The aim of this paper is to study whether the way directioners (One Direction fans) on Twitter express self-understandings denote fandom as a sacred experience. For this purpose, the data was analyzed in relation to Nicholas Jay Demerath III typology of the varieties of the sacred experience. The method used was discursive psychology. The data was analyzed by how the fans draw the line between “us” and “them”, when expressing their self-understandings and their position in relation to others. Five themes were identified: (1) positioning and demarcation for membership, (2) group identity, (3) conflict, (4) the norms for behavior, opinions and language and (5) the group’s role and function. The directioners were using three interpretative repertoires; the One Direction fandom as identity, lifestyle and therapy. The conclusion when analyzing the data in relation to Demeraths typology was that directioners expressed notions of the One Direction fandom as a sacred experience in an integrative manner, that is, being a “directioner” was described as marginal and confirmatory. This suggests that the One Direction fandom consists of people that are outside the mainstream who are brought in to a social unit by joining the fandom. The data also contradicts this; the high demands for directioners to be active on Twitter can create an unsafe community. Being in the One Direction fandom can be a possible source for a sacred experience as experienced consequences since it has given the fans identity, improved their lives and helped them escape reality. The experience of the sacred varies depending on the devotion of the fans.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-226449 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Löfgren, Helena |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Religionssociologi |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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