About the lecture

In this lecture, we discuss stereotypes surrounding fans and fandom. In particular, we focus on: (i) how William Shatner's "Get a life" sketch perpetuates negative stereotypes about fans, such as living in parents' basements and being obsessed with trivial details; (ii) how "Blinded by the Light" offers a different perspective on fandom, showing fans as social, creative, and exploratory individuals; (iii) how Lupin, a TV show, portrays being a fan as an adult identity passed down between generations, challenging the notion of fandom as an arrested adolescent identity; (iv) how fans are shown to be better parents as they engage with their children about media and see it as a resource for parenting; and (v) how fans come from diverse backgrounds, including women and people of colour.

About the lecturer

Professor Henry Jenkins is Provost Professor of Communication, Journalism, Cinematic Arts and Education at the University of Southern California, Annenberg. He specialises in media studies and fandom. With this in mind, he has published widely, including Textual Poachers: Television Fans and Participatory Culture, Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide, Spreadable Media: Creating Meaning and Value in a Networked Culture, By Any Media Necessary: The New Youth Activists, Popular Culture and the Civic Imagination: Case Studies of Creative Social Change and Comics and Stuff.