Since this spring, I’ve been sketching out how I see fandom and the ecosystem it creates. The book Superfandom pushed me to take the concepts I was learning and map them visually so they made sense to me.
It’s still a work in progress, but after showing a few people my rough sketches on my phone, I decided it was time to share the first draft.
At the center, we start with the most obvious: The Center (the thing fans orbit). Then there’s The Lore (the storytelling, the books, the movies, the gossip, the source material), and The Channel (the pathways that bring it to life, sometimes the entity that owns the IP).
But what is the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Taylor Swift, or Game of Thrones without its fans? The Center only becomes powerful when everything around it is set in motion. That orbit (and convergence of all of these components) is what makes a fandom come alive.
I split the fan world (green) into two halves:
Identity
The Pull - why fans stay, the emotional draw
The Signs - how fans show it, through tattoos, what they collect, how they appear in real life and online
Connection
The Hang - where fans gather, from Discord servers to tailgates to comment sections
The Work - what fans do together: create memes, write fanfic, organize events, build archives
I believe activating both halves is essential for someone to be a huge fan. Research shows it’s pretty difficult to stay a fan by yourself. Sure, there is a spectrum. But the love of The Center has to express itself beyond, “I like this,” for huge fandom to happen.
This entire diagram is what I’m calling The Orbit of Huge Fandom.
Fandom is never passive. The posters may have come down from our childhood bedroom walls, but does the fandom every completely disappear? (No, I will love Celine Dion for the rest of my life.) Fans build meaning together through conversation, rituals, and countless hours of time invested. That back-and-forth, the exchange of stories, is often the most life-changing act of all.
This is why fandom endures even when an album cycle ends, a show goes off air, or a team loses. The orbit is sticky because it is not just about The Center. It is about weaving what you love into who you are and who you are with!
And that, in my opinion, is the real magic. Fandom does not just serve brands or celebs. It serves people looking for connection. Just the other day, a client reminded me of something I know but sometimes fail to live out: community is wellness.
So when we think about fandom, we should stop reducing it to sales or social metrics. The real power of fandom lives in the orbit.
And if you’re The Center?
If you want loyalty, do not only focus on the you aka The Center. Make space for the orbit. Lean into symbols and rituals. Encourage hangouts. Appreciate fan labor. Recognize that what keeps fans around is not just you. It is the identity and connection they build along the way.
Enjoy your weekend and stay tuned for next Friday’s piece on Swifties!
