This conference paper uses the One Direction fandom, also known as “Directioners”, as a key case study in understanding how TikTok provides an engaging and constant environment for fans to still be active and connect with each other online.
Hi Phoebi,
I loved the way you presented your examples, and the style of your slides was great. Your arguments were well put together, and your analysis of both affordances and fandom culture worked well with your chosen case study of One Direction.
Question 1:
I enjoyed your analysis of how TikTok’s algorithm pushes videos with higher engagement rates to more people, creating a system in which people within a fandom would have seen the same videos and, in turn, creating stronger connections between fans. But I think this affordance can also help grow the fandom public. For example, a One Direction fan edit may reach an NSYNC fan, piquing their interest and motivating them to engage more with One Direction. So, do you believe that TikTok is only reinforcing connections between fandoms, or actively reshaping and expanding them? If so, to what extent?
Question 2:
I found your analysis of how features such as hashtags and tagging other users on TikTok facilitate the spread of content interesting. There is something to be said about the comment section itself, as these functions are often used there to signal the spread and initiate discussion of fandom content. Tagging someone on TikTok is very public, unlike the share button, which offers a private alternative. How does the public nature of these functions shape the way discussion is formed in fandom over the more private forms of interaction? Do you think there is a more ‘performative’ nature to these public interactions that hold fandoms back from being more personal public spaces?
Question 3:
I thought your ideas around how new content keeps a fandom active and evolving were quite insightful. This analysis is overall sound, and I enjoyed how you mentioned the participatory culture often seen in fandom and how it enables fans to express themselves through the lens of their idols. That being said, I would love for you to expand on how fans expressing themselves through fan edits, and subsequently sharing those edits with their peers, affect communities and personal relationships within those communities.
Leave a Reply