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"Research is formalised curiosity" – Zora neale hurston

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Media

Press

“Fan Studies: Looking beyond the crazy” [interview feature] New Sarawak Tribune 2017.

“Awakening of the Sarawak coffee” [interview] KINO Magazine, 2019.

“We have a voice snd it’s very loud: How K-pop fans took on Trump and won” [interview] ABC News, 2020

Radio

“When fans go stan“, Stop Everything! with Benjamin Law and Beverley Wang, ABC Radio, 2019.

“Fans: What Do You Go Nuts for?“, Nightlife with Indira Naidoo, ABC Radio, 2020.

Twitter

My Tweets

Instagram

cathisafan
A delight to receive the hard copies this morning! A delight to receive the hard copies this morning! When you’re in a field like fan studies, people often assume it’s all fluff with an over-celebration of the (media) objects that we love. Yet, so much of our observations and research also centre on trying to understand our everyday lived experiences. How does taste dictate our consumption habits? What are the intersections of politics and fandom, and in the case of this book, food cultures and fandom? This is our endeavour to expand the scope and reach of fan studies, to push the limits of our understanding of what we can do with the communication and cultural studies’ theoretical frameworks that inform a lot of our work. Thank you to all the awesome contributors to this anthology! Also a note, Routledge is still offering a 20% discount with the code included in the flyer in the second pic. #thisacademiclife #bookstagram #academicbook #foodcultures #fanstudies #foodstudies #fancultures #editedcollection
Prepping my session for the salon on “Good Fan, Prepping my session for the salon on “Good Fan, Bad Fan? On politics, appropriateness, and toxicity”: laptop for Zoom, and to keep track of the conversations on Discord and Twitter, green tea 🍵 because it actually keeps me awake, and notes for my presentation on the tablet. I do like the little niched workspace I’ve created. The salon was fantastic — lots of thought-provoking questions and conversations. It was incredibly lovely to see familiar faces, and to be introduced to new ones through their work. On a personal level, it was also something that I desperately needed. Conferences are always a much-needed reprieve, and this year, the isolation from Covid-related lockdowns have emphasised on the distance I’m away from my friends and my academic space. It’s always nice to feel validated for one’s work, as reassurance, as motivation. Fan studies conferences also rejuvenate me, because for once, I don’t have to hold back. #thisacademiclife #conferencing #conferencingduringapandemic #fanstudies #fsnna20 #homeoffice #laptopphotos
And it begins! First #FSNNA conference and first v And it begins! First #FSNNA conference and first virtual conference in this crazy year. I have some green tea at the ready (because coffee makes me sleepy) to keep me awake and tuned to the 13-hour time difference! #thisacademiclife #conferencing #conferencingduringapandemic #fsnna20 #laptopphotos
Conferencing during a pandemic, which has made som Conferencing during a pandemic, which has made some North American conferences accessible as events and conferences move online. It also means working out the time difference beyond just deciding which panels/papers are your priority. As things move to a start for #FSNNA20, I’m happy to see all the familiar names and looking forward to participating in conversations, and to hear all the wonderful research being done. This year’s isolation has been more pronounced than most, with conferences cancelled and being socially cut off from friends and peers so I relish the opportunity to interact with others. Kudos to the organisers, for the massive amount of organisation that went on behind the scenes, getting everything set up and for putting up a very comprehensive Discord server that can be used for all the extra chats! #thisacademiclife #conferencing #conferencingduringapandemic #academicsinlockdown #fanstudies #FSNNA20
Dining out in the new normal: socially-distanced t Dining out in the new normal: socially-distanced tables, and x-marked tables for controlled seating. Also included: a lovely plate of Sarawak kolo mee at this unassuming cafe/coffee shop that’s been operating since 1958. #kolomee #sarawakkolomee #foodporn #newnormal #fujifilm #x100v
