(Part 1 of a University Assignment Series)
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Has Beatlemania been overtaken by Bieber fever? |
To anybody who has seen the classic scene from The Beatles movie A Hard Day’s Night where the band are chased through the streets by hoards of screaming girls, there is no question that young women can be a dangerous breed when placed in front of their idols.However, obsessive pop fandom is no longer just the domain of teenybopper girls. With social media making our favourite celebrities more attainable than ever, identifying as part of a team has become commonplace. Are you a Belieber? Or a Directioner? The chance to plug your allegiance now knows no limits, with fans doing and indeed saying the most inflammatory things online.
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Chris Brown - inspiration or instigator? |
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Mark Chapman and John Lennon, right before the shooting |
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Amber and Bombay |
Much like a cheeky trip to McDonalds, fandom seems to be perfectly healthy in moderation. For many, it’s a vital part of growing up and cultivating interests. For those born in the consumer age, it’s ingrained in daily life –high street fashion stores now stock band t-shirts for even the most casual of fans to pledge their allegiance. With studies proving that an active interest in celebrity livelihoods can boost levels of aspiration, sociability and creativity, subscribing to fuckyeahalexturner.tumblr.com might not be all bad. But if you find yourself longingly stroking his pixelated features and posting love confessionals under the username ‘Mrs Arctic Monkey’, it might be time to step away from your computer.
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