{"id":{"repo_id":"tdl","oai_identifier":"oai:tdl-ir.tdl.org:11310/270"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/tdl/oai:tdl-ir.tdl.org:11310/270","repository":{"repo_id":"tdl","name":"Texas Digital Library","base_url":"https://tdl-ir.tdl.org/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"A Great Time to Be a Nerd: A Phenomenological Study of Pop Culture Enthusiasts and Fandom","abstract":"This thesis explores the significance of pop culture and fandom in the lives of local pop culture enthusiasts. Existing fandom studies focus on sports, religion, or politics whereas most media-based pop culture research involves niche fandoms. This study is important because it broadens the scope of the latter, aids to the dissolvement of associated stereotypes, and contributes to a third-wave movement of pop culture fandom research. Eight individuals were selected to participate in this study using purposive sampling. In-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted. By employing Colaizzi’s seven-step method of phenomenological data analysis, subthemes were identified and then categorized in terms of similarity. From there, three dominate themes emerged: nostalgia, connection to media, and social belonging/self-identity. These three themes allow for better understanding as to why pop culture is integral to an individual’s life.","abstract_html":"This thesis explores the significance of pop culture and fandom in the lives of local pop culture enthusiasts. Existing fandom studies focus on sports, religion, or politics whereas most media-based pop culture research involves niche fandoms. This study is important because it broadens the scope of the latter, aids to the dissolvement of associated stereotypes, and contributes to a third-wave movement of pop culture fandom research. Eight individuals were selected to participate in this study using purposive sampling. In-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted. By employing Colaizzi’s seven-step method of phenomenological data analysis, subthemes were identified and then categorized in terms of similarity. From there, three dominate themes emerged: nostalgia, connection to media, and social belonging/self-identity. These three themes allow for better understanding as to why pop culture is integral to an individual’s life.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Glenn, Dane Thomas"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Franken, Noah"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-02-28","date_published":"2020-02-28","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:19:21Z","subjects":["Keywords: pop culture, fandom, nostalgia, social belonging, relatability"],"languages":["en_US"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/11310/270","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Franken, Noah"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Glenn, Dane Thomas"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2020-03-17T14:47:14Z","2026-03-25T17:33:47Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2020-03-17T14:47:14Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2020-02-28"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Keywords: pop culture, fandom, nostalgia, social belonging, relatability"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en_US"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/11310/270"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/11310/270"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis explores the significance of pop culture and fandom in the lives of local pop culture enthusiasts. Existing fandom studies focus on sports, religion, or politics whereas most media-based pop culture research involves niche fandoms. This study is important because it broadens the scope of the latter, aids to the dissolvement of associated stereotypes, and contributes to a third-wave movement of pop culture fandom research. Eight individuals were selected to participate in this study using purposive sampling. In-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted. By employing Colaizzi’s seven-step method of phenomenological data analysis, subthemes were identified and then categorized in terms of similarity. From there, three dominate themes emerged: nostalgia, connection to media, and social belonging/self-identity. These three themes allow for better understanding as to why pop culture is integral to an individual’s life."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Great Time to Be a Nerd: A Phenomenological Study of Pop Culture Enthusiasts and Fandom"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Franken, Noah"],"dc:creator":["Glenn, Dane Thomas"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2020-03-17T14:47:14Z","2026-03-25T17:33:47Z"],"dc:date.available":["2020-03-17T14:47:14Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2020-02-28"],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis explores the significance of pop culture and fandom in the lives of local pop culture enthusiasts. Existing fandom studies focus on sports, religion, or politics whereas most media-based pop culture research involves niche fandoms. This study is important because it broadens the scope of the latter, aids to the dissolvement of associated stereotypes, and contributes to a third-wave movement of pop culture fandom research. Eight individuals were selected to participate in this study using purposive sampling. In-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted. By employing Colaizzi’s seven-step method of phenomenological data analysis, subthemes were identified and then categorized in terms of similarity. From there, three dominate themes emerged: nostalgia, connection to media, and social belonging/self-identity. These three themes allow for better understanding as to why pop culture is integral to an individual’s life."],"dc:identifier":["https://hdl.handle.net/11310/270"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/11310/270"],"dc:language":["en_US"],"dc:subject":["Keywords: pop culture, fandom, nostalgia, social belonging, relatability"],"dc:title":["A Great Time to Be a Nerd: A Phenomenological Study of Pop Culture Enthusiasts and Fandom"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:19:21Z"}