. 84). Despite this level of agency, the representation of African voices in fan studies is severely limited, which excludes the possibility of a comprehensive understanding of online dynamics within the African context. Therefore, this paper expands the scope of fan studies beyond Western perspectives and contributes to a more diverse scholarly discourse within this field of study.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Natalie Le Clue, Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Dr Natalie Le Clue is a media lecturer at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa. She specialises in fan studies, with a particular focus on television studies and fairy tale mythology. Her research examines toxic fan practices and their impact on fan communities and media environments.”
In addition to the forthcoming edited collection Beyond Fandom: The Dark Side of Social Media Discourse she has also edited Gender and Female Villains in 21st Century Fairy Tale Narratives: From Evil Queens to Wicked Witches and Gender and the Male Character in 21st-Century Fairy Tale Narratives: From Enchanted heroes to modern masculinities.

References

Akinwotu, E, & Bartlett, K 2024, In a historic election, South Africa's ANC loses majority for the first time, www.npr.org, Last Updated: 1 June 2024, retrieved 17 September 2024, <https://www.npr.org/2024/06/01/nx-s1-4987616/south-africa-election-results>.

Booth, P, Davisson, A, Hess, A, et al. 2019, Poaching politics: online communication during the 2016 US presidential election, Peter Lang Incorporated, New York.

Busse, K, & Hellekson, K (eds) 2006, Fan Fiction and Fan Communities in the Age of the Internet, McFarland & Company, Jefferson.

de Wildt, L, & Aupers, S 2024, ‘Participatory conspiracy culture: Believing, doubting and playing with conspiracy theories on Reddit’, Convergence, 30(1), pp. 329-346, https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565231178914

Dean, J 2017, ‘Politicising fandom’, The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 19(2), pp. 408-424.

— 2019, ‘Sorted for Memes and Gifs: Visual Media and Everyday Digital Politics’, Political Studies Review, 17(3), pp. 255-266, https://doi.org/10.1177/1478929918807483

Driessen, S, Jones, B, & Litherland, B 2024, ‘From fan citizenship to ‘fanspiracies’: Politics and participatory cultures in times of crisis?’, Convergence, 30(1), pp. 304-312.

Duffett, M 2013, Understanding Fandom: An Introduction to the Study of Media Fan Culture, Bloomsbury Publishing USA.

Evans, A & Stasi, M 2014, ‘Desperately seeking methods: new directions in fan studies research’, Participations, 11(2), pp. 4-23.

Hills, M 2017, ‘Always-on fandom, waiting and bingeing: Psychoanalysis as an engagement with fans’ “infraordinary” experiences’, in J Gray, C Sandvoss, & C L Harrington (eds), The Routledge Companion to Media Fandom, Routledge, New York, pp. 18-26

Hinck, A 2019, Politics for the love of fandom: Fan-based citizenship in a digital world, Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge.

Jenkins, H 2009, Confronting the challenges of participatory culture: Media education for the 21st century, The MIT Press, Cambridge.

Kristensen, N N & Haastrup, H K 2018, ‘Cultural Critique: Re-negotiating cultural authority in digital media culture’, MedieKultur: Journal of media and communication research, 65, pp. 3-9.

Le Clue, N 2024, ‘The new normal: Online political fandom and the co-opting of morals’, Convergence, 30(1), pp. 347-357, https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565231190343

Le Clue, N & Vermaak-Griessel, J 2022 ‘Artificial Feminism: Fan Reaction to the Representation of Captain Marvel’, in S Gerrard & R Middlemost (eds), Gender and Action Films 2000 and Beyond, Emerald Publishing Limited, Bingley, pp. 73-85.

— 2023, ‘X-files till I DIE: Fan memory from the X-Philes’, in J Fenwick & D A Rodgers (eds), The Legacy of The X-Files. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, New York, pp. 207-218.

Marshall, P D, Moore, C & Barbour, K 2020, Persona Studies: An Introduction. Wiley Blackwell, Hoboken.

Mbalula, F 2020, ‘Good morning twittermantarians’, @mbalulafikile, Twitter, 10 August, retrieved 12 December 2022, <https://twitter.com/mbalulafikile/status/1292747148241645570?s=21>.

Mkentane, L 2022 ANC support is at 41%, opinion poll shows. www.businesslive.co.za. Last Updated: 9 November 2022, retrieved 13 December 2022, <https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2022-11-09-anc-support-is-at-41percent-opinion-poll-shows>.

Mkhabela, M 2022, The Enemy Within, Tafelberg, Cape Town.

Pearson, R 2010, ‘Fandom in the Digital Era’, Popular Communication, 8, pp. 84.

Petersen, L N, Reinhard, C D, Dannar, A, & Le Clue, N 2024, ‘New territories for fan studies: The insurrection, QAnon, Donald Trump and fandom’, Convergence, 30(1), pp. 313-328, https://doi.org/10.1177/13548565231174587

Reinhard, C D, Stanley, D, & Howell, L 2022, ‘Fans of Q: The stakes of QAnon’s functioning as political fandom’, American behavioral scientist 66(8), pp.1152-1172.

Proctor, W, Kies, B, Chin, B, Larsen, K, McCulloch, R, Pande, R & Stanfill, M 2018, ‘On toxic fan practices: A round-table’, Participations, 15(1), pp. 370-393.

Tewolde, A 2023, Operation Dudula’s xenophobia is a blight on South Africa, www.mg.co.za, Last Updated: 9 November 2023, retrieved on 30 September 2024, <https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2023-11-09-operation-dudulas-xenophobia-is-a-blight-on-south-africa/>.