Series: Fan Phenomena

Fan Phenomena: Disney offers an exploration of the relationship between the world of Disney and its fandom. This collection of essays analyses the fandom of Disney brands across a variety of media, including film, television, novels, stage productions, and theme parks. It showcases fan engagement such as cosplay, fan art, and activities on social media, as well as the company’s...

Nearly two hundred years after her death, Jane Austen is one of the most widely read and beloved English novelists of any era. Writing and publishing anonymously during her lifetime, the woman responsible for some of the most enduring characters (and couples) of modern romantic literature—including Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy, Emma Woodhouse and George Knightley—was credited only as “A...

From the moment Stephenie Meyer published Twilight in 2005, the series has captivated readers. Through three subsequent novels and the blockbuster movie series, the Twilight Saga quickly became more than just a hit series—it’s now a cultural touchstone. This new entry in the Fan Phenomena series brings together scholars and fans to explore the vibrant fan culture and lasting legacy...

Few could have predicted the enduring fascination with the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes. From the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to the recent BBC series that has made a heartthrob out of Benedict Cumberbatch, the sleuth has been much a part of British and global cultural legacy from the moment of his first appearance in 1887. The contributors to...

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, Marilyn Monroe was an actress, singer, and sex symbol whose influence far outlasted her short life. Contributors to Fan Phenomena: Marilyn Monroe situate the platinum blonde starlet's omnipresent cultural relevance within the zeitgeist of current popular culture and explore the influence she has had on numerous elements of it. Her aesthetics and images have been reappropriated,...

Winter is coming. Every Sunday night, millions of fans gather around their televisions to take in the spectacle that is a new episode of Game of Thrones. Much is made of who will be gruesomely murdered each week on the hit show, though sometimes the question really is who won’t die a fiery death. The show, based on the Song...

Few if any books come close to being as beloved—or as ubiquitous—as J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Best-sellers for decades, they became even more popular on the heels of Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning film adaptations. And throughout, fans have not only read the books, they've engaged with them, building one of the most active and creative...