MORE THAN A CLUB FANDOM AND HISTORICAL IDENTITY
During the 20th century, sport has become an important factor of sociability – in and out of the field – to the extent of shaping new collective identities. Sport clubs, its practitioners and its supporters create collective identities. As any other collective identity, it spreads from a shared historical narrative which often strengthens local identity, political ideology, nationalist or cosmopolitan ideas, religious allegiance or even open manifestations of racism.
There is an official storytelling, issued by the sport clubs and official fan clubs, and an “unofficial” storytelling produced by supporters groups. Both start from sport history in order to (re)-assess the historical role of the clubs from a national perspective. However, the first one simply aims at demonstrating the existence (and the relevance) of the club in the national or local history and society, the second one creates a genuine “supporters worldview” by adding ideological considerations. These worldviews are an expression of subcultures and even countercultures (fandoms). Often – if not always – they reject hegemonic cultural patterns, mainstream communication and politically correctness. To strengthen their worldview, fans also use history as a powerful element in identity-making . They refer thus to national and world history, as well as the history of clubs and their athletes, “heroes” which are supposed to embody this worldview.
How the fans use history for promoting their political thoughts? What sources do they use? What are their way of communicating and their media? What are their goals?
Diacronie. Studi di Storia Contemporanea is looking for contributions aimed at investigating the way in which the history is “made” and used by supporters and ultras groups. We are looking for papers focused on (but not limited to) the following thematic axes:
- the political use of history and its relevance for the fan community;
- new way of communicating history among supporters (choreographies, banners, happenings, posters, slogans, fanzine, …);
- the role of the supporters in spreading and supporting an “alternative” vision (with respect to mainstream vision) of history
Interdisciplinary contributions combining approaches and methods (especially history with political science, sociology and anthropology) will be particularly appreciated; contributions focused on sports traditionally less explored by European historiography, will be particularly welcome.