As the finale of Game of Thrones approaches, I, like many fans, am waiting with a mix of excitement and dejection. Excitement because the show has been a wonderful fantasy and escape, with some thrilling highs. Each episode has been something to look forward to. Dejection because the series is ending, and also because this last season, Season 8, has on the whole been a big disappointment.

The level of anger and disgust displayed by many GOT fans this season over the writing and plot twists seems unparalleled. In fact, one disgruntled fan created a petition demanding that the show’s creators re-do Season 8 with better writers. I share some of the same feelings about the decline in quality of the show, particularly this final season. (And I did sign the petition, although I am not very invested or confident in the possibility of a rewrite.) Some GOT fans can even seek specialized therapy if needed, and sadly, some will need it. (Even the GOT stars are expressing disappointment in Season 8.)

But witnessing the GOT superfan outrage unleashed on Twitter and Facebook made me wonder, why do fans have so much stake in the show? Why, for some, does their investment in a fantasy TV series seemingly overshadow other, more important issues about which they could be expressing their anger and demanding change? Racism, for example. Abortion issues. Global warming.

What Is a Fan?

First off, how do we define fan? Short for fanatic, a fan, according to Merriam-Webster, is “an enthusiastic devotee (as of a sport or a performing art), usually as a spectator” or “an ardent admirer or enthusiast (as of a celebrity or a pursuit).” In some cases, enthusiastic is too mild a descriptor. For some, fandom can resemble addiction, with withdrawal, depression, and loss of motivation occurring when the person can’t access their obsession, or the TV show, movie, or sports season has ended. The “addicted” fan has a hard time separating their life and emotions from those related to the show (or sports season, book series, etc.). Defeats and disappointments, as well as victories and highs, from the object of their obsession are more powerful than those in the person’s real life.

In a world where people are more and more isolated from face-to-face contact and live much of their lives staring at screens, being a fan has increasingly become more than just showing appreciation for something enjoyable. For many, fandom is a way to live a heightened life and to share their lives with one another. What’s more, the preponderance of social media has allowed being a fan to become more of a participatory act than ever before. Fans not only watch, but they can write online reviews and fan fiction, create and share memes, and start online chat groups and forums. And, IRL, fans can participate in conventions, or “cons” (e.g., Con of Thrones). It’s a whole new world of fandom. For some, it’s just fun. For others who lack real-life connection with others and/or don’t derive enough meaning from their relationships, jobs, and hobbies, fandom can be an extremely important source of satisfaction, meaning, and identity.

Fandom Research

In 2016, researchers Samantha Groene and Vanessa Hettinger developed a psychometric test of fan identity (how strongly fans of particular shows or other phenomena identified with the object of their fandom) that they called the Fandom Measure. Through several studies looking at Harry Potter and Twilight fans, they determined that “media fandoms operate in a manner similar to other social groups, with members of average and above average levels of group identification demonstrating sensitivity to group categorization and the psychological benefits and costs of engaging with their chosen media fandom.” In other words, fandom can be both psychologically healthy and enriching but also damaging, depending on whether a person’s connection to the object of their adoration is reinforced or threatened.

This reminds me of sports fandom research. Just like media fans, some sports fans take it to the extreme. These superfans are so heavily invested in their team that it defines their identity. If you think about it, “the biggest fans are more ­devoted to their team than the players are,” says Daniel Cavicchi, an associate professor of American studies at the Rhode Island School of ­Design (Leitch, 2012).

Some research on sports shows that extreme fans experience not only psychological effects from how their team is doing, but they can also undergo hormonal changes. When their team wins, they exerience an increase in testosterone levels; conversely, after a loss, they undergo a decrease in testosterone (Leitch, 2012).

Through watching sporting events and identifying with the culture of sports (especially violent ones), people tap into their violent instincts. As much as some of us don’t like to acknowledge those parts of human nature, they are there. All of us have a capacity for violence, and to be able to function in contemporary society, we have to repress many of our animal instincts. According to George Orwell, “Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules, and sadistic pleasure in violence. In other words, it is war without shooting.” While some research has emphasized the negative, destructive aspects of sports and sports fandom, other studies highlight the healthy outlet sports can provide for the violent parts of our nature (Kerr, 2005).

Final Thoughts

Fandom is a part of many of our lives. Some of us just dabble in being a fan: We enjoy certain celebrities, shows, sports, and books and gain pleasure from as well as connect with others around them, but they don’t define us. Others are superfans who base a large part of their identities on the object of their fandom. Fandom is a complex phenomenon.

As a GOT fan, I hope that I am more excited than disappointed tomorrow with the finale. Whatever happens, my life and identity will go on.

Further Reading

Groene, S. L., & Hettinger, V. E. (2016). Are you “fan” enough? The role of identity in media fandoms. Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 5(4), 324-339.

Kerr, J. K. (2005). Rethinking Aggression and Violence in Sports. New York: Routledge.

Leitch, W. (2012). Inside the mind of a super fan. Parade, Feb 5, 2012. https://parade.com/121630/willleitch/05-inside-the-mind-of-a-superfan/