The MrBeast Fandom

 The MrBeast Fandom

Who is MrBeast?

    The MrBeast fandom, also known as the BeastArmy is a massive and passionate community of fans who follow and support MrBeast also known as Jimmy Donaldson who is a popular youtuber known for his stunts, philanthropic endeavors, but most of all his generosity. His videos mainly consist of him doing all kinds of activities or gameshow like competitions for large sums of money. He also features videos of him giving back to his community and giving money to those in need and even surprising low-income workers with new cars changing their lives forever. Since his channel startup in 2012 MrBeast has accumulated over 148 million subscribers and is easily one of the most recognizable Youtube influencers on and off the platform and has created one of the most powerful fanbases on the internet.

MrBeast Youtube Logo (7)

Jimmy's Audience

    The MrBeast fandom spreads across the globe and is united in a way that supports and praises MrBeast for his entertaining videos along with his generosity to the general public. MrBeast's fans are comprised from all sorts of age groups and all walks of life with different perspectives. Though diverse they are all united for their love of Jimmy's generosity in his content and are spread out through multiple social media platforms such as, twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Reddit, and other websites such as MrBeast Wiki where fans post facts and records of MrBeast's Youtube career and personal life (1).

MrBeast Fanart (8)

The Growth and Impact of The BeastArmy

    In the very beginning MrBeast channel content and audience was very different since Jimmy was posting call of duty content and reaction video content where Jimmy would criticize Youtube Intros. However, Jimmy would take an alternative path with a video titled "I counted to 100,000!" (2). This would spark a new era in his Youtube content but primarily his fanbase. This video would explode in popularity and would be over 40 hours long but was unfortunately cut short on Youtube since he had technical errors posting the full video. After this MrBeast's fandom would demand generosity content that would also involve some challenge behind it. MrBeast would then follow along and since then, MrBeast's fandom has grown exponentially creating fanart, blogs about Jimmy himself, and giving him support across all platforms. MrBeast's Fandom continued to pump out innovative and creative content ideas which captured the attention of the internet. To make these challenges or future charity videos possible the BeastArmy would donate money to Jimmy's channel enabling him to give away to the homeless, host giveaways to his fans, and even surprising waitresses with cars on tik tok (3). This would inspire others to give back even more and have a very positive outlook on most of the content he produces.

The BeastArmy Influence

    The BeastArmy impact on the internet cannot be ignored. The BeastArmy is everywhere and is the result of the greatness of generosity and is one of the most cherished communities out there in the youtube community and internet. The BeastArmy has motivated Jimmy to do good things for not just himself and his friends but others who are in need. The MrBeast Army has even come together on reddit and twitter (4) to help MrBeast plant 20 million trees to help save the environment which is another fine example of the humanity that is shown in this fanbase (5). With the continued support of the BeastArmy, epic games made a Fortnite skin based on Jimmy himself that features a full kit of items that go with the Fortnite skin (6). This move by epic games would cement Jimmy and his following forever in internet culture. 

reposted reddit post about planting trees(4)

MrBeast's Fortnite Skin(6)

    The MrBeast fandom is a creative and passionate community that has been brought together by a shared love for MrBeast and his unique content. The BeastArmy is one of the greatest representations of social and influential power from an online community and its loyalty to an online creator. MrBeast's content and major following alongside has captivated the attention and hearts of millions of people around the world, and his generous efforts have made a positive impact on society. All in all, I've come to the conclusion that the BeastArmy are the true good guys of Youtube.

References

1. Jimmy Donaldson. In Wikipedia. https://mrbeast.fandom.com/wiki/Jimmy_Donaldson

2. [MrBeast]. I Counted To 100,000! [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWcldHxHFpo

3. [MrBeast]. (2023, March 26). Amy’s been getting to work without a car formonths, thanks to you we changed that :-) [Video]. Tik Tok. https://www.tiktok.com/@mrbeast/video/7214885560584883502?lang=en

4. M. (2019, May 25). Reddit really wants me to plant 20 million trees. Retrieved May 7, 2023, from https://twitter.com/MrBeast/status/1131632811008548865?lang=bg

5. [MrBeast]. (2019, October 25). Planting 20,000,000 Trees, My Biggest Project Ever! [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPJKxAhLw5I

6.Peters, J. (2022). MrBeast is joining Fortnite with his own skins and a $1 million challenge [Photograph]. TheVerge.https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/12/23502483/mrbeast-fortnite-skin-1-million-survival-challenge-icon

7.M. (2012, February 19). MrBeast. Retrieved May 7, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX6OQ3DkcsbYNE6H8uQQuVA

8.T. MRBEAST 6000. [Photograph]. Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/499829258647330044/

The Harry Potter Fandom

    “Potterheads” as they call themselves, are some of the most die-hard fans of Harry Potter.  First released in 1997, with the last book being published in 2007, J.K. Rowling’s series became a worldwide phenomenon very quickly.  The books follow a young boy’s life as he finds out he is a wizard and then that he has a price on his head set by the most powerful evil wizard to ever live.  

    Despite J.K. Rowling’s intentions of Harry Potter being a series for teens, the Harry Potter fan base is multigenerational.  The series gained such long-lasting popularity that seven years after the last book was published, an entire theme park opened up in dedication to Harry Potter.  In 2014, “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” opened at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.  Here fans will find many attractions from the series including Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and the Hogwarts Castle.  Along with these destinations, fans are also able to enjoy Harry Potter themed roller coasters and other rides like the Hogwarts Express.

