On social media in 2020, “the stan was ascendant,” reports Joe Coscarelli, a Times culture reporter. How did music fan culture become what it is today? What benefits does it provide us? And what do we need to watch out for?
In this lesson, you’ll learn about the evolution of pop music fandom, from a pleasant communal activity to something “competitive, arcane, sales-obsessed, sometimes pointless, chaotic, adversarial, amusing and a little frightening — all happening almost entirely online.” Then, you will investigate a fandom culture, past or present, and report on it to your class.
Warm Up
Take a close look at the headline of the featured article and the image used to illustrate it above.
Then, respond to the questions below, either with a partner or on your own in writing:
What do you think the featured article is about based on the headline and the illustration?
What do you think the headline and the illustration are trying to communicate about pop music fandom today?
Do you relate to this experience of fandom at all — whether for music, sports, movies, video games or something else? Can you give an example from your life?
1. The article begins with an anecdote from Benjamin Cordero, a high school student and Lady Gaga superfan. Why do you think the author started with his story? What does it illustrate about pop music fandom in 2020?
2. What is a “stan”? Where does the term come from?
3. Mr. Coscarelli writes that Stan Twitter and its social media offshoots have become “sports, politics, religion and all-out war.” Do you agree? Choose one of these comparisons and find the lines where the article compares the two. What example or examples make the case?
4. How has music fan culture evolved along with social media? What are three ways in which fandom today is different from what it was decades ago?
5. In what ways do musicians profit from stan culture?
6. What benefits — mental, emotional and social — do people get from music fandom? What are some of the dangers of stan culture that we should be aware of, according to the article?
7. In your opinion, is stan culture healthy or unhealthy? When do you think it crosses a line from fun to toxic? Why?
Going Further
What fan culture, from present or past, would you most want to investigate? How could you make sense of it for nonmembers?
Whether you choose the world of pop music, sports, fashion or something else, try to take an unbiased look at how the fan culture operates.
As you explore, collect examples of photos, memes, social media posts or anything else that illustrates what you discover. For example:
How do the stans of this fan culture recognize one another? What in-group lingo, jokes, traditions, rituals and clothing are common among them?
What are some important moments in the history of this group?
How would you explain this fan culture to outsiders?
Over all, do you think this culture is more healthy and fun, or toxic? Why?
Finally, if you are undertaking this investigation as part of a class assignment, report back on what you found — perhapsby creating a digital “gallery of fandom” with your classmates that includes artifacts and descriptions of each subculture. What do they have in common? What sets them apart?
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Parliament wants to protect employees’ fundamental right to disconnect from work and not to be reachable outside working hours.
Digital tools have increased efficiency and flexibility for employers and employees, but also created a constantly on-call culture, with employees being easily reachable anytime and anywhere, including outside working hours. Technology has made teleworking possible, while the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns have made it widespread.
37% of workers in the EU started working from home during a lockdown
Teleworking blurs the distinction between private and professional
Although teleworking has saved jobs and enabled many businesses to survive the corona crisis, it has also blurred the distinction between work and private lifel. Many people are having to work outside their regular working hours, worsening their work-life balance.
27% of people who work from home worked outside working hours
People who regularly telework are more than twice as likely to work more than the maximum working hours set down in the EU’s working time directive than those who don’t.
Rest is essential for people’s wellbeing and constant connectivity to work has consequences on health. Sitting too long in front of the screen and working too much reduces concentration, causes cognitive and emotional overload and can lead to headaches, eye strain, fatigue, sleep deprivation, anxiety or burnout. In addition, a static posture and repetitive movements can cause muscle strain and musculoskeletal disorders, especially in working environments that don’t meet ergonomic standards.
Over 300 million people globally suffer from depression and work-related mental disorders
Parliament calls for new EU law
The right to disconnect is not defined in EU law. Parliament wants to change that. On 21 January 2021 it called on the Commission to come up with a law allowing employees to disconnect from work during non-work hours without consequences and setting minimum standards for remote work.
