Page numbers listed correspond to the print edition of this book. You can use your device’s search function to locate particular terms in the text.
Note: Page numbers after 257 refer to notes.
adolescence, extension of, 73–74
advertising, 11, 43
and authenticity, 205–7
and marketing arms race, 64–67
and Saturday-morning cartoons, 72
video, 65
web banner, 65
Aladdin (movie), 105
Ali, Muhammad, 114
American Apparel, 43
American Revolution, 10
Andrews, Erin, 206
anime, 79
anonymity, 76
Apple, 87, 96–97, 213
approachability, 217
Archie Comics, 240
art, and commerce, 43–44
ASPCA, 116
audience engagement, 11, 18–19, 214; see also fandom
Austen, Jane, Pride and Prejudice, 131–32, 133, 134
authenticity, 179, 195–220
and advertising, 205–7
in fan relationships, 215–16
and values, 212–13
and wrestling, 195–203, 208, 218–20
Avengers (movies), 31
avocados, 278–79
B-52s, 100
Back to the Future (movie), 33
Baldwin, Adam, 210–11
Bane, Jenn, 170
Banksy (street artist), 63
Barrett, William, 86
Barth, Karl Heinrich, 4
Bartle Bogle Hegarty, 64
BBC Worldwide, 114
beards, 103–4
Beaudoin, Tom, 53
Beauty and the Beast (movie), 105
Becket, St. Thomas, 7
Bellomo, Eileen “Snooky,” 98–101
Bellomo, Tish, 98–101
Berkshire Hathaway:
and ritual consumption, 40
shareholders’ meeting, 21–30, 34, 47
and superfans’ motivations, 34–35, 36, 47–48
Beth (customer service), xi
Bethesda Game Studios, 191–92
Bible, as source of fan fiction, 7–9, 10
Bieber, Justin, 39–40, 41
Big Apple Circus, 85
Big Name Fans, 161
Black Rock Desert, Burning Man in, 93–97
Blondie (band), 51
Bloomberg, Michael R., 107
Bonanos, Christopher, 52, 54
Bond, James (fict.), 119–21, 137, 235
Boorstin, Daniel J., 63
Bosman, André, 53–54
boy bands, 64
Boy Scouts of America, 115
Braff, Zach, 188
Brandgenuity, 115
brands:
and bottom line, 12
and business imperatives, 222, 229
and control, 177, 222
fan interactions with, 12, 32, 178–79
fan-led revivals of, 74–76
fan reliance on, 204
“feel-good,” 212–13
logos of, 13
marketing of, 66
paraphernalia of, 133
Brees, Drew, 206
“Bronies,” 74
Brooklyn, Greenpoint neighborhood in, 180
Brooklyn Nets, 174–76, 193
Brooks, Mel, 37
Brown, Stephen, 230, 239
“Browncoats,” 209–11, 213
Brunzell, Jim, 197
Bud Light, 41–42, 229
Buffett, Warren, 22–30, 34–35
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (movie/TV), 208, 235
Burberry, 242
burlesque, 198
Burning Man, 93–97
Cadillac Escalade, 177
Calling All Girls, 237
Candy Crush game, 37
Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, 65
Cannon, Nick, 206
Can’t Stop the Serenity, 211
Captain America, 112
Captain Marvel, 238
Card, Orson Scott, Ender’s Game, 105
“Cardenfreude,” 181
Cards Against Humanity (CAH), 167–74, 181–82, 184, 189, 193
Carr, Evan, 69, 71
Cartoon Network, 114
Cash, Johnny, 204
Cavicchi, Daniel, 5, 6
CBGB music club, 98
celebrities:
context of, 63–64
cultural fascination with, 105
as “human pseudo-events,” 63
information about, 10
name-dropping the product, 11
and their fans, 189
character merchandising, 13
Charles (general counsel), ix, xiv–xv
