Shame and Pride

When we look under adolescents' beds we sometimes come across things they don't want us to find: an R-rated disc hidden beneath a pile of clothes, the receipt for a $100 pair of jeans they weren't supposed to buy, the ticket stamp from a club they weren't allowed to go to, the dry remains of a beer bottle... but sometimes it is more than just one thing. What if it were several things locked away from prying eyes? To relate it to our topic, let's bring up a Directioner who I know.  Beneath her bed, there is a large plastic container filled with One Direction-related items. There are not only magazine clippings but random photos printed from the internet, many photoshopped images with her next to a band member, dozens of hand-drawn pictures of the band members with their names scribbled repeatedly on tiny sheets of paper. It is her One Direction Chest. No one is allowed to go near it without her permission. It is for her eyes only. When did being a fan stop becoming a way to identify yourself and become extroverted, and when did it turn into something that is hidden away- not only in yourself- but in reality only for your eyes to see. Why do some fans hide away their precious merchandise in tiny dark corners under their beds while others stick up posters over every inch of their walls? Why do some people view their fanship as something shameful that needs to be hidden away and others as something proud that can be displayed anywhere? What encourages a person to spend hours downloading and editing pictures of One Direction off of the internet, only to end up tucking it away where it won't be seen? Obsession is taboo: fact. However, not every fan has an obsession; some are merely aficionados in their field of interest. How many individuals see the hate that other Directioners are getting on the chat-boards and comment sections of videos, then turn around and isolate their hobby from the rest of their lives: as if it is a cancer that needs to be isolated and kept under constant watch? What causes a person to react in shame vs. pride when asked about their likes and dislikes?
Until next time, 1Directioner Post, out.

Hobby vs. Compulsion

Like a decent percentage of the American youth, I am subscribed to f.y.e. newsletters which inform me of new deals or coupons on movies, music, etc. However, when I opened my email today, this promotion was staring me in the face. The first thing that caught my eye was the fact that not only did the store sell Life-Size Standees of One Direction, but that there was a large enough demand for them that the store would actually include them in such a sale. Now, the question is raised: What type of person would want a life-size image of Harry, Louis, etc. in their house? It's different than having a poster or a figurine. These cardboard images are nearly 6 foot tall each and take up a significant amount of room in any space. Have we really taken part in creating a culture in which it is acceptable to buy a person's likeness and put it in your home- not necessarily as a shrine or to pretend that this individual is a real part of your life- as a constant reminder of your passion for the band? Now, granted, there are individuals who buy these simply as a hobby of collecting One Direction merchandise; however, with the presence of things such as these internet-distributed newsletters, how many of these purchases are hobbies and how many of them are compulsions to "own" the band members?
Until next time, 1Directioner Post, out.

Second Directioner Interview

In order to understand why a fad remains popular, we must understand how it was able to rise to fame in the first place. For this interview, I chose to question a "Directioner" who has been a long time 'on and off' fan of One Direction. This helped create a perspective of why the band is popular, through the eyes of someone who is a fan. Through the series of questions asked, I learned how great a role the Internet played in the real creation and mass distribution of the band and its music. However, this technique is not new, as many pop culture icons have also 'gone online' as a recruiting method to draw attention to themselves. Now, think for yourselves a moment. What other foreign pop culture fads have you been exposed to (and have thus become a fan of) because of the Internet's presence? This world-wide phenomenon was catalyzed by the Internet and the connections between individuals that it creates. We all are familiar with things like Gangdam Style, Nyan Cat, and the Trolololol song that originated in foreign countries. So, how far do you personally think the Internet goes in such promotions? Post a comment with and answer if you wish.
Until next time, 1Directioner Post, out.

First Directioner Interview

In pursuit of answers as to how the band members themselves are affected by the Internet, I turned to a long time Directioner, who has devoted a large amount of her time towards staying 'in the loop' about the past and present goings on of One Direction. As she answered these questions knowledgeably, I began to wonder: "If a complete stranger to these band members can know so much about these individuals, what hope do we normal Internet users have when it comes to protecting who knows what about us?" Being a 'fan' isn't just about loving someone's artistic works anymore. Being a 'fan' now involves becoming engorged with all the possible information you can about someone. So, it's technically not violating their privacy to want to know (and to know) the private activities of another individual's life... it's just being a good 'fan.' Also, if there are individuals knowingly censoring and distributing information about people such as the band members, what's stopping others from doing the same for normal citizens? I know the celebrity world and it's standards are different from 'normal society,' but for how long will this be true? How much longer can be truly be 'ourselves' on the internet, or are we already changing ourselves- like the One Direction band members- in order to appeal to more individuals, who we don't even know, through the Internet?
Until next time, 1Directioner Post, out.

