This research is based on the notion that youth who are involved in volunteer work and donation programs as part of their fan club activities are participating in social communication. Its purpose is to learn about their experience and its meaning thr...
This research is based on the notion that youth who are involved in volunteer work and donation programs as part of their fan club activities are participating in social communication. Its purpose is to learn about their experience and its meaning through these activities, furthermore revealing what influence it has on youth, shedding light on a new aspect of youth culture research.
The research was based on the social participation of seven case studies who are members of the female idol group "Girl's Generation" fan club "Cistus". Qualitative research including interviews and close observation was conducted.
First, social participation within the fan club show signs of imitation and identification common in any fandom culture.
Second, most social participation involve improving the group's image by contributing to society in hopes that their positive behavior will be recognized as the group's good deed.
Third, the fan club's social participation began from a strong sense of community and trust between the idol group and fans. This creates an incentive for the fan members to take initiative in participating in activities.
Fourth, the youths involved with the fan club had the chance to earn a wide variety of experiences through social participation. The fans obtained a sense of reward after volunteering at social welfare facilities and lending a helping hand to suburban agricultural areas.
Fifth, this phenomenon was not temporary. It can be seen that fandom culture that supports social participation has the potential to go mainstream.
Sixth, the youths were constrained by various limits and restrictions such as parents, school studies, and economic resources.
Seventh, despite all kinds of obstacles the youths managed to take the initiative to participate in social participation.
The significance of the findings from this research is as follows.
First, this will become the foundation of a new culture that helps youths take initiative to participate in social participation and undo negative perceptions of their culture. It is evident they have the power to create new cultural trends.
Second, the way "2nd generation fandom" is different from "1st generation fandom" in their perception of stars as they connect and disconnect must not go unnoticed.
Third, there is a need to reevaluate the misunderstanding about youths’ social participation and renew the negative perception of them as incomplete beings, and bring forth new interest and understanding.
Fourth, although initially difficult, social participation through the collaboration between fan clubs and non-profit organizations have opened new channels of social participation for youth. This is a model worth reviewing.
This research is significant because it takes a close look into social participation regarding stars and their fan clubs, while shedding a positive light on youths based on their contributions and volunteer work. They have proved that they too can become involved by using their initiative to actively participate in this cultural phenomenon. It is clear that this thesis has brought a new perspective to the way youths are viewed.