Chaucer, Geoffrey, Canterbury Tales, 7, 34
“chavs,” “Chav Check,” 242
childhood, and commercialized play, 73
child labor, 126–27
chocolate slavery, 126–29
Cirque du Soleil, 85
City of Dreadful Night (Siegel), 205
Civil War, U.S., 5
Club 33, Disneyland, 146–48
Cobb, Jayne (fict.), 209
Coca-Cola, 115
robust fandom of, 156
Small World Machines of, 60–61
and Surge, 67–72, 75, 79
Cock and Feathers, 86
collections, creating, 40–41, 62
Collins, Marcus, 207
Collins, Suzanne, 104
comic books:
characters important in, 13
and fan revolts, 235–39
fridging in, 236
Japanese manga, 238–39, 240
online, 239
popularity of, 237
skewed demographics of, 239–40
superhero movies based on, 238
Comic-Con, 11, 93, 111, 209
Comics Code Authority, 237
communities, formation of, 33–34, 37
Condry, Ian, 13, 15
conformity, transcendence in, 124
connectivity, 6–7, 74, 75–76, 153
consumption:
changes in, 66
and context, 204–5
and the creator, 19
in the experience economy, 186
ritual, 40
and social media, 66, 103, 215
turning consumers into fans, 42–45
vs. participation, 10, 29–30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 128, 129
vs. production, 18–19
Conte, Jack, 43–44, 46–47
content creation, 35–36, 42–44, 61, 189–93, 241
context:
coming-of-age stories, 68
and consumers, 204–5
creation of, 62–64, 66–67, 176–77
hard to control, 66
and identity, 137
use of term, 62
conventions, for fans, 75, 87, 124
convergence, 19
Cook, William, 120, 121
Cooper, Susan, The Dark Is Rising, 105
copyright protection, 14
Corgi, Squishable, ix
corporate bureaucracy, 218, 221, 246
corporate mascots, 242
corporate voice, 173, 189, 193
Corridor Digital, 46
cosplay, defined, 39
counterculture, 84, 89, 97, 98, 105
Cova, Bernard, 124
crafts movement, 85
Crane, Luke, 183, 187–88
Creative Commons, 17, 172
crowdfunding, 42
Cards Against Humanity, 182, 184
Kickstarter, viii–ix, 42, 44, 180–89
Patreon, 43–47, 188
rewards, 182, 184–85, 188, 189
Shadowrun Returns, 186
Surge, 70
crowdsourcing, and marketing, 11
Crypton Future Media, 12–14, 17
customer service, fan-generated, 69–70
Cyrus, Miley, 16, 172
Darkside Social Club, 143
Dawn, Jenna, 84
Dead Kennedys, 51
DeConnick, Kelly Sue, 238, 239, 240
DeGeorge, Paul, 128
DeLorean automobiles, 32–33
deregulation, 72, 219
Despicable Me (movie), 112, 113
DeStasio, Jesse, 113, 114, 116, 117–18
Devigne, Guillaume, 14, 16
Diplo (DJ), 173
disclaimers, 246
Disney, Walt, 142, 148, 166; see also Walt Disney Company
Disneybounding, 158–60
Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, 140
Club 33 in, 146–48
collectible pins, 143
“Dapper Day” in, 142
Diamond Celebration, 143
loyal fan base of, 142
Mad T Party, 165–66
social clubs of, 142–52, 164–66; see also social clubs
Disney World, Orlando, 142
Distilled Spirits Council, 223
Doctorow, Cory, 243, 245
Doctor Who (TV), 36, 79, 142
dopamine, 207–8
Downton Abbey (TV), 116
Drake, Alice, 1–4, 9, 248
Dr Pepper, 69
Duggan, James Edward Jr. “Hacksaw,” 195–98
Dumbo, 158
eccentricity, 9
“echo boom” generation, 72
Einstein, Albert, 88
Ekya, Sarita and Caesar, 216–17
Elder Scrolls V, The: Skyrim, 191–92, 193
