Sport Mediatization, Connected Fans, and Playfulness: An Introduction to Parasocial Pretend Play

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3 Scopus citations

Abstract

In consideration of sport mediatization, mobile media, and fandom, this work introduces and outlines the phenomenon of parasocial pretend play. This is achieved by examining the popular television show Ted Lasso, which chronicles the activities surrounding fictional English football club AFC Richmond. Viewer involvement with the show, parasocial interaction with its characters, and social media use by connected fans combine to facilitate this new opportunity for playful collective engagement. By connecting concepts from parasocial interaction and play, the assessment theorizes about and documents how parasocial pretend play transpires. It also identifies factors that may disrupt parasocial pretend play, discusses the potential for its misuse, and details apparent variations of the practice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)113-122
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Sport Communication
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2024

Keywords

  • fandom
  • parasocial interaction
  • social media

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • Communication
  • Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management

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