Parliament noted that interruptions to non-working time and the extension of working hours can increase the risk of unremunerated overtime, can have a negative impact on health, work-life balance and rest from work; and called for the following measures:
Employers should not require workers to be available outside their working time and co-workers should refrain from contacting colleagues for work purposes
EU countries should ensure that workers who invoke their right to disconnect are protected from victimisation and other repercussions and that there are mechanisms in place to deal with complaints or breaches of the right to disconnect
Remote professional learning and training activities must be counted as work activity and must not take place during overtime or days off without adequate compensation
Top officials from the European Union are planning to initiate a communication campaign designed to teaching young Brits about the bloc according to a leaked internal document seen by The Express on Monday.
The document reportedly outlines a scheme to target the UK’s “younger generation” due to a perceived high level of support among the youth for the EU.
According to the report, Brussels officials will “continue to engage with British citizens as well as the EU27 citizens living in the country” and the European parliament will utilise “a liaison function with national and regional authorities, media relations” with the purpose of reaching the UK. The body’s office in London will also be maintained.
EU parliament secretary-general Klaus Welle called for the direct targeting of supporters of Brussels and the Europan project in Britain.
“With reference to citizen and stakeholder communication and outreach, the Office will focus its actions on the and foster contacts with the millions of EU27 nationals who exercised their right of free movement to come to the UK and now find themselves in a third country”, Welle’s memo outlines.
“And with UK citizens, especially the younger generation, of whom 71 per cent voted to remain in the EU”.
Entitled the ‘communication programmes requiring an adaptation of the rules’, Brussel’s officials set out five major areas through which the bloc could engage with young UK citizens.
These include EU finding to for trips to the parliament and adjusting rules for Brits to access ‘Opinion Multiplier Group’ events.
Another way they aim to build links with British supporters is through increased interactions with BUK schools, organising trips to Brussels and Strasbourg.
“Opinion multiplier groups, youth groups and organisations will be able to participate in debates and events offered by the European parliament like the European Youth Event, which brings together thousands of young Europeans every two years in Strasbourg and online”, said the memo to the Bureau committee – the top decision-making body in the EU parliament.
“UK schools will also be able to participate in Euroscola, an immersive experience that takes place in the chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, allowing secondary school students to learn about European integration by experiencing it first-hand”.
The memo also reportedly said that schools could “take part in the European Parliament Ambassador Schools Programme”, a scheme which invites student, typically from EU member states, to visit the parliament building and partake in mock plenary sessions, and attend talks from EU parliament senior officials, including vice-presidents.
This follows the United Kingdom’s total withdrawal from the European Union’s regulatory structures at the end of last year. The 2016 vote to leave the European Union primarily saw young people vote to remain in the bloc while older age groups backed a leave vote.
BAHÁ’Í WORLD CENTRE — The concrete bases that will support the two garden berms on either side of the central plaza for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are now complete. The structural reinforcement and formwork for one of the walls enclosing the south plaza are also taking shape.
The selection of photos below provides a view into the work currently underway.
An aerial view shows recent progress in the construction work for the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. The site for the Shrine is located near the Riḍván Garden, which is visible in the foreground.
In the central plaza area, the concrete planters that will hold soil and irrigation for gardens have been completed.
The formwork has been laid for the concrete floor of the central plaza.
The architect’s design on the left shows the central structure and surrounding plaza. Current progress on the plaza floor can be seen on the right, where preparations are underway to raise the walls that will enclose this area on two sides.
Special steel formwork has been made to give these walls their folded shape, which will blend with the intricate trellis overhead.
The structural reinforcement and formwork for one of the walls enclosing the south plaza are being assembled.
A short wall that connects with the base of the berms is being built, which will form a drainage channel for the gardens and support the inner edge of a path that will encircle the Shrine.
At the north end of the site, beyond the encircling path, a further concrete base that will support terraced planters has been prepared.