Empire Strikes Back, The (movie), 33
Esurance, 242
Etsy, 210
Europe, Grand Tour of, 1
evangelization, 36–37
evergreen property, 114
exceptionalism, 104–7
experience economy, 186
extreme sports, 11
Fabio, Michelle, 244–45
Facebook:
changes in, 251
“like-gated” content on, 36–37, 75
Surge Movement on, 69, 71
face paint, 38
facial hair, male, 103–4
fair trade chocolate, 127–29
families of choice, 124
fandom:
academic studies of, 86–87, 96, 163, 201
and access, 9–11
and audience engagement, 11, 18–19, 214
autobiography of, 118
collaborating with, 176–79, 216
as commercial activity, 60–62, 67, 111–18, 212
communities formed in, 33–34, 37, 75, 85, 125, 155, 229
conservative nature of, 17, 230–31
and consumption, 29–30, 32, 34, 42–45, 128, 129
creating context for, 62–64, 66–67
and crowdfunding, 47, 70
democratization of, 9–12
dissatisfaction in, 176
evolution of, 155, 251
expectations in, 17
as externally generated branding, 67, 179
goals of, 62
“good for you,” 154
as human instinct, 6–9
as identity shorthand, 132–37, 221
immersion in world of, 11–12, 32
in-person interactions in, 35
insults to, 213–16
international, 127
Internet-based, 74–79
and loyalty, 174, 212–13
and mental health, 122–24
nostalgia-based, 74, 216–18
origin stories, 152–53
“othering,” 216
as personal expression, 101–4, 118, 221
personal passion in, 61
public criticisms of, 18
purpose of, 67, 118
reasons for, 41–42, 125, 153–55
as rebellion, 90, 92, 105–6
recipe for, 61
resisting change, 17, 230–31
respect for, 187–89
scripted, make-believe roles of, 164
secret, 34
as self-expression, 101–4
and sense of self, 213
skill set developed in, 154
Smart Fans, 200, 203–4, 212
as social activity, 6–7, 34, 37–38, 85, 124–26, 155, 214
and social class, 89–91, 95–97, 103, 156–57
and social monetization, 183–85
as social re-creation, 91–93, 96
sports, 122–24
suspension of disbelief in, 212–13, 228
and time, 156–57
as transformative experience, 152, 154
uses of the term, 7, 32–34, 61
as utopia, 86–87, 88–89, 90, 92, 95, 96, 102, 126
fan fiction:
Bible as source of, 7–9, 10
creation of, 10, 79
fanfiction.net, 121
fan groups:
backlash from, 187–89, 221, 226–48; see also fan revolts
creation of, 241
dealing with, 173–74, 192–93, 234–35, 246–48, 249–52
feedback interaction with, 123
influence on producers, 19, 56, 129
membership in, 124–26
natural life cycle of, 248
self-selected, 239, 240
as self-sustaining, 76, 155–58
single-audience model, 240
“tribal colors” of, 38, 126
“us vs. them” mentality, 104, 246
see also fandom; social clubs
fanlike activities, 34
content creation, 35–36, 42–44, 61, 189–93, 241
creating collections, 40–41, 62
discovery cost for, 75
evangelization, 36–37
fan mail, 249–50, 252
impersonation, 38–39
pilgrimages, 7, 34–35
rituals and traditions, 39–40, 41, 146, 151
socialization, 37–38, 62
fan management, 173–74, 192–93, 222, 246–48
fan objects:
collecting, 11, 40–41
context created for, 62–64, 66, 176–77, 241
created by fan base, 13–14, 19, 35–36, 61, 126, 216
fan codependence on, 18
fan interactions with, 12, 156–57, 188, 193, 216
