Abstract
This article investigates the potential role and use of place in long-term fandom, via a case study of fans of The Prisoner and its main filming location of Portmeirion in North Wales. Much research on film tourism focuses on one-time encounters, but fans of The Prisoner have been visiting and revisiting Portmeirion regularly for over 50 years, potentially developing a different sort of relationship with it. Based on interviews with 16 long-term fans of The Prisoner and participatory observation on site, we develop the concept of the “fan homecoming,” a return visit to a familiar fandom-related place, and show how this relationship with place can shape long-term fandom. In facilitating repeated and ritualized practices, being able to regularly gather with other fans, and providing a “safe vault” for the fandom and its memories, place is shown to have an integral role.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 50-65 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Journal | Popular Communication |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 27 Sept 2018 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2019 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2018, © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis.
Research programs
- ESHCC A&CS
- ESHCC M&C