when i started college i had this one course where we focused on subcultures & the final project was to research and survey people from a subculture of your choosing. i did mine on music fans and the relationship between fans and idols. i didn't know about parx then, but now i'm thinking i need to re-do the study bc this dynamic is fascinating and very study-able lol. i'd even cite you/credit you as a co-writer for the way you analyze things and caused me to re-think this idea

it IS rly interesting!!!! ive been aware of parasocial relationships for a couple of years now but getting into parx and seeing the absolute shithow it is with how awsten manages (or rather does not manage) his intensely parasocial audience and how it has negative effects on both him and the fandom at large has rly solidified a lot of ideas for me, just bc its so easy to look behind the curtain and pick apart what he and his friends do so wrong when compared to other much bigger parasocial fandoms (old bandom comes to mind)

im happy if my analysis resonates w u :,) it comes from a place of frustration but i dont think im being hyperbolic, i rly do think theres clear logic to follow when u have a grasp of how parasocial relationships work and it can be cathartic to point out exactly what is happening and why. if u do redo the study i would love to be listed as a source LOL i hope my first citation in academia is not any of the theses i wrote in my own undergrad career but instead me psychoanalyzing awsten knight on tumblr.gov