filling a need, 122, 153
first encounter with, 153
as functional artifacts, 133
hijacking, 241–46
holiness of, 34
identification with, 125, 133, 137, 153, 213
licensing deals for, 112–16, 118, 126, 137
as money makers, 60–62
and owners vs. fans, 229
and proof of participation, 40
pseudomagical powers attributed to, 154
sharing, 37–38, 160–61
stigma against, 90
superfans becoming, 162
tools for, 160
use of term, 10, 33
in the world of consumption, 18–19
fan origin stories, 152–53
fan revolts, 221–48
and comics, 235–39
handling, 234–35, 246–48
and hijacking, 241–46
Maker’s Mark bourbon, 222–31, 234, 239, 247
tyranny of vocal minority, 231–34, 239
fantasies, teen wish-fulfillment, 104–7
fan text:
creation of, 189
funding of, 44
in games and gaming, 189–93
poaching, 273
use of term, 33–34
fan tributes, 126
FarmVille game, 37
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 72
feminism, 241
Ferrell, Will, 66
Ferrero Group, 244–46
Firefly (TV), 208–12, 213
firestarters, 156
Fite, Jake, 141, 148, 150, 155, 157, 162, 166
Fite, Missie L., 148
Fleming, Ian, and James Bond series, 119–21
Flying Karamazov Brothers, 85
Fowler, Mark, 72
Fox network, 208, 209–11
Francis, Pope, 117, 221
Franklin, Benjamin, 10
free trade agreements (FTA), 222–23
Frida Kahlo Corporation, 110–11, 114
fridging, 236
Frito-Lay, 189–90
Frozen (movie), 105–6, 158
Fuckedcompany.com, 78
Fuji Film, 51
games and gaming, 189–93
“modding,” 190–92
“open world” games, 190
Gandhi, Mahatma, 88
Gates, Bill, 27
Generation X, 73
Gibson, Gail McMurray, 8
G. I. Joe (TV), 72
Gilbert, Elizabeth, 84
Gillian, Steven, Faire: An American Renaissance, 91
Goats (webcomics), 45
Godwin’s Law, 228, 237, 301–2
GoFundMe, 42
Goodreads, 169
goodwill, 172
Grand Theft Auto (GTA), 190–91
Granger Leadership Academy, 128
Great Britain, 119–22
and James Bond, 119–21, 137
and World War II, 119, 121
Green Lantern comics character, 236
Grumpy Cat, 114
Gucci Genius jeans, 103
Guerrero, Danger, 206
Guinness Storehouse, Dublin, 33
Gummi Bears (TV), 72
“Hacksaw,” 195–98
hair-dyeing experience, 99–100, 101–2, 106
Halloween:
impersonation in, 39
virtual party, vii–xv
Hall, Scott (Razor Ramon), 219–20
Hanks, Tom, 147
Hannah Montana (TV), 104
Hanson, Tyler, 95
Harry and the Potters, 127–28
Harry Potter Alliance, 127–29
Hart, Bret, 203
Harvey, Steve, 114
Hasbro Corporation, 115
Haskell, Oliver, 82
Hawk, Tony, 137
Hegarty, Sir John, 64
Hello Brooklyn, 174–76, 178
Hello Kitty, 114
He-Man (TV), 72
Hendrix, Jimi, 84
Henson, Jim, 88
Hentai sites, 17
hijacking, 241–46
Hills, Matt, 118
hippies, 98, 100, 104, 106
Hitchhikers Social Club, The, 140, 143
Hogan, Hulk, 197
Holocron, 31–32
Hsing, Ariel, 28
Hunger Games (movies), 31, 104
IBM, “Think” as motto of, 88
identity, shared, 126
identity building, 125–26, 152
identity leisure, 125
identity shorthand, 132–37, 221
Iger, Robert, 32
IKEA, 243–44
impersonation, 38–39
Impossible Project, 54–59, 60, 61
Indiegogo, 42, 70
indie music, authenticity in, 179
Insane Clown Posse (horrorcore music duo), 90
Instagram, and social clubs, 145, 155
