Graduation Term

2022

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Communication

Committee Chair

Lindsey Thomas

Committee Member

Lauren Bratslavsky

Abstract

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has one of the largest fandoms in the world, thus making this fandom crucial for fandom studies. In this study, I examine how fan interactions demonstrate fan identities and fandom hierarchies after a particular character in the MCU’s first Disney+ series WandaVision was reintroduced and caused a controversy about the actor playing the character . Fans used the hashtag #SaveQuicksilver to express their feelings about Pietro, a character who was brought back into the MCU as a different actor and became a random character in the MCU. This is significant in fan studies because it caused fans to have a large discussion on Twitter. In this study, I am to examining how fans expressed their identities by using the hashtag and engaging in online interactions. In my analysis of tweets using this hashtag, I found overarching themes about how fans express their fandom.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2022.20221020070314176923.999969

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