The Area Chair for Stardom and Fandom invites paper or panel proposals on any aspect of stardom or fandom. The list of ideas below is limited, so if you have an idea that is not listed, please suggest the new topic. The organizers encourage submissions from multiple perspectives and disciplines. Topics might include:
- Studies of individual celebrities and their fans, both current and historical
- Studies focused on specific fandoms – films, television programs, books, bands, etc.
- The reciprocal relationship between stars and fans
- Impact of celebrity and fame on identity construction, reconstruction and sense of self
- Reality television, YouTube celebrities, and the changing definition of ‘stardom’
- The impact of social media on celebrity/fan interaction
- Celebrity/fame addiction as cultural change
- The intersection of stars and fans in virtual and physical spaces (Twitter, Tumblr, conventions)
- Celebrity and the construction of persona
- Pedagogical approaches to teaching stardom and fandom
- Anti-fans and ‘haters’
- Fan shame, wank, and fandom policing
- Gendered constructions of stars and fans
- Historical studies of fandom and fan/celebrity interaction
All proposals must be submitted through the conference’s database at http://register.southwestpca.org/southwestpca
The deadline for submissions is November 1, 2018.
Contact: Lynn Zubernis, PhD: lzubernis@wcupa.edu