intangibles, selling, 45
intellectual property, protection of, 13, 14, 222, 243–46
Internet:
and access for fans, 9–10
anger expressed on, 228, 231
anonymity of, 76
and fan-led brand revivals, 74–76
and identity shorthand, 133
mainstream adoption of, 77–78
and minimum group number, 76
polls via, 190
removing the geography barrier, 75–76
Smart Fans on, 200
as supportive to women, 79, 239
and technology booms, 78
and “us versus them,” 104
virtual gathering place of, 75
iPod earbuds, 87
Iran hostage crisis, 197
Iranian Revolution (1979), 197
Iron Sheik, The, 195–98
Jack Daniel’s, 229
Jackson, Janet, 12
Jackson, Michael, xi
Jacobson, Doug, 86, 93
Jaws (movie), 179
“Jayne hat” (bobble hat), 209–11, 213, 214
Jenkins, Henry, 201, 273
Jobs, Steve, 88
John, Elton, 147
Jurassic World (movies), 31
Kahlo, Frida, 109–11
Kaps, Florian, 53, 54, 60
Kardashian, Kim, 38
KARENT record label, 14
Kay, Leslie, 158–59
“kayfabe,” 198, 219
Keats, Karen, 52
Keene, Carolyn, 64
Kellogg, Ali, 51
Kempe, Margery, 7–9, 10
Kendra (designer), ix, xi, xii, xiii
Kickstarter, viii–ix, 42, 44, 180–89
King, Martin Luther Jr., 88
Klosterman, Chuck, 206
Knob Creek bourbon, 230
Kory, Judy, 81
Kozinets, Robert, 124
KPFK radio, 82–83
Kumano, shrines of, 7
Kunkin, Art, 85
Labyrinth (movie), 121
Lady Gaga, 12, 87, 126
Las Vegas Licensing Expo, 110–17, 126, 137
Laughlin, Sean, 85
Lauper, Cyndi, 100
LEGO, 114, 183
Lerman, Kristina, 231–32
“Let It Go” (song), 105–6
licensing deals, 102, 110–18, 126, 137
Lightsaber Battle NYC (2014), 30–32, 35, 39
Liszt, Franz, 2
Little Mermaid, The (movie), 105, 144
Live by the Code, 165
logos, 13
Los Angeles Free Press, 85
“love-bombing,” 156
loyalty, 174, 212–13
Lululemon, 87
mac and cheese, 216–17
Madonna, 126, 241
Magic Mike (movie), 177
magic shows, 199
Magic: The Gathering, 184
Main Street Elite (MSE), 145, 157
Majority Illusion, 232–33
Maker’s Mark bourbon, 222–31, 234, 239, 247
Malik, Zayn, 204
Man, The, fight against, 104–7
manga, 17, 238–39, 240
Mangione, Fred, 175
Manic Panic, 99–102, 106–7
marketing:
arms race in, 64–67
and fans’ predictable buying habits, 11
and growing the business, 222
narratives in, 177–78
surprise and delight in, 172
Marvel comics, 235, 236, 240
Marxism, 204
Mary Sue, The, 210
McBride, Lawrence, 199–200, 203
McDonald’s, 214–15, 298
McMahon, Shane, 202–3
McMahon, Vince, 197–98, 199, 203, 208, 219
media properties, 137
medieval world, religious imagery in, 8
Meditationes vitae Christi, 8
Melissa (designer), ix, xi, xii, xiii, xv
Melt Shop, New York, 217
membership badges, 133, 137
Mersmann, Eric, 185–87
Meyer, Stephenie, Twilight books and films, 104, 113
Michaels, Shawn (Triple H), 219–20
Mickey’s Empire Social Club, 143, 144, 145–46, 152–53, 165
Mickey’s Little Monsters, 140
Mickey’s Raiders, 151, 165
micropayments, 43
Miku, Hatsune, 12–17, 18
Minions (movies), 31, 113–14
Misfits, The, 98
Mission Impossible (movies), 31
MIT Sloan Management Review, 233
“modding,” 190–92
modernity, 120
Monday Night Football, 18
Monty Python, 37
Morales, Miles (fict.), 240–41
Morrissey, Steven, 129
