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Playing Pirates: The Construction of Shared Fantasy and Identity Performance in the Renaissance Festival Subculture

Dumas, Heather E.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1365516030

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Sociology (Arts and Sciences).
This study examines how the renaissance festival setting offers a context for non-normative identity performance within a carnivalesque setting in which the construction of shared fantasy is the basis of social processes. It also asks how what social forces, such as popular media’s romanticized version of history, may influence participants’ identity expression and interactions in the subculture as a setting in which they can find meaningful interaction with others who share their social paradigm. Relevant findings can help us better understand identity performance, as well as how culture is constructed through interactions based on shared fantasy. Findings and theoretical applications may also apply to similar social venues including science fiction fandom and conventions, massively-multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPGs), live action role playing (LARP), historical reenactment societies, and even other festival settings in which an alternate, non-normative identity is expressed. The participatory element of this activity, where interaction takes place face to face in an immersive setting which is set apart from the outside world, makes renaissance festivals of particularly interest to sociologists.
Christine Mattley, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Thomas Vander Ven, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Howard T. Welser, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
84 p.
Sociology
shared fantasy; identity; identity performance; renaissance faire; renaissance festival; renfaire; historical reenactors; historical reenactment; subculture; fandom; nerd culture; geek culture

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dumas, H. E. (2013). Playing Pirates: The Construction of Shared Fantasy and Identity Performance in the Renaissance Festival Subculture [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1365516030

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dumas, Heather. Playing Pirates: The Construction of Shared Fantasy and Identity Performance in the Renaissance Festival Subculture. 2013. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1365516030.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dumas, Heather. "Playing Pirates: The Construction of Shared Fantasy and Identity Performance in the Renaissance Festival Subculture." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1365516030

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1365516030
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© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.