In This Episode
The idea of a superfan has become ubiquitous, but have you given thought to the psychology of it? Neal’s guest, author Zoe Fraade-Blanar has done just that. She talks to Neal about the rise of superfandom and its acceptance in modern society; the philosophical concept of fandom; what’s good about it, what’s bad about it; how it can be exploited; concepts like ‘shared toxicity’ and ‘posse syndrome’; and how to keep a healthy perspective when you become fanatical about something.
Topics Discussed
- What is fandom
- The rise of fandom
- Fandom as Utopia
- Pros and cons
- Shared toxicity
- Fan objects
- Celebrity influence
- Marketplace bidding for market research
- Posse syndrome
- Love-bombing
- How to be a healthy fan
All About Zoe Fraade-Blanar
Zoe Fraade-Blanar is a technologist, teacher, and interaction designer.
She is an adjunct professor at New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at Tisch, and the NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.
She is also co-founder of Squishable, a user-driven design company and industry leader in fan-based social engagement.
Resources
- Read Zoe’s book, Super Fandom
- https://squishable.com/
- Download a transcript of this podcast
