2014
Close encounters: ritualizing proximity in the Age of Celebrity. An ethnographic analysis of meet-and-greets with Dutch singer Marco Borsato
Publication
Publication
European Journal of Cultural Studies , Volume 17 - Issue 2 p. 149- 169
Abstract
For many celebrities, organizing meet-and-greets with fans and followers has
become a permanent feature of their public appearances. As yet little is known
about the role and importance of such ‘unmediated’ encounters within the everyday
constitution of celebrity culture. Why would fans be interested in the possibility of
direct, personal contact with people they already know from the media? To find an
answer to this question, this article presents ethnographic research into meet-andgreets
with the Dutch artist Marco Borsato. Results show that these meet-and-greets
constitute a meaningful experience for those involved: they validate and enhance
emotional involvement, serve as status symbols within the fan hierarchy and, in
some cases, can fulfil a vital role in personal life narratives of healing.
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doi.org/10.1177/1367549413508098, hdl.handle.net/1765/50300 | |
European Journal of Cultural Studies | |
Organisation | Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) |
Reijnders, S., Spijker, M., Roeland, J., & Boross, B. (2014). Close encounters: ritualizing proximity in the Age of Celebrity. An ethnographic analysis of meet-and-greets with Dutch singer Marco Borsato. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 17(2), 149–169. doi:10.1177/1367549413508098 |