Discrimination Within The Fandom

There is a fine line between "Directioners" and "Directionaters." In the One Direction fandom, this is the singular division. This labeling system within the fanbase has led to many detrimental affects within the One Direction communities. Social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, are primarily home to the most brutal sorts of attacks. Teenagers- who are One Direction's targeted audience- usually see the internet as a means to interact socially with one another. However, once a common ground of "I like One Direction" has been established, the next steps could be either empowering or humbling. Once a person identifies themselves as being part of a fandom on the internet, their knowledge and devotion to the fandom is brought into question as a way to sub-divide the group. If you can't answer this

perfectly, then you must be a "Directionater." The main differences between "Directioners" and "Directionaters" are simple. "Directionaters" are those who partake in listening to One Direction on a moderate basis and otherwise do not have lives configured around this singular interest. However, "Directioners" are the more 'hard-core' fans. These are the individuals who watch every broadcast, listen to every song, and possessively cling to every item of merchandise that they own. "Directioners" see others within the One Direction fandom are being less devoted than they are, and this is where strife originates. "Directionaters" will be humiliated on chat-boards for their lack of One Direction knowledge, and cyber-bullying within the group can- and does- happen. My question for you is how can subdivisions within groups, such as the One Direction fandom be corrected so that there is less tension within the overall masses? Conflicts are bound to happen, but are there ways to 'soothe the savage beast' within the more volatile individuals so that a more enjoyable experience is available to those within the fandom? Have an answer, leave a comment. Until next time, 1Directioner Post, out.

Impulse Buying

It can be said that fads come and go. However, it can also be said that those who jump on the bandwagon will profit. The reason I bring this up is that I have recently noticed a trend in "Directioners." I have many "Directioner" friends who participate in the most unusual types of impulse buying. Not simply shirts or hats with One Direction tattooed across the front, but magazines. If they spot a magazine with one of the singers on the cover or an offer of a "free poster" included with the purchase of the magazine, they'll grab it and run to the check-out isle. Once they get home, they'll cut out the pictures and posters and plaster them to their walls. After a few of these trips, their walls end up looking exactly like this:

These are pictures taken from my "Directioner" friends' rooms, and they have storage bins of backup posters in case one rips. This phenomenon does not only occur in magazine buying, but also in online buying. Professional desktop wallpapers designed to target "Directioners" are becoming more and more popular. There are even personalized Google pages with One Direction posing in the background. My question is, where do we draw the line? As humans, are we letting things like popular culture affect our spending habits in detrimental ways? Where is the fine line between childhood fancy and obsession? Answers, objections, comments? Leave a message and let me know how you feel about this topic. Until next time, 1Directioner Post, out.

One Direction Marketing

Speaking of merchandise, let's talk about how One Direction culture has impacted other aspects of society. For instance, let's look at this iPhone case designed to specifically target "Directioners."

There are many implications brought on by this type of marketing. The first being the phrase on the case. "Keep Calm And Love 1D." What is this a reference to? Hmmm...maybe the ever so popular Doctor Who fandom? The phrase "Keep Calm And..." was created in an episode of Doctor Who in which the Doctor encounters Weeping Angels- creatures that can only attack you if you close your eyes. So, the Doctor created the phrase "Keep Calm And Don't Blink" in the process of trying to protect his companions from the creatures. Since then, the phrase has been changed to fit different circumstances. One of which being the One Direction fad. In adopting this phrase, One Direction attracts the attention- not only of those who are already fans of the band- but also those who are fans of Doctor Who. Thus, by a subtle merging of the two fandoms, both Doctor Who and One Direction benefit by the increase in traffic to both fandoms. The second implication of this type of marketing is the most obvious, One Direction is now an adjunct to Apple. This is not a figure of speech. Apple sells One Direction songs through their online program iTunes. Apple also sells One Direction applications for iPhones and iPods through their online App Store. Now, there are iPhone covers for "Directioners" who possess Apple products. This creates pressure on "Directioners" who do not have Apple products. Thus, in the desire to possess One Direction merchandise, "Directioners" also develop a desire to possess Apple products in order to maintain their involvement in the fandom. However, these are simply my assumptions of the data I have been presented with. Disagree with me? Agree with me? Comment below if you'd like and leave me feedback for my next post. Until next time, 1Directioner Post, out.