Stan Week
Valentina's Downfall On "Rupaul's Drag Race" Revealed Some Ugly Truths About The Show
For Latinx fans of Drag Race, Valentina’s unapologetic Latinidad felt like a revolution. But after her shameful elimination. some of the show’s long-standing issues came to light, from racism in the show’s fandom to Latinx illegibility in American pop culture.
Vanessa Angélica Villarreal
Why These Super Fans Have Made Being Jack Sparrow A Way Of Life
They impersonate him for a living, traveling all over the world. They raise their children in pirate-themed homes. One even married him posthumously. How Jack Sparrow superfans are keeping the character alive.
Ema O'Connor
As A Former Child Star, I'm Suspicious Of Buying Into The Cult Of Celebrity
As a child actor, I wanted people to see the real me rather than an idealized version of me. Now, I'm all too aware that celebrities can never live up to people’s fantasies.
Meredith Talusan
The Sadness And The Joy Of Loving Reclusive Artists
Female artists are expected to expose themselves emotionally and physically for public consumption. Fiona Apple's refusal to do so makes her the antithesis of the typical 21st-century musical artist.
Myles E. Johnson
23 Photos That Prove Beatles Fans Were Doing The Absolute Most In The '60s
KatyCats and Beliebers ain't got nothing on Beatlemania.
Gabriel H. Sanchez
Pop Music Stans Aren’t Crazy, They’re Having A Conversation
Pop fandom has historically been embodied by the screaming white girl. But the rise of queer men “stanning” for pop divas signals the growing power of fan perspectives outside the straight white norm.
Alessa Dominguez
How "Lexa Deserved Better" Became A Rallying Cry For Positive LGBT Representation
Over a year after Lexa's death on The 100, her fans are still fighting for positive representation of queer women on television.
Sarah Karlan
How Did A Bunch Of Mythical Monsters Become Queer Icons?
Queer people are used to being vilified, attacked, and misunderstood — so some of us embrace villains like the Babadook and the Mothman because we recognize ourselves in them.
John Paul Brammer
22 Queer Non-Canon Ships Worth Losing All Your Sleep Over
So much angst, so much love.
Sarah Karlan
The Juggalos Marched For Their Rights. Will They March For Yours?
This weekend, the Juggalos made a strong case that they deserve our respect. But like most civil rights movements, they too struggle with intersectionality.
Scaachi Koul
19 Totally Insane Collections Of Things Around The World
"Clutter in its highest and most organized form is called collecting." —Ada Louise Huxtable
Gabriel H. Sanchez
16 People Who Stan Harder Than You
The consensus? Totally worth it.
Arianna Rebolini
Here’s Why Everyone Loves Fiona, The Little Hippo That Could
The cult of Fiona, hippopotamus social media star of the Cincinnati Zoo, isn’t that hard to understand. But Fiona's appeal for some fans goes much deeper than her adorable exterior.
Harron Walker
Why A Supporting Marvel Character Has One Of The Internet's Most Passionate Fandoms
Though Sebastian Stan has never led a Marvel film, he and his character Bucky Barnes are one of the most popular elements of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His fans tell us why they stan for Stan.
Rachael Krishna
If People Love You For Your Saddest Songs, How Can You Be Happy?
Mary J. Blige's career arc has become synonymous with pain and heartbreak — but being a perpetual medium of despair comes with a cost.
Niela Orr
How Many Celebrity Fandoms Do You Know By Name?
Casual fans need not apply.
Erin Chack
Aging Out Of Diehard Fandom Is Bittersweet
As an adult, my pop culture passions have to serve as a brief and joyful escape instead of an all-consuming obsession.
Hanif Abdurraqib
