Hi folks, I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for a project I'm working on. I'm looking for studies about fans' identification with their fan-objects (in my case, a celebrity). Specifically, I am having trouble locating studies that (a) examine how disenfranchised or marginalized fans identify with celebrities (or characters) and subsequently build emotional ties or (b) examine how fans imbue a particular celebrity (or character) with maternal or mentor-like qualities. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer! Melissa -- Melissa A. Click, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Communication 220 Switzler Hall University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 573.884.4694