Fan Studies Network North America (FSNNA) is an organization for fan scholars, scholar fans, and everyone in between. Through initiatives like our annual FSNNA conference, we work to create a supportive, welcoming community for developing and sharing research in the interdisciplinary area of fan studies.
Inspired by our UK-based colleagues in the original Fan Studies Network, the first FSNNA conference was held in October 2018 at DePaul University in Chicago.
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, we have been holding our conferences online, using a range of platforms from Discord to Zoom to Gather to continue our mission of creating an accessible venue for fan studies scholars from around the world to share their work.
FSNNA 2026 Conference
October 22-25, 2026 • Virtual
Boundaries have always been a part of fandom, as mainstream culture dictates the “right” and “proper” ways of interacting with texts, stars, and cultural objects. Think of the stands vs. the playing field, seats vs. the stage, on the red carpet or simply watching it. But fandom, too, has created boundaries: sometimes to protect participants against IP holders or casual discovery, sometimes against or between fellow fans.
With boundaries as the conference theme for our ninth (!!!) year, we are especially interested in submissions considering:
Definitions of boundaries, in fandom and fan studies: theoretical, interpersonal, geographical, national, etc.
Histories of boundaries and their impact
People & Subject Positions – Who creates, values, and enforces boundaries?
Conflicts influenced by boundaries
Limitations & Opportunities in studying boundaries
Richland Community College
Penn State Harrisburg
University of North Texas
University of Southern California
Carleton College
University of Calgary
University of Amsterdam
LIM College
Stanford University
University of Leeds
Jenessa Williams • Jonathan A. Rose • Paul Booth • Kristina Busse • Lori Morimoto • EJ Nielsen • Sarah Sinwell • Louisa Stein • Lesley Willard • Benjamin Woo • Jacinta Yanders
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