Fandom Week
Mariah Carey Is a Comedic Genius
If you think she's just a punchline or an airhead, you're doing this wrong.
Eminem’s “Stan” Gave a Face and Name to Fandom
The song plunges its hands into the messy dynamic between artists and their admirers, teaching us about ourselves along the way.
Lady Gaga Pioneered Online Fandom Culture As We Know It
Today we have Beliebers, Swifties and Directioners. But the Little Monsters were cultivated in a way we hadn't seen before.
“Your Band Saved My Life”
We speak to the fans whose love for a particular artist pushed them back from the brink.
Being a Britney Spears Stan Means Understanding Your Fave Is Human
What you learn about femininity and sexuality from growing up while Britney did.
Quit Making Fun of Teen Girl Fans, They Probably Think You’re Lame
Here’s what fangirls think about you, you boring old bastards.
An Oral History of Despair Faction, AFI's Tight-Knit Fan Forum
Key message board members look back on how the now-defunct site created marriages, friendships and, um, lifetime MTV event bans.
Shampoo Are So Much More than a 90s One Hit Wonder
I became obsessed with Carrie Askew and Jacqui Blake overnight in my mid-twenties. Let me explain.
When Hardcore Pop Fans Turn Their Back on the Fandom Forever
Jealousy, disillusionment and anxiety can cause even the most dedicated fans to reevaluate how they spend their time, and who they spend it with.
Bright Eyes Is Forever, Not Just for Puberty
Conor Oberst's melodrama hits hard in adolescence but as you age, you grow into understanding its themes—heartbreak, death, depression—more.
When Liking the Bands Other People Really Hate Is Still Worth It
Just a quick question, Chainsmokers or Nickelback superfans: why?
Meet the Fans Who Love to Tweet “I Hate Y’All” at Their Faves
"When I call you guys fuckers it's my way of expressing love OK?"