Universal studios in Orlando is not the only Harry Potter theme park, however.  There are several locations all across the world including Hollywood, Japan, and Beijing.  Above is a picture of Hogwarts castle at the Orlando location.  Fans enjoy visiting these parks because it is as if they are stepping into the world of Harry Potter themselves.  As a fan myself, when I read the books I imagine how amazing it would be to be a part of this secret world; I would love to go to one of the parks and bring the experience in my mind to real life.

    On top of Harry Potter theme parks, there are many other ways fans celebrate and share their love of the series.  One way is via websites.  A popular website dedicated to Harry Potter is called MuggleNet.  On this website, fans can read the Daily Prophet (a newspaper) and the Quibbler (a journal written by Luna Lovegood’s father).  There is also a link on MuggleNet to the “Alohamora” podcast where chapters are revisited and interpreted in great detail. 

   Another way that the fandom expresses its obsession is through conventions.  A popular Harry Potter convention called LeakyCon  is held in Chicago.  Here fans are able to dress up as their favorite characters, meet actors from the films, and discuss the joys of the series. 

    The following link is a video of what a fan might experience when attending LeakyCon.

My Experience at LeakyCon

    Conferences such as these as well as the theme parks allow Harry Potter fans to “become” part of the Wizarding world for a few days, which is why this is such a popular event for the Harry Potter fandom.  Websites and podcasts are methods for which fans share their existing knowledge of Harry Potter as well as learn from other fans in the fandom.  The main part of fan conventions such as LeakyCon is cosplay, which also makes fans feel as though they are living in the Wizarding world not unlike how the parks makes fans feel.

    Fans also participate in real life Quidditch, a sport J.K. Rowling created in the books.  Players fly around on broomsticks, with the main goal of getting the quaffle (a ball) into the goals on either end of the field while avoiding bludgers (heavy balls that are thrown at players holding the quaffle).  In 2005, a group of students from Middlebury College in Vermont decided to bring Quidditch to life as an intramural sport.  From there it took off and now there is an official governing body called the IQA (International Quidditch Association) in which hundreds of teams participate across the United States and Canada.  Fans of Harry Potter are able to get active year round if they chose to play Quidditch.

Works Cited:

“Harry Potter Fandom.” Wikipedia, 17 Feb. 2023, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter_fandom. 

“Accio Politics.” MuggleNet, 31 Jan. 2022, www.mugglenet.com/mugglenet-family/accio-politics/. 

“My Full Leakycon 2022 Experience.” YouTube, 31 July 2022, youtu.be/YGZdurUXNlE. 

Black, Alan. “Quidditch: An Introduction to This Actual Sport (Yes, It's Real).” Bleacher Report, Bleacher Report, 28 Sept. 2017, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1025528-quidditch-an-introduction-to-this-actual-sport-yes-its-real. 

 The Amazing Spider Man Fandom 

Who is Spider Man? 

   Spider Man is one of the most unique and kindhearted superheroes in the Marvel universe. It is because of his unique characteristics that his fan base is so large. Spiderman is well known by fans as a brave, strong, courageous, and friendly superhero. Though underneath the mask he is just an ordinary nerdy looking high school kid, Peter Parker. It is easy for people, especially teenagers, to connect to a fictional character like Spider Man since he is still just a teenager that has way too much on his plate. Just like every other teenager that is always stressed out with the smallest things Spider Man has the biggest burden of all when it comes to being stressed out. So, in all since people can connect to him so well the fan base behind Spider Man is very large and it does so much to portray their love towards him. 

Dressing Up/Cosplay

    The biggest way that fans show their love towards Spider Man is through cosplay and pretending to be Spider Man. Cosplay is the practice of dressing up as someone from any book, movie or anything like that. Cosplay is very common for many characters, but it is very common to cosplay as Spider Man since all you really have to do is put on a one-piece costume. Also, the fact that Spider Man has so many movies, shows, cartoons, etc. makes it very easy for people to cosplay. In 2018 during the Stockholm's Comic-Con the company Sony that made a Spiderman game wanted to celebrate the launch by breaking the world record by having 547 people dressed as Spiderman in a single room (4). This is just one example of how dedicated the Spiderman fandom is. There have been three actors that played the role of Spider Man and throughout the years there have been many variations and costumes of Spider Man with different color schemes and different designs people have many options to pick from. A lot of the time people would also post themselves on social media like TikTok cosplaying as Spider Man which became very popular when celebrities started doing it. Cosplaying is definitely the more popular option of fans showing their love, but it is not the only option. 

Creating Edits

Another big thing that people do to show how much they love the character is creating edits or short clips of Spider Man doing certain things. Since 2002 up until now (2023) there have been eight Spider Man movies that have been released (3). With the first three played by the actor Toby Maguire, the next two played by Andrew Garfield and the recent three played by Tom Holland. There are various edits on YouTube that are made to compare all the three actors and all of their epic stunts and moments. A very big controversy between the Spider Man fandom is which one of the actors is better. So, the edits show off each of the actors' special moments to show how good the actors played the role. In the video below you can see an edit of Toby Maguire playing his role of Spider Man. Another place that has many edits which are even shorter than the video below is TikTok since it is the platform of creativity and most of the videos are only minute long. 

