On Fandom

Howard Jacobson reflects on the radio essay, after almost two decades of A Point of View.With nods to Clive James, body-pierced baritones and with a plentiful supply of svelte notebooks, Howard explains why he believes the radio essay is 'more than words on paper'...why it captur ...  Show more

The celebrated American theorist, Francis Fukuyama, in his book 'The End of History and the Last Man' argued that US-style liberalism was the ultimate destination for all mankind, 'the final form of human government'.John Gray explains why he believes his prophecy has been turned ...  Show more

It’s fun to obsess over pop stars and racecar drivers — but is fandom making our politics even more toxic?  

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The girlies talk stan culture and come for all your faves. From the Directioners of the mid-2010s to Nicki Minaj's digital paramilitary, fandom has pushed the bounds of internet friendship, devotion, and doxxing. Digressions include a brief review of Jennette McCurdy's memoir, wh ...  Show more

This week, we dive into the world of Fan Clubs. They are huge marketing tools for celebrities. We’ll track some of the earliest fan clubs, then compare them to the fan clubs in the digital era. We’ll also explore the big shift in power that swung from celebrities over to their fa ...  Show more

When you think of fangirls, what comes to mind: large swaths of fandom (usually for a boyband) whose feelings culminate in tears and joyful screams? Perhaps you grimace or roll your eyes at the thought. In this fun, lively talk, playwright Yve Blake asks us to reevaluate our reac ...  Show more