It was a pleasure to listen to Professor Suk-Young It was a pleasure to listen to Professor Suk-Young Kim’s talk yesterday for IDECS2020 on digital media, youth economy and the K-pop industry. I don’t research into K-pop, but I was especially struck by Professor Kim’s reflection on the way K-pop bands like BTS construct a “contagious narrative” (Shiller, 2017) while utilising social media platforms and valuing what their audiences (in this case, their fans) values. And this could be via a Pan-Asian synergistic intertextuality, referencing Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood for Love and Days of Being Wild; and recognising and encouraging the production of fan material culture through platforms like Etsy. In truth, this has been what fan studies have been doing for the last 30 years. Except of course, our language isn’t framed by neoliberalist marketing and economics terminology. Rather, we approach fandom through a critical, cultural studies lens often informed by Marxist influence; which of course makes it less acceptable to institutions like the private and government sectors such as the Sarawak government (which organises and hosts the annual IDECS convention with the Sarawak Multimedia Authority) and universities. Regardless, if you want to build a digital economy that’s inclusive of the creative industry, you need to go beyond STEM and digital infrastructure, and actually understand THE creative industry itself: who’s in it, who is it for, what is it, and why. To build up a consumer culture that’ll then go on to produce, and vice versa, you still need an audience. You don’t engage with the core group of audience we in fan studies have been studying for close to 3 decades, honestly, you have nothing. I hope with the invitation of Professor Kim to an event like IDECS, that someone actually bothers to listen. #fanstudies #itsathing #expertknowledge #notarandomthought #facts #academia #idecs #idecs2020 #laptopphotos
NEW BOOK ALERT! This was somewhat of an experiment NEW BOOK ALERT! This was somewhat of an experiment, as we find ways to expand the concepts of fan studies and intersect it with understandings on food culture. Food (and drinks) are as much a part of our culture as media texts, and we develop rituals and bonding around our approach to our favourite food, cuisines, drinks and chefs. The book, with stellar chapters from a group of fan and food studies scholars, is scheduled to be released Oct 30. With the code above, you can get a 20% discount! #thisacademiclife #fanstudies #foodstudies #fancultures #foodcultures #newbook
York in winter #york #yorkshire #snowday #england York in winter #york #yorkshire #snowday #england #uk #theacademictravels #lifeinengland #wanderlust #canonphotography #canon500d
I noticed I’ve been taking plenty of pictures of I noticed I’ve been taking plenty of pictures of my laptop. Not much I can do, I supposed, what with a pandemic and working from home for the better part of the year now. So, one from the archives today from when I was living in England. #theacademictravls #scotland #edinburgh #uk #wanderlust #panasoniclumix
A near-miss as I’d completely forgotten that I’d signed up for this talk on intellectual (and academic) decolonisation by Dr Leon Moosavi from University of Liverpool in Singapore. I liked how he conceptualised the idea of the decolonial bandwagon, situating it firmly within higher institutions and academia because we have imposed liberal ideals on ourselves, our peers and mentors when we may not necessarily be. I especially appreciated his reflection on tokenistic decolonisation where we give knee-jerk reactions and responses to the chaos around us — racism, civil unrest, violence, protests, activism — without really taking the time to build a nuanced understanding of who and what is excluded from the academy. And in this process, we also don’t realised who we’ve silenced in the process because we’re so centred on our own activism and the desire to be seen as noble and good that we can’t critically reflect that the world isn’t as simple as North vs South, black vs white. Moosavi’s caution to not jump on the decolonial bandwagon but to actually try to understand that everyone has a different narrative and understanding of race, of decolonisation, of racism is something which is incredibly personal to my experience in the last year and a half. It’s good to be reminded that I should be more self-reflexive in my practice, to understand not only who I’ve silenced but also who has silenced me. #thisacademiclife #latenightthoughts #selfreflexivity #academia #academicsinlockdown #laptopphotos