(243) Spider-Man Trilogy | Tribute - YouTube

Social Media 

    On top of the video edits another big thing that fans favor is to create fan page accounts on their social media platforms. For example, if you search up Spiderman on Instagram you will see countless amounts of different accounts that support Spiderman and post pictures of spiderman related content. Also, with the numerous fan pages you will see the official Spiderman page that is probably run by people from Marvel, pop-up which has 2.4 million followers. The official Spiderman page posts updates and anything related to news which is a very good way to keep the fans involved and up to date with all of the latest Spiderman news. With Instagram being only one of the platforms, Twitter is another platform that allows Marvel to be more interactive with its Spiderman fan base. Just like Instagram Twitter posts the latest news on Spiderman content and has 2.4 million followers just like Instagram. This just shows the popularity and how large the fandom truly is. 

Collectibles 

    Speaking of popular things, a very popular thing that fans do is buy Spiderman based items. So that could mean collecting action figures, getting Lego sets, video games, bed sheets, electronics like speakers or headphones and other things that are designed based on Spiderman. One of the biggest things that people like to acquire is Spiderman comics. There are countless comic books out there and serious fans would oftentimes like to collect them. The link below shows a fandom website that shows all sorts of different Spiderman comic books. Another thing that people like to collect is Spiderman action figures. Serious action figure collectors could make a good amount of money with their collections since some figures could be as much as 4,500 dollars. The second link below will take you to a website listing the top 10 extremely valuable Spider Man figures. It is because of the vast fan base that Spider-Man has that there are so many things that are available that are Spider Man themed. 

1) Spiderman Comics - Spider-Man Comic Books | Marvel Database | Fandom

2) Top 10 Valuable Spider Man action figures - 10 Extremely Valuable Spider-Man Figures (With Prices) (cbr.com)

Work Cited

Pin on Spiderman Cosplay Unmaksed. (n.d.) https://www.pinterest.com.mx/pin/849421179704346804/

Spider-Man Trilogy Tribute. (2021). Youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgOvVkHKrlQ

Gravvat, L. (n.d.). How many Spider-Man movies are there? Here’s the full list in order of release. USA     TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2022/06/23/how-many-spider-               man-movies-order/7659688001/

Favis, E. (n.d.). 547 People dress as Spider-Man to break world record. Game Informer. 

    https://www.gameinformer.com/gamer-culture/2018/09/16/547-people-dress-as-spider-man-to-break-

    world-record

Spider-Man Comic Books. (2014). Marvel Database. https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Spider-

    Man_Comic_Books

Harn, D. (2020, December 30). 10 extremely valuable Spider-Man figures (with prices). CBR.    

    https://www.cbr.com/spiderman-valuable-figures/#funko-pop-metallic-spider-man-sdcc-exclusive-4-

    500

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Parrot Heads of Margaritaville

Who are Parrot Heads

Jimmy Buffett, leader of the Parrot Heads, the mayor of Margaritaville, now at 76 years of age, still remains making his followers smile (1). His famous followers call themselves Parrot Heads, they are country loving, margarita drinking, tropical shirt wearing, smiling folk from all over the world. They support Buffett with every fiber of their being, always enjoying their time and throwing beach balls in the crowd. 

                                                                                Margaritaville 

Margaritaville in Grand Turks

Margaritaville is Buffetts worldwide locations filled with Parrot Heads from around the world. Including, Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Belize, and Grand Turks (2). Music from any day and age play all throughout the blasting speakers but when Jimmy Buffets songs come on, the atmosphere changes immensely. From dancing and swimming, with the background noise, to the whole resort stopping and every single Parrot Head and common Buffet lover sing together unable to hear themselves think. Everyone is smiling from ear to ear and the DJ plays the music as loud as they can. I went to the Grand Turks location and every person you would talk to was a Parrot Head. I met someone who had been to every Margaritaville location after only hearing one of Jimmy's famous songs, Margaritaville. An annual weekend at the Margaritaville at Put-in-Bay, Ohio is where Parrot Heads come and enjoy numerous activities including running, eating, and drinking while listening to Buffett all night and day. This event is known as the Phlocking of the Phaithful (3). 

5'O Clock Phlock 

Phlock's Walk to End Alzheimers 

The 5 O'Clock Phlock (4) is an officially sanctioned club of Parrot Heads that are partnered with the national organization Parrot Heads in Paradise, created in December of 2007, which creates a space where Parrot Heads get together for food, adventures and pure fun. Their purpose is to provide educational, and charitable activities to promote general welfare of community. They support local charities, do Alzheimer walks, help fund families effected by cancer, provide safe havens for animals until they can find homes and help adults with developmental and intellectual abilities to  promote dignity and give them purposeful lives. The largest charity they support is the Walk to End Alzheimer's in order to honor the memory of Jimmy Buffet's Dad who died of Alzheimer's. 

Parrot Head Paradise on the Water 

A perfect place for Parrot Heads to travel the Bahamas on the 3-day, 2-night cruise on the Margaritaville at Sea (5). A cruise through the Bahamas on a floating vacation with live performances from Jimmy Buffett himself. The inaugural sail held anywhere between 1,308 to 1,680 passengers aboard the vessel and those passengers were living every Parrot Heads dream. With built in packages for the classic saying of "its 5'o clock somewhere", limitless drinks and food leads to relaxing days in the sun listening to Buffett all day long. There are bars and nightly shows for Parrot Heads that allow them to connect with one another and bond over their love for Buffett and his music.  

