Great and fairly disturbing read. You’ve done much more research on this than I have, but thought I’d share two articles I wrote on Stan culture focusing on female celebs.
You know, you're reminding me of Kate Bush... she had multiple stalker experiences but ALSO had an academic stalk her and publish a biography on her using what he learned. I kind of can't believe it got published, but it's another reminder of how this type of behaviour is excused or even embraced if it's for "the right reason"!
"Individually, we can remind ourselves and each other that we are not owed anything by public figures, that our attachments are entirely one-sided."
As you point out, the attachments are NOT entirely one-sided. The companies associated with the celebrities are making a ton off the nut-case fans. And it's also true that people playing a kids' game or playing music, for big bucks are getting that money ONLY because of their celebrity status as entertainers. I am sympathetic to the stars in this way, but they make their living off this relationship, and it is in fact a two-way street. This was a big issue in professional tennis a few years ago, and the sport has done some, but not nearly enough yet to protect the players. They know where the money is coming from.
Naomi Osaka, a young Japanese tennis player with severe anxiety was being required to give interviews after winning matches. She’d come under the spotlight because she won one of the major tournaments, and the rule in tennis is that players must give interviews. I don’t know if the questions were intrusive (probably) but I got the sense it was mostly the interview itself that troubled her, and she even stopped playing for over a year to avoid them. Meanwhile tennis had to start looking more carefully at the interview requirement and why it existed. They have a ways to go before they get it right, no doubt, if it is even possible to do so.
Incidentally, the National Football League has the same rule, and a player named Marshaun Lynch made a lot of headlines with his objections to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwbXkFp25cI
Agreed! Imaginary social worlds are still incredibly impactful and affect us profoundly, and with the online infrastructure we use we're all sitting ducks.
And here’s part 2: https://www.herizonmusic.com/p/music-stalkers-stans-and-fans-part2
Great and fairly disturbing read. You’ve done much more research on this than I have, but thought I’d share two articles I wrote on Stan culture focusing on female celebs.
https://www.herizonmusic.com/p/music-stalkers-stans-fans-part-1
Thank you for sharing!
You know, you're reminding me of Kate Bush... she had multiple stalker experiences but ALSO had an academic stalk her and publish a biography on her using what he learned. I kind of can't believe it got published, but it's another reminder of how this type of behaviour is excused or even embraced if it's for "the right reason"!
"Individually, we can remind ourselves and each other that we are not owed anything by public figures, that our attachments are entirely one-sided."
As you point out, the attachments are NOT entirely one-sided. The companies associated with the celebrities are making a ton off the nut-case fans. And it's also true that people playing a kids' game or playing music, for big bucks are getting that money ONLY because of their celebrity status as entertainers. I am sympathetic to the stars in this way, but they make their living off this relationship, and it is in fact a two-way street. This was a big issue in professional tennis a few years ago, and the sport has done some, but not nearly enough yet to protect the players. They know where the money is coming from.
Touché-- it's more that the relationships are asymmetrical and based on very different things.
I would love to hear more about what was happening in tennis, if you feel like elaborating!
Naomi Osaka, a young Japanese tennis player with severe anxiety was being required to give interviews after winning matches. She’d come under the spotlight because she won one of the major tournaments, and the rule in tennis is that players must give interviews. I don’t know if the questions were intrusive (probably) but I got the sense it was mostly the interview itself that troubled her, and she even stopped playing for over a year to avoid them. Meanwhile tennis had to start looking more carefully at the interview requirement and why it existed. They have a ways to go before they get it right, no doubt, if it is even possible to do so.
Incidentally, the National Football League has the same rule, and a player named Marshaun Lynch made a lot of headlines with his objections to it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwbXkFp25cI
Agreed! Imaginary social worlds are still incredibly impactful and affect us profoundly, and with the online infrastructure we use we're all sitting ducks.