From Star Wars to Taylor Swift to PSV, there is so much to be a fan of, and these days there are endless ways to express your deepest support. Media scholar Abby Waysdorf explains in this lecture (recorded on May 24, 2023), how the nature of fandom has changed a lot over the past decades, and what sometimes unexpected implications this has for media, industry, and politics.
Dr. Abby Waysdorf is an assistant professor of media studies in the Humanities department at Utrecht University. She has a background in media and performance studies, with a particular focus on sports media and fandom. Her PhD research focused on the phenomenon of film tourism and fan use of place. Her research interests focus on fandom, audience practices, the television industry, and how all of these interact.