                                                            

                  Concerts

Casual and relaxed, dressed in Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian T-shirts, Parrot Heads thrive at Buffetts concerts. Any picture or video you look at concerning a Parrot Head party has beach balls flying in the air and the concert goes have drinks in their hands. Buffetts concerts are described as "the happiest place on Earth" (6). Parrot Heads will describe these concerts as a drunk persons Disney World which is exactly where they love to live. 

References 

1. 10 fun facts about Jimmy Buffett. (July, 2019). Margaritaville Caribbean.  https://www.margaritavillecaribbean.com/stories/10-fun-facts-about-jimmy-buffett/ 

2. (n.d). Margaritaville. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. https://www.margaritaville.com/ 

3. (n.d.). Phlocking of the phaithful. Put-in-Bay Visitors Convention Bureau.  https://www.visitputinbay.org/event/phlocking-of-the-phaithful/

4. (n.d). 5 o'clock phlock parrot head club. 5 O'Clock Phlock PHC. https://www.5oclockphlock.com/about

5. Margaritaville at sea. (May, 2023). Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. https://margaritavilleatsea.com/

6. Charvat, J. (May, 2018). Jimmy Buffett creates an unparalleled party atmosphere at Blossom. Cleveland Scene. https://www.clevescene.com/music/jimmy-buffett-creates-an-unparalleled-party-atmosphere-at-blossom-18943860 

Elden Ring Fandom

    Rise Tarnished and welcome to the lands between. Elden ring is an action roll playing game that is played in a third person perspective. The objective of the game is level up in an open world to progress through the main story bosses called the shard Barrers and collect the pieces of the Elden ring. You eventually get through the game to mend the Elden ring and become the Elden lord. In one month after the games release it sold over 12 million copies of the game worldwide which is a staggering amount. Since the game was so highly sought out for it gained a gigantic following which in turn created its own fandom where people were able to share their own ideas and views on the game. The people who participate in this fandom are very dedicated to what they do, and help made Elden ring the game it is today. 

Elden Ring Fan Art

    The Elden ring fandom consists of many different types of artworks and cosplays. Elden ring fan art as described by game rant is "Elden Rings rich fantasy world and striking character designs have inspired many pieces of fan art from its dedicated community of players"(2). The pieces of fan art show the world of the Elden ring through the consumers eyes which ends up adding a more cartoony and stylized look to the game. Most of the fan art consists of the main bosses and cool looking aspects ok the game such as the glint stone sorcerers and the Erdtree which is the main selling point of the map. As shown in the picture on the left is one of the many types of fan art people create and it all looks amazing and has such great detail. In the picture is shown the hardest boss in the game shown in a good light even though she is meant to cause the player great troubles and hardships. Some people even take it to a whole new level with the fan art and spend months working on one project. Such as recreating the whole map and developing it in their own eyes for other people to see. But there are other types of fan interactions such as cosplay. 

Elden Ring Fan Art Video

Elden Ring Cosplay

   The second main part of the fandom is the conventions and cosplay events. This is where people get to go dressed up as their 

In game armor/ Cosplay armor (Blood wolf)

favorite Elden ring character or boss. Majority of the people that are cosplaying cosplay as Malenia blade of maquila, Melina, and the blood wolf which is one of the coolest armor sets in the entire game all of which can be seen on the ScreenRant website. Most of the people doing cosplay post them on their Instagram to gain following because the game is so popular and very well known. Some of the gaming conventions where people go to dress up for Elden ring are as follows, cosplay America, ComiCon, and Shine Con just to name a few. People go into great detail with their work and some of the makeup that is used takes hours upon hours of work. As seen in the picture on the right people go into great detail with their cosplays and even go to the extent of wearing actual Armour which is incredibly heavy all day just to show off their work. But there are other ways people do cosplay with Elden ring. Majority of the people do it in game, there are hundreds upon thousands of different armor and weapon combinations in the game that people hold events called fashion souls. This is when people create a character in game and try to make the best-looking Armour set that they can and then they are judged by other competitors' weather or not it is good. 

(1)McPhillips, A. (2022, June 3). Elden Ring Fan Art Combines the Game With the 

            Flintstones. https://gamerant.com/elden-ring-fan-art-flintstones/

(2)Szelinski, C. (2022, March 8). ScreenRant. https://screenrant.com/elden-ring-cosplays-instagram/

Who Explores the Dungeon?

    

    The town is on fire, people are disappearing at night, and the nobles cannot seem to agree on anything, so who will come to save the day? The tabletop game, Dungeons & Dragons, gives you the chance to be the hero and save the day alongside your friends. Dungeons & Dragons, also known more commonly by the community as D&D, is a roleplaying game in which one player, known as the Dungeon Master or DM, acts as the games narrator and referee while the other players act as characters of their own creation in the story. And although Wizards of the Coast, the company who has invented this game, makes prewritten stories for groups to play, they provide enough material that anyone who wishes can write their own story, also known as a campaign, as well. The game was first created in 1974 (5) and has since gathered a massive throng of fans whether they have been there since the beginning or are only now just learning to play. But besides playing the game, what exactly do these fans do?

