Celebrity conferences as confessional spaces: the aca-fan memory traces of David Bowie's stardom

Wondrously layered is the way the interaction of time, place and person can shape us so indelibly; then it is all gone, yet the traces remain. Recently arisen are new and important spaces for discussion and commentary about star performers and the various affects of fandom itself. The importance of affect is elevated for shaping a wide variety of human behaviors by touching our feelings and moving us emotionally; the knowledge about which is critical for audience and reception studies researchers. Discussion spaces include conferences and symposia and the interactive flow of academic study and conversation both. The overarching aim of this article is to critically consider the ways that David Bowie is significant for aca-fans. For this project, the specific focus on conferences as a participatory space and using the focus group method where aca-fan participants could openly and intimately share their personal stories was adopted. This story-framed empirical method with aca-fans is unique in both focus and method.