ABSTRACT

Fan communities and 'fan talk' have long been a concern of those researching fandom, from more traditional forms like fanzines and fan clubs to the newer congregational spaces of the Internet. Several studies of online fan communities explore the way that this sense of community is created in online environments. The research in each study consisted of two primary elements: observing and analysing the range of online environments where fan activity occurred, and talking to fans themselves via interviews and surveys. Users of the Jeepster forums and chat room created a sense of identity, albeit less nuanced. The Jeepster chat room had 'action' commands, including 'drink tea' and 'dance', fostering a sense of common behaviour. The two fandoms have responded differently to the changing Internet. It is difficult now to find visible Belle and Sebastian fan communities: the environments in the original study have either disappeared or become marginal.