Tanya N. Cook

This project unifies popular culture studies and sociological theory to better understand why and how fans of popular science fiction shows, books, and movies are becoming politically active. Important work on popular culture and social movements has explored the transmedia participation of millennials and the interconnections between fandom activity and political participation. The goal of this work is to build an overarching analysis of fandom-based activism. Through an analysis of ethnographic data gathered from fan interviews and participant observation of fandom events, this work builds a new understanding of why and how fans are increasingly charitable and politically active and why fandom can be understood as a force for social good.