Mick or Keith: blended identity of online rock fans

Andrea J. Baker

From the issue entitled "Special Issue: Social Web and Identity | Guest Edited by T. Nabeth"

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Abstract

This paper discusses the “blended identity” of online rock fans to show that the standard dichotomy between anonymous and real life personas is an inadequate description of self-presentation in online communities. Using data from an ethnographic, exploratory study of an online community and comparison groups including interviews, an online questionnaire, fan discussion boards, and participant/observation, the research analyzes fan identity online and then offline. Rolling Stones fans often adopt names that illustrate their allegiance to the band, along with avatars. Issues of gender and the technological change of software platform also affect types of online self-presentations and their construction. Fans engage in “role embracement”, merging their individual selves with the role of Stones fans, demonstrated by reactions of friends and family. Connections between offline and online settings occur, with band affiliation of fans expressed through choice of apparel offline, and usernames from online filtering into the offline interactions among fans.

Keywords  Online identity - Blended identity - Online community - Username - Fans - Rock music - Online fans - Internet - Cyberspace - Role-embracement - Gender - Goffman - Self-presentation - Construction of identity - Avatar - Virtual ethnography - Qualitative research - Web 2.0

*Names provided in the paper are actual usernames if people gave the researcher permission to use them, or are changed or removed if the respondent preferred an anonymous form of identity. The names of the fan groups are changed.

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