The idea of “fan” arose from John Fiske’s (1989) analysis of popular culture containing polysemic text. Polysemic literally means ‘many-signed’, an image in which there are several possible meanings depending on the ways in which its constituent signs are read. This polysemic analysis of text, Fiske (1989) allowed for “fans to construct alternative readings and interpretations of such texts, thus distinguishing them from ‘normal’ audiences” (12). The term “fan” is oftentimes associated with someone who has an intense, occasionally overwhelming liking of a person, group of persons, work of art, idea, or trend.

Fiske (1989) notes that fashion can be considered a discourse of resistance against the dominant perspectives outlined in mainstream popular culture. Fans who ally themselves within their counterparts have adopted a different outlook on life, or a lifestyle that differs from the suburbanized constructs of dominant lifestyles. Fiske (1989) notes that fandom is a concept that utilizes finite resources from the dominate culture and makes a gradual attempt to refuse that power. Fiske analyzes fan culture through a Marxist approach arguing that it can be characterized as a resistance movement against the dominant ideologies of the bourgeoisie. Through this struggle against the dominant characteristics of the bourgeoisie, fandom manifests its growth from the various members who attach polysemic varieties of meanings and decode newer concepts and pleasures from the content. This polysemic gathering of information can be seen through the various artifacts members carry as a testament to their adherence to the codes of a fan subculture. Fiske characterizes this struggle as warfare through semiotics. The various ways in which a fan can apply their principles of semiotics differ from that of the dominant ideologies that attempt to repress it; hence, the ideas of class structures are brought into awareness by Fiske.

Fan theory also illustrates the genderization of specific modes of entertainment (i.e. sports). Sociological gendering of leisure in industrial societies have inflicted a distinct analysis of fandom. Arguably, the union of gender differences can be seen through the increase in fan base regarding sport activities. Genderization of fandom, theoreticians believe, implicates a different understanding of what a fan really is. Portrayals of fans holding specific gender constructs further emphasizes the secularization of fans in specific groups. Agreeably

Fandom, then, cannot be described as a form of consumption that lends itself to either gender position. Instead, the different socio-historic development and female fan cultures, the variations in chosen fan texts, and the usage of different media are indicators of the different power positions articulated in fandom (16)

Due in part because of the differences in the histories between the sexes, the comparative differences between how men enjoy fandom and how women enjoy fandom is articulated in a mild difference. These differences, as examined by Dell (1998) show that while women are expected to adhere to their particular roles, they can still watch televised screenings of wrestlers two or three times a week and still hold their roles, although in a more sexualized arousal (105). In this regard, women can also be a fan of wrestling and thereby reinforcing Fiske’s idea that fandom is a subversion of the set principles of the popular culture industry; it is therefore a defiance over male-dominated genres.

Theories regarding fandom also include the subversion of hegemonic practices between two different fan bases with the same basic interest. For example, a Trekky encounters another Trekky and there is a disagreement with the pronunciations of Romulus dialogue. The expressed disagreement comes from the fact that these two Trekkies come from different fan bases and that their hegemonic subjectivities do not fully incline to the global understanding of Romulan.

Understanding theories about the formation of fandom in contemporary is a critical component to popular culture because of the designated harsh inferences given to the term “fan” and the denotations of “fandom.” From this derived understanding, one can see that the formation of fandom may very well be an area one can access to develop an inclination or obsession, although it might not be for the bad.