Red, White, and Rural: Exploring the Dynamics of Political Fandom in Rural Communities

This study explores political fanship and fandom in rural communities in the United States by examining their role in the political dynamics of a remote, rural Texas county. During a focused ethnographic study consisting of semi-structured interviews and participant observation conducted over a two-month period of fieldwork, participants shared information about the social habits, media consumption, personal interactions, and economic challenges that influenced their political beliefs and behaviors and contributed to their political fanship for former U.S. President Donald Trump. A thematic analysis of the data, contextualized by literature on fanship and fandom, answered research questions concerning the role political fanship and fandom plays in rural communities, political fandom’s relationship to partisanship, and the impact the unique characteristics of rural life play in the formation of political fandoms. Findings suggest that political fandom is more intense but less enduring than partisanship, political fans have outsized influence in rural communities, political fanship requires distance between a fan and a political figure, and a sense of desperation in rural communities contributes to people becoming political fans of political figures playing the role of hero. Practical and theoretical implications and directions for future research are provided.

Embargo status: Restricted until 09/2024. To request the author grant access, click on the PDF link to the left.