Mousefits, The, 140
movies:
fan-driven properties, 31, 33, 36, 41
stories important in, 13
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 2, 6
Mulan (movie), 105
Munger, Charlie, 24, 25
musicomania, 4–6
superfan of, 1–4
Victorian opponents of, 6, 8
vocal synthesizer Hatsune Miku, 12–17, 18
Mustafa, Isaiah, 65
My Little Pony (TV), 72, 74, 76, 115
mythology, 120, 122, 126, 148
Narragansett beer, 178–79
Nash, Kevin “Diesel,” 219–20
National Park Foundation, 162
National Public Radio (NPR), 44, 47
nerdiness, 77–79
New York Police Department, 215
New York Renaissance Faire, 91
Nico Nico Douga (now Niconico), 14
Nike, 213
Northern California Renaissance Faire, 92–93
nostalgia, 58, 72, 73–74, 79, 216–18
Nutella, 244–46
N.Y.C. Inc., 100
OkCupid, 130–31, 136, 137
OkTrends, 136
Old Crow, 229
Old Spice, 64, 65, 66
One Direction, 173, 204
Onion A.V. Club, 182
online dating, 129–37
Easter egg method, 135–36
and fandom as identity, 136–37
profiles, 133–36, 137
speed dating, 129–32
Oreos, 204
outgroup derogation, 123
Outkast, 51
Oyster (actual dog), xi, xiii, xiv
Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR) beer, 178–79
Palmer, Amanda, 187
Paltrow, Gwyneth, 116
Patreon, 43–47, 188
Patterson, Phyllis, 82, 83, 89, 106
Paul, Chris and Cliff, 205–7
paywalls, 43
“peak beard,” 103–4
Penn and Teller, 85
pessimism, retroactive, 123
Pethnikoff, Alexander, 3
Petty, Tom, 162–63
photography:
and capturing memory, 58
instant, 52–53, 55–56, 61–62
and sharing the moment, 52
as social lubricant, 64
see also Polaroid
piapro.jp, 14
pilgrimages, 7, 34–35
Pix Pak Social Club, 143
Pokémon, 114
Polaroid (brand), 49–60
and “Dr. Frankenroid,” 56–58
and Impossible Project, 54–59, 60, 61
and nostalgia, 58, 72, 79, 218
and Pioneers, 55
second chance for, 62, 64
and sharing the moment, 52
Polaroid cameras:
digital, 67
modern, 59
old, 56
production ceased, 51, 55
Polaroid Corporation:
bankruptcy of, 58, 60
ceasing production, 50–53
celebratory party in, 53
closing the factory, 53
future of, 58–60
history of, 57
intellectual property rights of, 59
Polaroid film:
development rituals of, 52–53, 54
instant, 52–53, 55–56, 61–62, 218
production ceased, 50–53
remaining, 56
Polaroid museum, creation of, 57
Police, The, 98
politics, extremist views in, 232
Pomplamoose, 43
popular culture:
fandom in, 7
trends in, 10
pornography, 17
poser, use of term, 102
possession rituals, 41
Potter, Harry (fict.), 104, 126–29
Pratchett, Terry, 37
Prokhorov, Mikhail, 176
punk movement, 97–102, 106
Quint, Dov, 59–60
Radiohead, 36
Ramones, The, 98, 100
Reagan, Ronald, 72
reality television, 105
rebellion, theme of, 105–6
Red Bull, 11
Reduced Shakespeare Company, 97
Renaissance faires, 81–93
and antiauthoritarianism, 90, 92, 106
careers supported by, 85
corporate ownership of, 91–92
and crafts movement, 85
and idealism, 97
positive effects of, 106
and “Rennies,” 89
sexuality in, 84
and social class, 90–91, 96
retro media, 73
Return of the Jedi (movie), 41
Revenge of the Nerds (movie), 77
review sites, 66
Ripple Junction, 210, 211