The pandemic has been disconnecting to say the lea The pandemic has been disconnecting to say the least. It removes one from all that is familiar, creating new boundaries as much as it enabled new connections. I was delighted to be able to be back at my favourite seat in my favourite cafe as I do the background reading for my book proposal. To say that it made me feel less disconnected and out-of-sorts would have been an understatement, and there’s something to be said about the familiarity of space and place. Coupled with a stellar cup of Gesha hand-brewed by @ravenue, it made it all the more perfect! #thisacademiclife #academicsinlockdown #friendship #specialtycoffee #coffee #cafe #coffeeculture #coffeeshop #earthlings #earthlingscoffeeworkshop #laptopphotos
Rosemary and olive sourdough by @sourdough_mel, wh Rosemary and olive sourdough by @sourdough_mel, who has’s been experimenting with and baking sourdough over this weird period of time we currently live in. As she reflected, baking was a way of coping with her PhD and the pandemic, something we all need in our lives: coping strategies. (Mine has been obsessing over Chris Pine, especially as Steve Trevor, so, you know, it’s a coping mechanism too! 🤣) #newnormal #sourdough #sourdoughbread
Throwback to Monday, when attending a talk on how Throwback to Monday, when attending a talk on how science fiction and the fantastic deal with viral pandemics. Attending talks like these always makes me miss talking about media studies. #thisacademiclife #academicsinlockdown #newnormal #homeoffice #laptopphotos
On fan icons and legacies. Also, own your fandom! On fan icons and legacies. Also, own your fandom! Watch the recorded session via @projectinsightph’s FB Page or via the link in my bio. #fancultures #fandom #fanstudies
It was the role of Steve Trevor that cemented my l It was the role of Steve Trevor that cemented my love for Chris Pine, after becoming a fan of his Kirk in Star Trek. In an interview, he mentioned taking a role in Into the Woods because he wanted to work with the talent attached to the project. It’s probably very easy to dismiss him as yet another fresh-faced leading man, but it’s also not easy to play the role of a cheesy, narcissistic and essentially unlikeable Prince Charming and impress critics (also, what a singing voice to boot!). I’ve been very fascinated with the way he performs his celebrity since the GMA interview during Wonder Woman press rounds where he confessed to owning a flip phone. In an age where celebrities are obsessed with generating as much content as possible on social media, it’s interesting to see him actively taking a stand against that, and instead, choosing a string of widely different roles. Even as Steve Trevor — which is the thing I love most about the character and the way he plays Trevor, and how he articulates the character in interviews — he is there to support Wonder Woman, and not specifically there as the main (super)hero. #fandom #celebritystudies #randomthoughts
Reading and taking notes for a book proposal. Yes, Reading and taking notes for a book proposal. Yes, it’s for a single authored monograph. Watch this space, I guess? 😅 More will be revealed when it’s time. More coffee will be consumed along the way, I’m sure. #thisacademiclife #fanstudies #academicsinlockdown #laptopphotos
Yesterday’s follow-up to the conversation on fan Yesterday’s follow-up to the conversation on fandom and fan studies we had about a month ago, organised by Project Insight. It was a delight to be back, and it was a great opportunity to reflect on our personal fandoms, on the legacies and loss of celebrities we have lost, and shows we have said goodbye to. I rarely get the chance to talk about my Trek fandom which is spurred by the Kelvin universe (because, love of #ChrisPine, and also @johnthecho and #AntonYelchin). And I also ranted (a bit) about the politics of Mulan. Link to the recorded live-stream in the bio via my website. #fandoms #fanstudies #newnormal #academicsinlockdown #laptopphotos
We’re back by popular demand for Part 2! Very mu We’re back by popular demand for Part 2! Very much enjoyed being able to talk about fan cultures and fan studies so delighted to be back for this follow up. Sign up at bit.ly/FanCulture2 #fandom #fanculture #fanstudies
Post-dinner drinks. It’s been ages since we’ve Post-dinner drinks. It’s been ages since we’ve ventured anyway outside of the usual places. Also, the coffee isn’t bad, and loved the soufflé pancake! #cafe #weekend #newnormal #flatwhite #soufflepancake #foodporn
Weekend. And 7 months since I was at a pub/bar. # Weekend. And 7 months since I was at a pub/bar. #newnormal #weekend #santè #prost #cheers
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