Scholars Engaging in Academic Discourse at Consumer Identities & Digital Culture Symposium

On March 28, 2017, the Institute for International Communication and the Division of Mass Communication at St. John’s University hosted an academic symposium on “Consumer Identities & Digital Culture”. The symposium gathered scholars across disciplines to examine notions of identity in consumer culture. Speakers presented a range of research from historical perspectives to industry practices, from policy questions to race, gender and global diversity, across film, television and social media.

After giving insight into their research, the scholars discussed three main subjects in panels throughout the day: “Agency, Activism and Power”, “Consumer Identities and Industry Communication”, and “Fandom, Feelings and Gratifications”. Finally, Dr. Paul Booth, Associate Professor of Cinema and Media Studies at DePaul University in Chicago, addressed “Historicizing Fandom: The PushmiPullu of Corporatized Fans” in his in-depth and inspiring keynote presentation. Dr. Booth researches fandom, new media, games, technology, popular culture, and cultural studies. He is the author of “Digital Fandom: New Media Studies”, which examines fans of cult television programs.

Read more on Julia Theilen’s observations and impressions on the Consumer Identities & Digital Culture Symposium and more on the Institute for International Communication's blog.