The new normal: Online political fandom and the co-opting of morals

Clue, Natalie Le

doi:10.1177/13548565231190343

Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Med

2023

DOI: 10.1177/13548565231190343

|View full text |Cite

The new normal: Online political fandom and the co-opting of morals

Natalie Le Clue

Abstract: This paper focuses on the under-studied and complex aspect of toxic fan practices by analysing the discourse surrounding the Twitter hashtags #CrookedHillary and #LockHerUp as used throughout the 2016 Presidential Election in the United States. Based on the analysis of these hashtags, the previously ‘normal’ and ‘acceptable’ type of discourse has been co-opted into what can, arguably, be termed as toxic rhetoric and fan behaviour on Twitter. The results of this paper point to an acceptance by fans of being imm… Show more

Help me understand this report

Search citation statements

Order By: Relevance

Paper Sections

Select...

Citation Types

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Year Published

2024

Publication Types

Select...

Article2

Relationship

Self Cite0

Independent2

Authors

Journals

Cited by 2 publications

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Never Mess With the “Memers”: How Meme Creators Are Redefining Contemporary Politics

Mihăilescu

2024

Social Media + Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the ever-evolving landscape of online communication, memes have emerged as potent tools for influencing public opinion. This qualitative study explores the motivations, intentions, and strategic approaches of six meme creators through semi-structured in-depth interviews. It analyses how meme creators perceive and recognize their evolving roles as political actors, challenging traditional communication paradigms, resonating with audiences, driving conversations, and democratizing political engagement. The results reveal meme creators’ nuanced understanding of their content’s educational potential and ability to sway and influence perceptions. Meme creators view themselves as agents of change and perceive their role as crucial in the landscape of contemporary political communication, where they can shape public discourse and influence collective attitudes. They strategically frame political messages and set agendas, viewing their work as a continuation of political satire’s rich tradition. This study highlights their awareness of the ethical complexities involved and analyses how these meme creators turned into modern political actors and grapple with concerns around the monetization of memes and the spread of misinformation. Overall, this research offers a rare glimpse into the world of meme creators as it sheds light on their innovative strategies, their role in democratizing media, and their ability to transform the way we engage with politics. It underscores the transformative potential of memes and highlights that the meme creators’ work is not just about humor, but about making a significant impact on political engagement and public discourse.

show abstract

Never Mess With the “Memers”: How Meme Creators Are Redefining Contemporary Politics

Mihăilescu

2024

Social Media + Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

« Il est acceptable de rire de quelqu’un qui a besoin d’apprendre une leçon ».

Reinhard,

Hautsch,

Howell

2024

questionsdecommunication

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Résumé : Cet article se penche sur deux aspects de plus en plus importants dans les études sur les fans : le fandom toxique et les intersections entre la politique et le fandom. L’analyse cherche à comprendre comment l’affiliation politique d’un fan influe sur ses interactions avec d’autres fans d’une manière qui pourrait être considérée comme « toxique » pour la stabilité de la communauté des fans. Cette étude s’intéresse principalement aux pratiques de contrôle et de surveillance des frontières en rapport avec les différences de croyances et d’appartenance politiques. Un mélange d’analyse statistique et d’analyse thématique explore les chevauchements entre le fandom et les appartenances politiques des individus, et révèle que l’affiliation politique a un impact sur les expressions publiques et les sentiments personnels concernant leur fandom. En outre, une série d’actions et de réactions sont notées dans les souvenirs des fans concernant l’engagement de la différence au sein de leur fandom. Dans l’ensemble, ce n’est peut-être pas l’affiliation politique qui est à l’origine de la toxicité au sein d’une communauté de fans, mais plutôt les perceptions et les réactions de chacun des membres face à une certaine forme de différence.

show abstract

scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.

Contact Info

customersupport@researchsolutions.com

10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614

Henderson, NV 89052, USA

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Blog Terms and Conditions API Terms Privacy Policy Contact Cookie Preferences Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Made with 💙 for researchers

Part of the Research Solutions Family.

The new normal: Online political fandom and the co-opting of morals

Cited by 2 publications

References 19 publications

Never Mess With the “Memers”: How Meme Creators Are Redefining Contemporary Politics

Never Mess With the “Memers”: How Meme Creators Are Redefining Contemporary Politics

« Il est acceptable de rire de quelqu’un qui a besoin d’apprendre une leçon ».

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About