Make-Your-Own Monster

    One of the most common things fans participate in is designing their own items and monsters to play in the game which is also known as homebrew. The limit of what homebrew creations can do is only capped by the imagination of who created it. Many people often post their creations on different platforms such Instagram and Reddit to share with others in the community while some even make money of their creations by selling what is known as the stat block, the rules of how something works, of the item or monster online. In fact, just like how Wizards of the Coast sells their own prewritten stories, quite a few people out there write and sell their own campaigns.

To Tell a Story

Another part of Dungeons and Dragons that fans participate in is the storytelling aspect of the game. There are many podcasts, YouTube channels, and other mediums that people use to share their campaign schenanigans with the community. For instance, if one were to search on Google Podcasts, they would find well over a hundred different podcasts with different themes ranging form the classic Dungeons and Dragons to one of my personal favorites, Of Mice and Men and Monsters, which turns classic pieces of literature into campaigns (6).

Of Mice and Men and Monsters logo (8)

The same situation applies to YouTube with one of the most famous channels, Critical Role, currently having 1.97 million subscribers and one of the campaigns from the channel has become its own animated cartoon (2). In fact, the dungeon master for this channel, Matt Mercer, is one of the most well-known faces of the community other than the creators at Wizards of the Coast and is renowned for his story telling capabilities. As for other mediums besides online videos and podcasts, "Tripod," a group that plays Australian Filk music, has made a Dungeons and Dragons stage musical. The stage has a raised platform on which those acting as the players sit while their characters act out the campaign on the stage itself (1).

Gear up

As I have mentioned multiple times previously, creating a character is one part of the game and many players like to take it one step further by cosplaying as their character. These costumes can range from something cobbled together with things they own, to elaborate creations made from scratch. It is also not uncommon for people to use face paint and latex prosthetics in order to look more like their character. I have participated in this part of the fandom myself by sewing a costume for a friend's carnival themed campaign. People also make costumes based on characters from other campaigns, a popular one being Jester from one of Critical Role's campaigns. People will often wear their cosplays at conventions or just as a fun activity with their fellow players.

My D&D Cosplay

                A Cosplayer's Jester Outfit

Roll Them Bones

Speaking of making things, another popular activity in the fandom is making dice. The results of most of your actions in Dungeons and Dragons are determined by rolling various dice and while any dice set can do, some people decided to get more creative than that. Some use dice molds to make dice out of resin which can result in interesting colors and patterns while they will sometimes suspend items in the resin such as glitter or even little rubber ducks. Others make them out of metal which can result in more intricate designs. It is fairly common to collect dice sets in the community that the phrase, "dice goblin," is used to refer to someone who has a massive collection of dice.

Rubber Ducky Dice (9)

Metal Dice (7)

Works Cited

Chand, Neeraj. “Til: 24 Things about Dungeons and Dragons Only True Fans Know.” TheGamer, 17 Aug. 2018, https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-and-dragons-things-players-know/#there-s-actually-a-d-amp-d-stage-musical.

“Critical Role.” YouTube, YouTube, 23 May 2018, https://www.youtube.com/@criticalrole.

Di, Ginny. Jester in Real Life - Critical Role Cosplay. YouTube, YouTube, 3 Oct. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTXu5VKwVgc&list=PLsmjZYZs1ps2zlNeuLGmqZfzBsklZSegj. Accessed 1 May 2023.

“Dungeons & Dragons Logo.” Dungeons & Dragons: Official Home of the World's Greatest Roleplaying Game, https://dnd.wizards.com/. Accessed 2023.

“Dungeons & Dragons.” Dungeons & Dragons Home Page, University of Southern California, 2021, https://viterbi-web.usc.edu/~mkperlmu/itp104/assignment_05/interests_page_gallery_layout.html#:~:text=Dungeons%20%26%20Dragons%20(commonly%20abbreviated%20as,by%20Tactical%20Studies%20Rules%2C%20Inc.

Google, Google, https://podcasts.google.com/search/D%26D.

“Hollow Metal Skull RPG Dice Set.” Awesome Dice, 2023, https://www.awesomedice.com/products/hollow-metal-skull-rpg-dice-set. Accessed 2023.

“Of Mice and Men and Monsters Logo.” Of Mice and Men and Monsters, Of Mice and Men and Monsters, 2020, https://www.omamam.com/about. Accessed 2023.

“Rubber Ducky Dice.” Dark Elf Dice, 2022, https://darkelfdice.com/products/rubber-ducky-dice-rpg-role-playing-game-dice-set?variant=32074947395645. Accessed 2023.

Philadelphia Eagles Fandom

 E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES

   

    Football has always been one of the most fan heavy sports and has always been well known for its rowdiness and excitement. Although every team has their own die-hard fan base, there's no team with more passionate fans than Philadelphia. Residing in the city of brotherly love, residents of Philadelphia love their sports more than any other. One passionate Eagles fan in particular, Timothy Rapp, says "I've been to a lot of cities in my time, but nothing has ever felt like home the way Philadelphia does. And if you're a Philadelphian, you're an Eagles fan."