She is a two-time cancer survivor, wife, and mom. She gives a voice to the beautiful ordinary in her lyrical and practical essays. Her work about family, illness, writing, and resilient survivorship.
In addition, she is a graduate of Manhattan College and Fordham University School of Law. She teaches creative nonfiction writing for an adult education program, provides writing workshops for cancer support groups, and serves as the chair of the programming committee of the Morristown Festival of Books.
‘Again: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists’ is a compelling read and a much-needed book. What made you want to write your story, and then share it with the world?
I wrote “Again: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists” for several reasons, both external and internal. The easiest external reason is that I wrote Again because my surgical nurse navigator asked me to write a “list” of helpful tips or tricks I learned going through breast cancer treatment that she could share with other patients. She really wanted a list. But, once I started writing, I couldn’t stop and three months later I had more than a list. I had ten essays for her. Those essays became the starting point for Again.
Another reason I wrote Again is when I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I searched for a book that would serve as a trail map, so to speak, to help guide me through the experience. In my search, I found plenty of books written by medical professionals about cancer, its diagnosis, and treatment. I found celebrity cancer narratives. I found beautiful memoirs about the meaning of life written by individuals who died—from cancer. I found plenty of pink, inspirational guidebooks and journals. I didn’t find those books helpful. So I decided to write my own in the hope that when other individuals hear: “I’m sorry, you have cancer,” some of my experiences may resonate and help them.
The more complex, internal answer is that I knew I would never heal emotionally and psychologically if I didn’t write Again. When I was a teen, I didn’t speak about my feelings or fears. My pathological ability to compartmentalize, organize, and avoid worked well for thirty-five years. Then it didn’t. My systems crashed, burned, and shattered many of those whom I hold most precious. This book gave me the grace to let go of old hurts and fears and to forgive.
That required a great deal of digging deep and coming to terms with some unpleasant memories, but it made for a more rounded and relatable story as an email from a young survivor who had Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a teen made clear to me. She wrote:
I have lived in fear for years… anticipating that one day, I would face a secondary cancer linked to the treatments that had been administered. This led to many discussions with my care team to help me plan for the possibility.
Still, I could not shake the fear of possibly having to go through the cancer experience again. That is, until I read your words. Your words, your book, have helped me see that my biggest fear is something that can be managed if it comes into my life.
It wouldn’t be easy, as I’m sure your experience wasn’t. But it would be possible.” That’s why I wrote Again.
In your book, a neighbor’s well-timed advice changes the course of things for you, can you tell our readers a little bit about that, and what it meant to you?
When I look back on my cancer experiences, I see now how certain moments transformed me. My encounter with my neighbor was one of them. I’ve always been a doer—the one who volunteered to stay late to clean up after a swim meet or school event, to drive one of my children’s friends home from practice, or to make a meal for someone in need—so much so that my children would tease me about my volunteering when they were young and annoyed that the pan of brownies on the stove was for a bake sale, not them. And yes, I made them their own brownies, too.
Of course, there is grace in giving and community service. But, and here’s the thing I didn’t learn until that moment, there is a powerful grace, a humbling one really, in receiving, in allowing others to help. The moment I realized this seemingly simple and obvious reality and began to say yes to others, the more support my family and I received. It came in the form of cards, prayers, meals, blankets, flowers, and a rosary blessed by Pope Francis, among other things. I learned the power of community as a result of that conversation—sometimes, we need to receive with an open heart.
When you did the final read-through for ‘Again: Surviving Cancer Twice with Love and Lists’ what the part that touched you the most and why?
When I was writing Again, I struggled with Chapter 6, “How Not to Tell Your Kids You Have Cancer,” as I had to confront my ideals about how I wanted to parent and communicate with my kids and the not so pretty reality of what actually happened. Yet, on the final read-though, I cried though Chapter 18, “Be Okay,” which shares how I missed that my older son began to suffer from depression during my year of treatment. To this day, the pain I caused him because I was so wrapped up in my own shatters my heart. That’s not what moms are supposed to do; we’re supposed to take of our children. For over a year, my son didn’t share how badly he felt because he wanted to protect me. That’s something I’ll always ache over.
