A true sista: Exploring intraracial fantagonisms among Black women fans of Scandal

Abstract

I explore the complexities of Black women's fan practices and their affective and disaffective engagements with each other. Operating under the pseudonym katrinapavela, I examine the emergence of "fantagonisms" within the Black women's fandom, a term coined by Derek Johnson to describe tensions within fan communities. I explore the influence of race, education, class, and cultural taste on Black women's disaffection with certain media content. Through a critical analysis of the ideological tensions and conflicts within the Black women's fandom, I provide a nuanced understanding of intraracial fantagonisms and the ways in which Black women negotiate their identities within popular culture. Examining disaffection within Black women's Scandal (2012–18) fandom on platforms like Tumblr sheds light on the varied and contested relationships between fans and media content.