    While Eagles fans can be viewed as the most passionate in the NFL, they are also one of the most hated. This could stem from a plethora of reasons. Maybe because of the fact that they threw snowballs at a man dressed as Santa, or because they booed franchise QB Donovan McNabb when he was first drafted to the team, or maybe because they cheered during Dallas Cowboy's WR Michael Irvin's career ending injury. While all of these may be contributions, the main reason ultimately stems from the city's immense drive to be great, and when they are great, the way they make sure every other team knows it! This fanbase knows how to represent their team, and they do it well. These fans don't care about the opinions of others and won't take any hate to heart. In 2018, fans created a song they called "No One Likes Us" where they passionately sang about how nobody likes them and they don't care, representing the true spirit of who Philly fans really are. During the Super Bowl LII parade, Eagles center Jason Kelce chanted the song as fans gathered around cheering and singing along.

    

    2018 was a special year for the City of Philadelphia and its fans. Prior to 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles had never come away with a Super Bowl win, nor received a Lombardi Trophy. In 2017, QB Carson Wentz was leading the Eagles 10-2, giving fans optimism of making it to another Super Bowl. Everything was working in their favor until week 11 when Wentz faced a devastating season ending injury - tearing his ACL. The team was forced to start backup QB Nick Foles for the remainder of the season. From that point the Eagles took the name, "The Philadelphia Underdogs", as every other team in the NFL doubted the team and its capabilities. Eagles fans however took the name "underdog" to a new level, dressing up in dog masks and barking during games. Eagles OT, Lane Johnson, even wore his own dog mask during the remainder of the games to represent the team. Nick Foles ended up leading the team to 13-3, winning every game he started in and leading the Eagles to a 41-33 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

    The team's first ever Super Bowl win gave fans the opportunity to go all out in celebration, maybe a little too much. After the win, Fans rushed down to center city, where they had a lot to drink, climbed poles and awnings, broke glass, and even started a fire. One man in particular got down on his hands and knees and ate horse poop off the street. Fans then had the opportunity to attend the Super Bowl parade where they also showed their true colors.

    On the typical Sunday between September and February, Eagles fans love to get rowdy and support their team. This includes dressing up in Eagles gear, attending tailgates right outside of the stadium, going to bars to watch the games, or just getting together with family and eating lots of food. No matter what, you can find Eagles fans all over the country finding their own way to celebrate. One die hard fan in particular, Larry Glowacki, has decorated the entire front of his house with eagles decor every single year for the past 18 years. This year he went all out during the 2023 playoff run, decorating his house in lights, banners, and even miniature goalposts. His Eagles house made it to a news interview where he talks about what it takes to put everything together. Click the link below to watch the interview.

Man decks out his house for Eagles playoff run

    Lots of Eagles fan accounts can be found on every social media platform. One of the most popular accounts by the name "phillyeaglesnews" can be found on Instagram with over 100k followers. This account posts updates on the team and its players, and gathers opinions from other fans. @EaglesInsider Dave Spadaro also has a very popular fan account on Twitter with over 300k followers. One of the most famous eagles fans, also known as "The Philly Sports Guy" attends almost every Philly sports game. He is well known on Tik Tok for painting his face in each Philly team's colors and cheering loudly at the front of the stadium.

Phillyeaglesnews

EaglesInsider

The Philly Sports Guy

Works Cited

“Banner Free Download Silhouette K Pictures Clipart - Philadelphia Eagles Logo No Background - Free PNG Download - Pngkit.” PngKit.Com, www.pngkit.com/view/u2a9o0y3o0o0a9r5_banner-free-download-silhouette-k-pictures-clipart-philadelphia/. Accessed 8 May 2023. 

Crawley, Geoff. “Why Do People Hate Philadelphia Eagles Fans?” Bleacher Report, 2 Oct. 2017, bleacherreport.com/articles/160670-why-do-people-hate-philadelphia-eagles-fans. 

Candy Woodall. “Eagles Underdog Mask: How to Get One before the Super Bowl.” Pennlive, 22 Jan. 2018, www.pennlive.com/news/2018/01/eagles_underdog_mask_how_to_ge.html. 

“Langhorne, Pa. Man Decks out House for Eagles Playoff Run.” 6abc Philadelphia, 19 Jan. 2023, 6abc.com/langhorne-pa-philadelphia-eagles-fan-decorations-nfl-playoffs/12717456/. 

Philly Fandom

The Philadelphia Faithful

 "No One Like Us"

   The Philly sports fandom are known to be the most wild fans out there. The loud and crazy fans go from screaming at their teams rivals before the games, to eventually booing them out of the stadiums. Often, they are looked down on nationwide for their crazy shenanigans, but they have learned to embrace this reputation (1). Their ability to take the punches can be summed up in the city's unofficial theme song that includes the lyrics, "No one likes us we don't care." The fans are aware that they can seem and act controversial to outsiders looking in, but this doesn't stop them from doing what they have always known, they come together to support their city's teams. With the stereotype this fandom has been given, people may only think of them as rude and obnoxious, but there are many, more positive, sides to this wild fandom.

    Throughout the years, Philly fans have gained a reputation for enthusiasm as they passionately support their teams throughout the years. Many people see them as out of control because of select incidences, when in reality they are just supporting the teams and players with their traditions. Philly sports fans created their own traditions that have been passed on and lived out during the games and seasons. At Big 5 basketball games, a round robin played by local Philadelphia colleges, the fans would toss streamers onto the court after the home team's first successful basket. Although these traditions seemed rare in the twentieth century, they were still occasionally practiced. Also, in 1969 at a Flyer's game, a recording of "God Bless America" sung by Kate Smith was played trying to excite the fans (2). The Philadelphia Flyers ended up winning the game and this is now a tradition and good luck charm that Flyers fans look forward to.  