If you could somehow go back and talk to your younger self what advice would you give her and why?
I would tell my younger self not to be so afraid of failing or changing paths. Life is a long highway, and I never imagined at age 54 that I would publish a book. When I graduated college, I had a plan: go to law school, get married, have a career, have children, and retire someday. While I’ve done many of those things, plans change. I often remind my children to remember that nothing is fixed or permanent. If they don’t like the path they’re on or the job they’re in or the major they’ve chosen, it’s okay to change.
We’re so afraid of change and the unknown and of falling gloriously on our faces. Yet, I’ve found that, it’s in those moments or experiences where I’ve learned the most and grown the most, even when those experiences are hard, scary, and ego-bruising. So live fearlessly and keep moving forward. “We are only stewards on this glorious, imperfect planet.”
Do you have another book, or event in the works that you can tell us about?
I’m very excited to participate in another project called: “(Her)oics: Women’s Lived Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic”, which will be published in March 2021 by Pact Press. The anthology draws together the stories of fifty-two women across the US during the pandemic, including Not Back To, But Forward, my essay about how my cancer experiences helped me cope with COVID-19.
I saw many similarities between going through a cancer diagnosis and treatment and the COVID-19 pandemic experience, particularly in those early months–the fear, the concern about one’s mortality, the isolation, and how a single moment in time can irrevocably alter all that’s to come—and I found that I could deal with the uncertainty of the pandemic because I’d learned to live with uncertainty as a result of my cancer experiences. What I’ve found repeatedly is that life’s suffering is never the real or the truest story; rather, how that suffering transformed us is. And, those transformations allow us to journey forward with hope, even in dark days.
More immediately, I will be on the Starstyle Radio Show with Cynthia Brian on February 3, 2021 and will be appearing with author Laraine Herring for a virtual author talk— The Life Beyond: A Conversation about Grief and Cancer—for Book Passage on February 4, 2021.
I also would love to produce “Again” as an audiobook and to continue doing author talks and making connections with others.
In time with the inauguration of President Joe Biden, Bad Religion shared their previously unreleased song “Emancipation Of The Mind” and its music video.”Emancipation Of The Mind” is an outtake from the punk rock icons’ critically acclaimed 2019 album Age Of Unreason.”I think the song really is a celebration of enlightenment values that can be cultivated through enthusiastic learning and open-mindedness,” Bad Religion’s lead vocalist and songwriter Greg Graffin said in a statement.
He added, “So often we’re told what to think. But learning how to think (as opposed to learning what to think) is a true feeling of emancipation from the constraints of indoctrination that are so commonplace in our society.”
In December, Bad Religion celebrated its 40th anniversary with a four-episode online streaming event titled “Decades.”
The band also released its autobiography, “Do What You Want: The Story Of Bad Religion,” last year.
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<p class="hyphenate ">The reality TV star made this known while answering questions from her fans on her Instagram page. </p>
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<p class="hyphenate ">A curious female follower had asked the reality TV star if she'll date her.</p>
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Khloe says it's against her religion and she wouldn't try it. [LIB]
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<p class="hyphenate "><em>"Are you a lesbian? I would date. Would you date me?"</em> the female follower asked.</p>
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<p class="hyphenate ">Khloe told the follower that it's against her religion and she wouldn't try it.</p>
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<p class="hyphenate "><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href="https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/celebrities/bbnaijas-khloe-responds-to-butt-implant-rumours-says-nobody-can-bring-her-down/f2qge28" id="2b7fda20-6d9c-4f01-8d53-0d7ef9186edd" rel="nofollow">Khloe responds to butt implant rumours, says nobody can bring her down</a></p>
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<p class="hyphenate "><em>"I would rather be a nun than being that. No offense to who is but my religion is against it," </em>she replied.</p>
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<p class="hyphenate ">Khloe was one of the housemates during the third season of Nigeria's biggest reality TV show.</p>
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<p class="hyphenate ">Her stay in the house was marred with several controversies.</p>
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<p class="hyphenate ">Khloe was born in 1993 and grew up in Lagos. The indigene of Ekiti state is a model, fashion designer, and actress.</p>
Every death is someone’s parent, partner, child, or friend, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organiztion (WHO), told the briefing. He noted that exactly a year ago, fewer than 1,500 cases of COVID-19 had been reported.
