What’s a fandom, you ask?

April 11, 2019 | David Mengel

What’s a fandom, you ask? Don’t expect me to explain the neologism, but after this week I just may be able to show you.
 
Yesterday in McDonald Library, fandom looked like an intellectual community of more than 50 Xavier faculty, staff, and students gathered to celebrate a recently published book.

The book? Politics for the Love of Fandom by our own Dr. Ashley Hinck, Assistant Professor of Communication.
 
Hinck presented her concept of “fan-based citizenship,” offering perceptive analysis of our internet-infused civil society and sparking conversations over a library-sponsored lunch. (The only thing missing was cosplay!)
 
Intellectual community: it’s an essential ingredient for the liberal arts to flourish.

Thanks to our Xavier librarians and Ashley Hinck for occasioning its local expression this week.

David Mengel