Greek Subculture, Fan-Based Art-Making, and Identity Development: Implications for Use in Art Therapy
Graduation Date
Spring 2015
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Granting Institution
Notre Dame de Namur University
Program Name
Art Therapy
Dean
John Lemmon, PhD
First Reader
Amy Backos, PhD, ATR-BC
Second Reader
Lisa Manthe, MFT, ATR-BC
Abstract
The aim of this study was to address the question: “does the creation of fan-based artmaking affect the identity development of geek subculture fans?” To do so, a better understanding of the individuals' fan experiences and its impact on their overall identity status was obtained through the use of an online survey questionnaire. The questionnaire was open to adult users of the website reddit.com, and its various geek subculture “subreddits”. The survey included both open-ended qualitative questions addressing demographics and the nature of the participants’ fandoms, as well as the Objective Measure of Ego-Identity Status, a quantitative questionnaire that employed the use of a likert-scale rating system to determine the identity status of each individual. The quantitative data supported the hypothesis with = 4.0425 and p value of 0.044368. While the study did show a statistical significance between fan artists and having an active identity status, the qualitative findings suggest that all fans, not only those who create art, arc focused on varying aspects of their individual identity through fandom experience. Fan artists, however, seem to focus much more on the social context of their identities. This information about motivations, practices, and outcomes of fan-based artmaking may inform Art Therapists regarding therapeutic strategies appropriate to the needs of clients in media-saturated societies, and the benefits that art-making around aspects of one’s personal identity and subculture can provide within a broader social context.