Katherine Dee Argues Political Movements Are Now Essentially Fandoms

Katherine Dee, known online as "Default Friend," has posited that "online political fandoms" are a fundamental aspect of modern societal organization, asserting that many political movements now function akin to media fandoms. This perspective, shared by Dee on social media, highlights a significant shift in how individuals engage with politics, drawing parallels between fan culture and political participation. Dee, a prominent internet culture commentator, argues that "everything is downstream of fandom," suggesting that the way people organize themselves, including in political spheres, increasingly mirrors the dynamics of fan communities. She elaborates that pre-existing media fandoms, particularly those observed on platforms like Tumblr in the 2010s, have profoundly influenced contemporary discourse and self-perception. This framework extends to understanding phenomena such as the "Great Awokening" and identity politics, which she traces back to early 2010s internet culture. According to Dee's analysis, the internet has fostered a "fandomization" and "hobby-fication" of politics, where engagement is characterized by intense passion, community building, and often a sense of ownership over political figures or ideologies. This model, she explains, involves communities that debate details, create content, and fiercely defend their chosen "objects" of interest, whether they be celebrities, fictional characters, or politicians. This participatory activity, while different from traditional political membership, can facilitate collective action such as organizing protests or circulating petitions. The concept suggests that political identities are increasingly affinity-based rather than experience-based, driven by online interactions and shared digital spaces. This transformation has implications for how political narratives are formed and consumed, often leading to distinct online realities that can influence real-world events and decisions. Dee's work emphasizes that understanding the "how" of online communication is as crucial as the "what" in comprehending contemporary political dynamics.