Beyond the "fandom as religion" comparison: Measuring the sacred dimensions of Comic-Con fan devotion

Abstract

Why do people become devoted fans of popular culture, such that it becomes a central and meaningful part of their lives? This is a fundamental question of fan studies research. We approach it from a sociological perspective, building on the "fandom as religion" comparison but clarifying the terms of this debate and gathering systematic data to explore it more fully. We begin by discussing some lingering issues of this comparison and suggest an alternative approach that conceptualizes fan devotion as a sacred experience rather than a religious one. Next, to test this approach, we describe our study that utilizes a survey and in-depth interviews, both of which measure different dimensions of the sacred and gather a variety of information from fans at comic book conventions in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Our analysis of 508 survey responses and fifteen in-depth interviews reveals new information about fan demographics, what proportion experience their interests as sacred along different dimensions, and what these dimensions mean in the context of Comic-Con culture. We conclude by discussing how these results add significant depth to our understanding of fan devotion.