It's A Philly Thing

    "It's a Philly thing" is a phrase commonly said by Philly sports fans. Many people may wonder the meaning and background behind this phrase, but to Philly fans, each fan has a meaning or story they can put behind it. To some it may mean being the underdog team and defying all the odds. To others it may mean supporting the Philly teams and coming together as a city to be there, even when a certain team may be struggling. To most, it means looking past what people say about them. And it means focusing on what they can control, being the loudest fans in the stadium, even if they don't have to be (3).

A sign held by an Eagles fan during a playoff game in 2021. 

    When Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, said this phrase during a news conference, the fandom took these simple words and made them powerful (3). Recently, after Hurts said this, fans all around were wearing all different types of merchandise with the phrase, "It's a Philly Thing" imprinted on it. Sweatshirts, shirts, crewnecks, sweatpants, and hats would soon be seen all around the city, worn by fans of all ages. The phrase became so popular and loved by fans, the Eagles even built a post season marketing campaign around the quote said by Hurts. This is one of the ways showing just how powerful and supportive the Philly fandom is, inspiring and influencing each of the teams that they cheer for.

    The fandom thrives off of the certain chants and quotes. While in season, driving around Philly many banners, flags, and outfits may read, "Go birds," for the Eagles, or "Ring the Bell," referring to the Phillies. The fans establish their love and support all year round. The fans have a nickname, "The Philadelphia faithful," for a reason. These fans stay loyal to their teams, showing up and being very cheerful, although sometimes making jeering remarks during the games. This fandom roots deeper than just showing up to games and supporting the players, Philadelphia fans are also highly credited for their great knowledge about their players and teams (2). 

More Than Just a Game

    Being a Philly fan means knowing joy and heartache, as well as anger and exultation (4). These many emotions do not stop the fandom from showing up to games and doing what they do best. Philly's fans are also known for their massive tailgates, and they sure do live up to the expectations. Whether the game is at The Lincoln Financial Field, Citizen's Bank Park, or the Wells Fargo Center, you can always counts on the fans to have the parking lots packed even hours before the game. This means the multitude of fans attending, or even not attending the games are already chanting, singing, barbecuing, and getting ready for the games throughout the many tailgates set up all around the stadium. With the limited home games, throughout the seasons, this only means the professional tailgaters go bigger and better for each one. Many tents, and even trailers are set up, with music playing and a variety food and drinks laid out for the tailgate. All around fans are decked out in their Philly gear, shirts, accessories, and even face paint. 

    The most popular and biggest tailgate you will see are the tailgates right before and Eagles home game. Early Sunday morning, the diehard Eagle's fan show out in their jerseys, already with a beer or hotdog in their hands, ready to start the day. Leading up to the game, the fans are chanting and screaming, picking at the many food options, throwing around a football, and overall just having a great time. Before game time, the lots will start to clear out as the fans take their seats into the stadium. The noise in the stadium greatly increases as more and more as the fans pile into the Lincoln Financial Field. Families, friends, couples, and children all come together to support their team by screaming and singing the many chants they have known for so many years. 

    One of the many traditions during an Eagles game starts right after an Eagles touchdown. The fans stop their cheering and screaming once the song starts to blare over the speakers. In just a few seconds, the whole stadium is singing "Fly Eagles Fly." This has become the most defining anthem of the team and one of the most team-specific songs in the history of American sports (5). The tune has taken a life of its own, and now you can't spend ten minutes in Philadelphia on an Eagles game day without hearing the fans belt out a line from the song: "E-A-G-L-E-S! Eagles!"                       

Video of Jalen Hurts Leads the Fans in "Fly-Eagles-Fly After the NFC Championship Win in 2023

    The Eagles are not the only Philly team that has traditions that fans partake in during games. The fandom also partakes in many event throughout Phillies games. "Ring the bell" is not just a victory motto for the Phillies, but is also taken literally after a player on the team hits a home run in Citizens Bank Park, or the Phillies win the game. The iconic, light-up Liberty Bell that is set in the outfield, swings and chimes as the fans celebrate. This bell has been a part of the Phillies brand and logo for many years. The bell was once originally installed in Veteran's Stadium, the old multipurpose stadium for football and baseball, from 1971 to 2003. But the bell has proudly hung in Citizens Bank Park since it was installed from Veteran's Stadium in 2004 (6).

A Party Down Broad Street

The parade down Broad Street in 2018 after an Eagles Super bowl win.

    When any Philadelphia sports team wins in a championship, they celebrate with a parade down Broad Street. Philly's fan of all ages come together as one to cheer on their home team, for their big win. The parade starts at the sports complex, home of the Philadelphia four major sports teams, and ends at the Philadelphia Art Museum. The fans show up dressed in gear and even go as far as painting their faces the color of the team that is being celebrated. Towards the end of the parade, the fans crowd around and listen to the players deliver speeches. The city is filled with cheering, screaming, and roaring all day. The players and coaches thank the fans for cheering them on and always being there with them throughout the season. At the Eagles parade in 2018, star quarterback Nick Foles shows his gratefulness to the fans and the city by saying, "To be part of the Philadelphia Eagles, to be part of these guys, is one of the greatest things I've ever done in my life. It' an honor for us to bring you all a Super Bowl" (7).