rituals and traditions, 39–40
possession rituals, 41
in social clubs, 146, 151
spending money for, 39, 41
Rivera, Diego, 110
Roberts, Virginia, a.k.a. The Heartographer, 135
Robin Hoods of Disney, 140
Robinson, Jackie, 88
Rockstar Games, 191
Rocky Horror Picture Show (movie), 90
Rosen, Jay, 231
Rosenberg, Jon, 45–46
Rosso, Sara, 244–46
Rowling, J. K., 9, 104, 128
Rubin, Rachel Lee, 84
Rubin, Spencer, 217
Rudder, Christian, 130–31, 134
Russo, Christian, 23–24, 28
Salcedo, Elena, 145, 152–53
Samuels, Bill Jr., 222, 224, 225, 227
Samuels, Rob, 222, 225, 227
San Jose Cemetery, 49, 56
Saturday-morning cartoons, 72–74
Saturday Night Live, 99
Scenes from a Multiverse (webcomics), 45
science fiction, 105
Scott (office manager), ix, xv
selection bias, in product reviews, 233
self-improvement, 46
sensationalism, 228
Serenity (movie), 209
Sex and the City (TV), 38
Shadowrun, 185–87
Shankar, Avi, 124
Sheridan, Sean, 68–69, 70, 71
Shiba Inu, Squishable, ix, xv, 251
Shirky, Clay, 133, 154, 159
sixties counterculture, 84, 89, 97, 98
Skyrim, 191–92, 193
Slack, Andrew, 127
S’MAC, 217
Smart Fans, 200, 203–4, 212
Smith, Eden, 49–50
Smith, Erik Karstan, 49–50
as “Dr. Frankenroid,” 56–58
Smith, Kenny, 206
Smith, Luke, 49
Smith, Patti, 98
Smiths, The, 129–30
Smolokowski, Oskar, 54, 55
Snape, Severus (fict.), 127
social capital, building, 160
social causes, 126–29
social class, 89–91, 95–97, 103, 156–57
social clubs, 139–52, 154–66
attendance requirements in, 157
buttons of, 143
codes of conduct, 149, 162, 163
and family, 151–52, 155
and fan groups, see fan groups
group cohesion activities, 157–58
hierarchy in, 158–60, 162
The Hitchhikers, 140, 143
Main Street Elite, 145, 157
Mickey’s Empire, 143, 144, 145–46, 152–53, 165
Mickey’s Little Monsters, 140
Mickey’s Raiders, 151, 165
The Mousefits, 140
patches, 159–60
punishing offenders, 161–63
rituals of, 146, 151
Robin Hoods of Disney, 140
self-policing, 162–63
as self-sustaining, 155–58
Sons of Anakin, 140, 143, 144, 148–49, 164–66
Triton’s Mermaids, 140
White Rabbits, 139–41, 143, 147–48, 150–52, 154, 155, 161–62, 166
social hierarchy, 158–60, 162
socialization, 37–38, 62, 124–25
social media:
and advertising, 65
anger expressed on, 231
and consumption, 66, 103, 215
and context creation, 62–63
and dating, 131–36
Majority Illusion in, 232–33
and marketing, 11
navel-gazing effects of, 105
profiles edited on, 133–36, 137
sharing opinions on, 214–15, 231–34
social monetization, 183–85
social norms, 125
social web, rise of, 131–32
Sons of Anakin, 140, 143, 144, 148–49, 164–66
Sony Pictures, 235
Spears, Britney, 172
Spectre (James Bond movie), 31
speed dating, 129–32
Spider-Man, 23, 112, 235–36, 240
sports, regulation of, 219
sports fans, 122–24
Squishable:
fan activities for, 250–51
fan feedback to, ix, x, xi, xiii
Kickstarter campaign for, viii–ix
start-up of, 250
virtual Halloween party of, vii–xv
Stalin, Joseph, 110
Star Wars:
as Disney franchise, 31–32, 114, 117
and fan anger, 229
and fan values, 213
and Holocron listings, 31–32
importance of fan participation, 18
and LEGO, 183
