Simply One Hell of a Fanbase: Performing Fan Community in Yana Toboso’s Black Butler

Abstract

This thesis investigates and analyzes the online performance of fan culture through the creation and discussion of what are known as fan theories, which are ideas or critical analyses done by fans of a particular media that are generated from questions, symbols, or references noticed by fans of that particular media. For the research, I focus on Yana Toboso’s Kuroshitsuji, or in English Black Butler, fan community and some of the theories discussed amongst the fans within the community in order to analyze how fans are engaging and interacting with one another in order to create an online performance within online fan spaces . The thesis takes a look at the history of the anime genre, the various references present within the Black Butler series, and how the fans are performing their devotion, dedication, and passion for this particular series through fan theories. Through interviewing fans and online ethnographic work, I argue that fans are performing fan community and creativity through the sharing, discussing, and debating of fan theories posted to online spaces.