Whether it is the loss of their favorite band or their football team’s defeat, fans often protest when they feel that their interests are threatened. For example, when author Arthur Conan Doyle killed off beloved character Sherlock Holmes in 1893, fans rioted, forcing the author to relent and bring the detective back. While many fans have resisted attempts to politicize fandom, it is clear that the ability of fans to protest at injustices can be significant for social change.
When reporting on a fan protest story, it is important to highlight the reason for the demonstration and to share details that help humanize the person at the center of the event. For example, by providing a brief description of a person’s hobbies or family life, it can be easier for readers to connect with that person and the protest. This approach can also promote positive attitudes toward the person and the protest.
This issue of Civic Paths features three essays on fan activism that offer a range of different and complementary frames for understanding how this type of social action works. Contributors from the interdisciplinary Civic Paths team address core debates surrounding fan activism, including the tension between resistance and participation as competing models of political engagement, the value of media worlds, and the relationship between affect and fandom. By offering new insights into how fan activism operates, these contributions add to the growing literature on participatory culture and public spheres.