The Era of Political Fandom
The Era of Political Fandom
A fascination with the grotesque. I suppose that’s what drew me to spend a quarter researching the modern American political system. My PWR 2 course, Superfans and Scholars: The Rhetoric of Fan Culture, began by introducing students to the academic study of fandom; we were then challenged to employ this knowledge of fan cultures as a lens through which to understand our research topic. Ever the ambitious student, I settled upon what I considered to be an eminently manageable task: use fan studies to explain and suggest solutions to the gridlock paralyzing Washington. Ha. I quickly proceeded to learn the benefits of narrowing the scope of your research. Over the course of the quarter, my project evolved, mutating into an identification of what I consider the most significant trend in American politics, the rise of political fandom.
While political fandom is not a recent phenomenon, it is only in the past decade or so that media scholars and political scientists have begun to study it. Therefore, a definition is probably in order. I consider political fandom, in its most basic form, to be a way of interacting with politics that, like other types of fandom, is rooted in emotion and entertainment. And it is increasingly common. Yet many Americans, politicians included, cling to the informed citizen model of the Progressive era in which voters make rational and logical decisions. As I continued my research, I recognized that a fundamental but apparently overlooked shift was occurring and focused my efforts on drawing attention to it. PWR 2 provided the perfect platform for this kind of project since the course revolves around a persuasive oral presentation. Honestly, I would have preferred to just write. I hate public speaking. But this project, and the Lunsford Award I received for it, proved to me that with enough effort and preparation, even a shy chemical engineering major can be a rhetorician.
Watch Sam's Award-winning Presentation
Learn more about the Lunsford Award
Course: PWR 2SSB: Writing & Rhetoric 2: Superfans and Scholars: Writing Fan Culture
Instructor: Susan Schuyler-Olmsted
Samuel Cady is a member of the Class of 2015 and is majoring in Chemical Engineering with a minor in History. He grew up in Wayzata, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis, where he attended Wayzata High School. His interests include the intersection of chemistry and cooking, Victorian literature, Nordic skiing, and the history of French absolutism. Sam hopes to continue his study of political fandom in future quarters.