movies based on, 31, 33, 41, 241
and social clubs, 143
supplemental activities for fans of, 11, 30–32, 39, 41, 87
State Farm Insurance, 205–7
Steely Dan, 51
Stehl, Lisa, 93
stereotypes, 135
stigma, 76–79, 90, 106
Stockholm Brat, 282
Stonyfield Organic, 115
Striker Entertainment, 113
subcultures, 124
sugar, and hyperactivity, 68
sunk-cost fallacy, viii
superfans:
becoming fan objects, 162
and crowdfunding, 47
importance of, 162
social norms for, 247
strong opinions of, 233–34
supplemental activities of, 11
Superman, 241
Supernatural (TV), 79
Surge Movement, 67–72, 75, 79, 218
survival, 120
swag, 43
Takács Quartet, 90
Talking Heads, The, 98
Tapscott, Don, 247
Tatum, Channing, 177
technology: vocal synthesizer Hatsune Miku, 12–17, 18
Teeman, Tim, 52
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 72–73
teen wish-fulfillment fantasies, 104–7
Temkin, Max, 171, 172, 181–82, 189
Tetris, 115
texts, access to, 10
theatrical performance, 198–99, 203
“Think” (IBM), 88
“Think Different” (Apple), 88
ThinkGeek, 210, 211
Thunders, Johnny, 99
trademarks, protection of, 13
traditions, 39–40
transcendence in conformity, 124
Transformers (TV), 72
Translation (ad agency), 207
transparency, 218–20, 247–48
traveling-circus sideshows, 198–99
Triton’s Mermaids, 140
Trivial Pursuit, 184
Trotsky, Leon, 110
TSG Consumer Partners LLC, 179
Twilight (TV/movie), 163
tyranny of vocal minority, 231–34, 239
Undertaker in Hell in a Cell (wrestler), 202
Universal Pictures, 114, 209
US–Korea Free Trade Agreement, 222–23
values, 212–13
Valve (distributor), 191–92
Vanegas, Trent, 148–49
Vault soda, 69
Vaziri, Hossein Khosrow Ali “The Iron Sheik,” 195–98
Victorian era, musicomania in, 6, 8
Victoria’s Secret, 106
video games, 13
Vocaloid graphic novels, 17
Vocaloid software, 15
vocal synthesizer Hatsune Miku, 12–17, 18
VooDoo Crew, 143
Wagner, Richard, 3–4, 5, 6
Walt Disney Company:
countercultural themes in, 105–6
licensing deals, 116
Mickey Mouse as property of, 14
and myth, 148
shareholders’ meetings of, 22–23
social clubs in, 139–52
Star Wars franchise of, 31–32, 114, 117
traditional characters of, 105
Wann, Daniel L., 122–23
Wanted, The, 173
Warhol, Andy, 51
Warner Brothers, 127–29
Washington Square Park, New York, 30–32, 34
WBEZ Chicago, 173
Weil, Andrew, 116
Weiner’s Circle, Chicago, 173
Weller Antique bourbon, 230
Wertham, Fredric, Seduction of the Innocent, 237
Wheaton, Wil, 169
Whedon, Joss, 208, 209, 234–35
Wheeler, Andrew, 236
White Rabbits, 139–41, 143, 147–48, 150–52, 154, 155, 161–62, 166
Wikinomics (Tapscott and Williams), 247
Williams, Anthony D., 247
Wilson, Jason, 230
Winans, Matt, 69
Winder, Simon, The Man Who Saved Britain, 119, 121
Winfield, Jess, 97
Wired, 16
Wish I Was Here (movie), 188
World Cup, 35
World Food Programme, 246
World Nutella Day, 244–46
World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE), 195–203, 205, 218–20
Wrestlemania, 197, 201–3
wrestling, 195–203
authenticity of, 203, 208, 218–20
Curtain Call, 299
Smart Fans, 200, 203
Yap, Jules, 243–44
yoga, 87
Yormark, Brett, 175
Zach Braff effect, 188