The Business of Fandom with Susan Kresnicka and Suzanne Scott How do you like it so far?

Suzanne Scott, assistant professor at the University of Texas Austin and Susan Kresnicka, a cultural and business anthropologist, lead us through a discussion of how we define the word “fan” and who it applies to. Then, we discuss the relationship between fandom and industry: How do industry choices shape whose voices matter in fandom? How do companies strike the balance between capitalism and fan culture? Should fans be entitled to have a voice in new iterations of their favorite texts? Other topics Susan and Suzanne cover are the differences and similarities between sports fandom and entertainment fandom, how toxic fans and trolls affect fandom, and how fandom’s relationship to the industry is shifting as a result of COVID-19.