Musical Theatre and Fan Cultures (LA or SA)

Subject associations
HUM 340 / MTD 340 / AMS 440 / SOC 376
Term
Spring 2025
Instructors
Elizabeth M. Armstrong
Stacy E. Wolf
Registrar description

Why do people love Broadway musicals? How do audiences engage with musicals and their stars? How have fan practices changed since the 1950s alongside economic and artistic changes in New York and on Broadway? In what ways does "fan of" constitute a social identity? How do fans perform their devotion to a show, to particular performers, and to each other? This class examines the social forms co-created by performers and audiences, both during a performance and in the wider culture. Students will practice research methods including archival research, ethnographic observation, in-depth interviewing, and textual and performance analysis.