"What they also wanted was the experience of watching him be seen" - this is such a rarely acknowledged part of modern fandom, the way people will get angry if others like your fan object "the wrong way" because it's about having your experience recognized. Good call.
Wow, I resonated so much with “isn't enough to be a fan, to perform fandom in its ritualistic efforts for yourself, because there's now the ability (and pressure) to perform fandom as authority…” — what a way to put that.
A great expression of the then moments that pile onto themselves to be a part of the now. Memories softened by time and distance to gently bring the then to the now. Summer in the city ❤️
Loved the article. Something else I see with the 24/7/365 sports reporting is the obsession with the most recent thing, be it game performance, on court scuffle, or off court drama. Players get derided for a single performance, team chemistry is doubted after one incident, etc.
Being a sports fan of a particular team or player wasn’t built to be something you can do every day. And the constant reporting/“fandoming” just does not work
Thank you Robert, and I'm with you. The acceleration of fandom, along with everything else in life, feels unsustainable. Especially when for so many it's meant to be an escape!
Wonderfully written, I so enjoyed you softly placing me in your community, seeing what you see while sipping coffee in a humid room with rain around me several hundred miles away. Also, the big bright seemingly belated light shone on the individualism of fandom - wow, hadn’t thought of it like that yet / ever. Wild times.
Durant of burner account fandom chirping at Jokic (who hasn’t been on social for years) stans in the middle of the night is interesting content choice.
"What they also wanted was the experience of watching him be seen" - this is such a rarely acknowledged part of modern fandom, the way people will get angry if others like your fan object "the wrong way" because it's about having your experience recognized. Good call.
There's so much more individualism making up modern fandom, I'm glad you're noticing it too!
Gorgeously done. Made me turn up the fan in front of which I am currently pancaked.
Wow, I resonated so much with “isn't enough to be a fan, to perform fandom in its ritualistic efforts for yourself, because there's now the ability (and pressure) to perform fandom as authority…” — what a way to put that.
Also — the last paragraph!!
A great expression of the then moments that pile onto themselves to be a part of the now. Memories softened by time and distance to gently bring the then to the now. Summer in the city ❤️
Loved the article. Something else I see with the 24/7/365 sports reporting is the obsession with the most recent thing, be it game performance, on court scuffle, or off court drama. Players get derided for a single performance, team chemistry is doubted after one incident, etc.
Being a sports fan of a particular team or player wasn’t built to be something you can do every day. And the constant reporting/“fandoming” just does not work
Thank you Robert, and I'm with you. The acceleration of fandom, along with everything else in life, feels unsustainable. Especially when for so many it's meant to be an escape!
Wonderfully written, I so enjoyed you softly placing me in your community, seeing what you see while sipping coffee in a humid room with rain around me several hundred miles away. Also, the big bright seemingly belated light shone on the individualism of fandom - wow, hadn’t thought of it like that yet / ever. Wild times.
And thank you for softly placing me into where you sat down to read this, love that.
this is just so essential. the gaze is everything. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Durant of burner account fandom chirping at Jokic (who hasn’t been on social for years) stans in the middle of the night is interesting content choice.
Choosing to interpret this as sincere rather than snarky, otherwise this is an interesting comment choice.