SALON: Fandom and American Political Culture

Writing in the midst of the 2019 Democratic Presidential, New York Times essayist Amanda Hess argued that fandom is “now a dominant mode of experiencing politics.” Indeed, our current political moment is filled with examples. Elizabeth Warren’s supporters call her Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter readers have likened Betsy Devos to Delores Umbridge. The K-pop community has united to troll Trump campaign rallies and raise funds for Black Lives Matter. Harry Styles fans have attempted to mobilize his image as a populist figure, and Bernie Sanders followers have proven themselves devoted Stans through two election cycles. The turn toward popular culture fandom has introduced new practices into political campaigning, created new networks for political action, and offered citizens new ways to think about what it means to be politically engaged. This salon will examine these developments and more, with a focus on the question: how do citizens marshal the incredible resources of fandom to participate in American political culture?

Participation: Amber Davisson (Keene University), Ashley Hinck (Xavier University), Kyra Hunting (University of Kentucky), Lucy Miller (Texas A&M University), Ashika Paramita  (Deakin University), U. Bruce Texx (St. Cloud State University)

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