Playing Ponies: A Critical Evaluation of Religious Elements and Gender Politics at Work in "Brony" Fandom

1 online resource (163 pages) : PDF

2015

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

This work aims to illuminate the cultural institution of the fandom by approaching it from the vantage point of Religious Studies while seeking to avoid the obvious similarities of devotion and social organization so often brought to the table with regards to the study of fandom and religion. By eschewing such facile analogues my aim is to offer a fresh take on the subject by instead drawing out the internal mechanisms which animate and propel both religious and fandom based groups to action while arguing that fandoms can be understood as functioning in ways which are similar, if not identical, to the practices of organized religions, thus constituting what scholar Robert M. Price has called "recreational religious activity."To better illustrate this argument this work will focus its attention on one fandom in particular, the relatively nascent group known as Bronies; or adult male fans of the hit animated TV show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic (2010-Present). Since their inception Bronies have become figures of much media attention, attracting primarily positive but also occasionally negative commentary, as well as numerous misconceptions about their attraction to the show, their fan activities, and the internal gender politics at work within the group. This works aims to clarify these issues as well.

masters theses

Sex role
Religion
Religions

M.A.

Bronies
Brony
Fandom
Moé
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic

Religious Studies

Brintnall, Kent

Hoenes, Eric
Winters, Joseph

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2015.

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Mullis_uncc_0694N_10856

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1403