    After overseeing all the controversy, overall, the Philly sports fandom are just fans who love and support their teams. From the many traditions, tailgates, and even seasons of upset, the fans return to the next season energized and ready to cheer as always. The Philly fandom contains the craziest and most chaotic fans, but the stereotype, and what people hear about them doesn't show the love they have for the city and the amounts of fun they have cheering and wanting their teams to succeed.

     

The US Women's National Soccer Team Fandom 

    Have you been following soccer throughout the past couple of years? If you have even a little bit, you have definitely heard about the impressive performance of the United States Women's National Soccer Team. Over the years, this team has won four Fifa World Cups and four Olympic Gold medals (5). Rightfully so, these women have gained quite the fan base. As they continue to succeed more and more, their following grows bigger and bigger. This blog will cover the various ways that USWNT fans become involved to help cheer on their team. 

Figure 1: A fan is holding up a sign with Kelly O'Hara (defender for the US Women's National Team) that has a squirrel drawn on it that says "Im nuts for O'Hara". 

The Fan Council    

One way that fans are able to get involved in helping out the Women's National Team is becoming a member of the US Soccer Fan Council. In 2018, the United States Soccer Organization created this council as a way to give the fans a voice. The five who are selected to be members of this council helps the US Soccer community increase the amount of people who are exposed to soccer (2). The US Soccer Organization sees the passion that fans have for the USWNT. In an effort to further involve them in the game, they decided to give the fans a voice in the sport that they so dearly love. To become a representative, one must be a US Soccer Premium insider. Of those who apply, two are selected to meet with the United States Soccer Organization quarterly. Here, they will get to vote on items such as budget, rules, and the president of the organization (2). These fans have a chance to directly impact the game and players. Fans becoming members of the fan council illustrates the dedication that these fans have to the United States Women's National Soccer Team. 

   The American Outlaws 

 Another organization run by fans in an effort to support the United States Women's National Soccer Team is the American Outlaws. This is a non-profit group that not only supports the Women's National Soccer team but the Men's National Soccer Team and Youth National teams as well (1). These dedicated individuals spend their spare time promoting positive changes in soccer. In fact, there are around 200 chapters in different locations around the world. in their first year alone, the American Outlaws raised over $60,000 to fund over 10 programs. These programs fund necessities in US Soccer such as infrastructure, equipment, and growth within the sport (1). The fact that these people donate their extra time and resources to help the Women's National Team really shows how passionate they are about this team, the players on it, and the game of soccer in general. 

  This video describes the mission of the American Outlaws. 

  Record Setting

 Not only do fans of the United States Women's National Soccer Team show their support through councils and organizations, but they also set records. In 2015, these fans set the record for the most watched soccer game in United States history. Just under 23 million fans tuned in to watch the US take on Japan in the 2015 FIFA World Cup final (3). The FIFA World Cup is the biggest tournament in soccer. When the USWNT made it to the finals, fans knew that they needed to watch it live. Because this team was rapidly gaining more and more fans, the number of viewers also increased dramatically. Despite the same two teams making it to the finals, the numbers viewers increased by 77% from the 2011 World Cup (3). The impressive results achieved by the USWNT is what attracts fans to keep tuning into these games. These increasing views show that these fans really show up to support their team when it matters. 

The Fight for Equal Pay 

    The dedicated fans of the US Women's National Soccer Team also helped the women on the team to achieve equal pay. In March 2019, the US Women's National Soccer Team sued the United States Soccer Federation for "purposeful gender discrimination". This lawsuit was filed after the US Women's National Soccer Team was payed considerably less than the US Men's National Soccer Team despite winning more tournaments and playing more games (4). Not only did this outrage the women on the team, but it also outraged the fans as well. When they would show up to the games to support their team, they would also protest the pay gap. They would do this with making signs demand equal pay between the two teams. 

Figure 2: Signs held up by fans that read "Equal Play, Equal Pay" and "Anything men can do women can do better!" 

Figure 3: Multiple fans work together to hold up signs that say, "EQUAL PAY!!" 

They even chanted "equal pay" following the final of the 2019 FIFA World Cup (6). The outrage felt by these fans goes to show the respect and admiration that they have for the women who play on this team. 

Support for the Players 

Figure 4: A fan holds up a sign that offers Emily Sonnet 
(defender for the USWNT) waffles in exchange
for her jersey. 

    The dedication that these fans pour into their love for the game does not go unnoticed. In fact, through the constant support players have said that their fans make playing around the world feel like home (4). The fans achieve this by showing up to games around the world, having watch parities, and making fun signs to encourage the players. The constant support and energy brought by these fans helps the players to play their best and win big games.

Figure 5: A fan shows Tobin Health (forward for
the US Women's National Soccer Team) a sign that 
reads "Keep Calm and Tobin on".

 The fans of the United States Women's National Team do whatever they can to show up and support their team. This comes in all different forms. Support can look like tuning in to cheer on the women play or protesting the inequities they are facing. Either way, the support shown allows the players to perform at their best and continue to make history.