Dana Taylor

Can you describe the culture of events like Comic-Con?

Can you describe the culture of events like Comic-Con?

You conduct surveys at conventions and do follow-up interviews. You touched on this, but what were some of the specific responses from people that had you drawing a connection between Comic-Con and religiousness?

You conduct surveys at conventions and do follow-up interviews. You touched on this, but what were some of the specific responses from people that had you drawing a connection between Comic-Con and religiousness?

I think I just moved from classifying myself as a fan to a super fan. But I will ask you, what makes a super fan? What characteristics exist for someone to truly belong to a fandom?

I think I just moved from classifying myself as a fan to a super fan. But I will ask you, what makes a super fan? What characteristics exist for someone to truly belong to a fandom?

Is there a tipping point for a given fan to become a super fan? What factors can lead to it?

Is there a tipping point for a given fan to become a super fan? What factors can lead to it?

Michael, what makes something sacred? How do you define it in your work?

Michael, what makes something sacred? How do you define it in your work?

My experience with fandoms has been a positive one, but I know that fandoms can also be a source of negative experiences for some. What have you heard from people about when a community or fandom becomes harmful?

My experience with fandoms has been a positive one, but I know that fandoms can also be a source of negative experiences for some. What have you heard from people about when a community or fandom becomes harmful?

Michael, what do you think people misunderstand about the concept and community of fandoms?

Michael, what do you think people misunderstand about the concept and community of fandoms?

And also something that connects people and pulls them together.

And also something that connects people and pulls them together.

Michael, thank you so much for being on The Excerpt.

Michael, thank you so much for being on The Excerpt.

Thanks to our senior producers, Shannon Marie Green and Kaylee Monaghan, for their production assistance. Our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts at usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow morning with another episode of The Excerpt.

Thanks to our senior producers, Shannon Marie Green and Kaylee Monaghan, for their production assistance. Our executive producer is Laura Beatty. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts at usatoday.com. Thanks for listening. I'm Dana Taylor. Taylor Wilson will be back tomorrow morning with another episode of The Excerpt.