This study will focus on the K-POP community phenomenon, which has been a significant part of my life since childhood, adding another layer of cultural cohesion. As a fan myself, I explore this phenomenon through autoethnographies, data collection, and participatory research, analyzing the potential of fandom culture from social and economic perspectives to raise awareness and consciousness, as well as new possibilities in community shaping, reflected in a toolkit.
This toolkit is made out of three artifacts that come from a research and personal experimentation around three main topics of the project: fan behavior, participatory culture and memorabilia. ¿What does a fandom look like from the inside perspective? ¿What narratives can be seen through these artifacts?
Many fans cherish the chance to catch a piece of confetti as a piece of memorabilia. Unfortunately, the escalating cost of concert tickets has created a disparity in access, so that only those with the financial means, time, and energy to secure a spot near the stage are likely to bring this physical memory home.
This tool is designed in response to the desire for equal opportunity among all fans, regardless of where they are seated. It consists of a net paired with an extendable mechanism inspired by selfie sticks. It is collapsible and compact, allowing it to be easily stored in a bag during security checks. In this way, any fan, no matter their location in the venue, can attempt to capture a fragment of that collective moment of joy.
The act of screaming takes the shape as a networking tool, as a discourse. It becomes an action that makes a critique towards the assumption that we can decipher nonverbal utterances through the same research strategies that analyze words; because the emotion felt at that moment, that instant is not explainable through sentences.
The locket becomes a tool to give value to our own screams. I manipulated a voice recorder that plays your own scream by a speaker and created a necklace out of it. This way, our most “vulnerable” yet “powerful” self is given a deep personal meaning while being able to showcase it as a form of statement.
Takes the form of a convex mirror, repurposed as the centerpiece of a participatory activity during fan gatherings on concert day. Its primary aim is to generate a shared digital feed via a dedicated hashtag associated with the event. In this way, anyone who visits the hashtag will encounter a collective memory archive created by the attending fans.
The mirror is recontextualized as a photospot, transforming a utilitarian object into a medium of expression and interaction. Designed to be wearable, the mirror becomes a mobile focal point, encouraging conversation, interaction, and bonding among fans. Its presence invites engagement and reinforces a sense of community through a playful yet intentional act of participation.
Where the full thesis is compiled.
Printed partially at Verdi 9, Barcelona.
Fonts used: Stix Two Text, Alte Haas Grotesk, Geist Mono
ELISAVA School Barcelona
Saúl Baeza