Vaccines have given the world hope, which, according to the WHO chief is why “every life we lose now is even more tragic”.
“We must take heart, take hope and take action”, he said, reiterating his call for health workers and older people in all countries to be vaccinated within the first 100 days of 2021.
Brink of catastrophe
Last week, Tedros said that the world stood on “the brink of a catastrophic moral failure” if it does not deliver equitable access to vaccines.
Two new studies show that “it wouldn’t just be a moral failure, it would be an economic failure” too, he said.
An International Labour Organization (ILO) analysis released on Monday, found that $3.7 trillion was lost last year in terms of working hours.
While the report projected that most countries will recover in the second half of 2021, depending on vaccination rollout, it recommends international assistance for low and middle income countries to support vaccine rollout and promote economic and job recovery programmes.
At the same time, a study commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce Research Foundation, makes a strong economic case for vaccine equity.
“It finds that vaccine nationalism could cost the global economy up to $9.2 trillion, and almost half of that – $4.5 trillion – would be incurred in the wealthiest economies”, the WHO chief said.
Growing vaccine divide
Meanwhile a financing gap for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator this year stands at $26 billion, according to the UN official, saying that if fully funded, it would return up to $166 “for every dollar invested”.
While so-called vaccine nationalism “might serve short-term political goals”, he upheld that it is in every nation’s own medium and long-term economic interest to support “vaccine equity”, reminding that until the pandemic is ended everywhere, it won’t be eradicated anywhere.
“As we speak, rich countries are rolling out vaccines, while the world’s least-developed countries watch and wait”, he said. “Every day that passes, the divide grows larger between the world’s haves and have nots”.
Located in the centre of the Himalayan region with the most pleasing natural beauty, majestic hills and tremendous potential for adventure activities, Kargil is the second largest urban centre of Ladakh. It is situated at an altitude of about 2704 m, and 204 km from Srinagar in the west and 234 km from Leh in the east. The town is nestled along the rising hillside of the Suru basin. It is the confluence point of the Drass and Wakha tributaries of the Suru River.
The Centre is committed to create international level infrastructure in Ladakh’s Kargil district to make it an adventure tourism destination, Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said on Sunday.
Interacting with reporters during his visit to Linkipal Ski Slopes here, he also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has planned to promote adventure tourism in areas which have lot of potential but have remained unexplored due to various reasons.
‘Kargil is one among them. The government of India is fully committed to create international level tourism infrastructure in the district so that a feasible environment is created for tourism and employment opportunities,’ the tourism minister said.
Patel said that after Ladakh became a Union Territory in 2019, he along with a high-level team from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture visited Ladakh to hold meetings with the hill councils of Kargil and Leh to discuss and draw up plans for the development of the tourism sector.
‘The Ministry of Home Affairs has opened over 100 peaks for mountaineering in the country for domestic as well as foreign tourists to promote adventure tourism, which also includes several peaks of Kargil district,’ he said.
Facilities will be created to give training and technical support to people here and empower them adequately to create skilled manpower to serve tourists in the most professional manner, the minister said.
‘Regular training and refresher courses will be organised to achieve this goal which would prove a right step in the direction of quality tourism,’ he said.
Patel also thanked the chief executive councillor of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil, for his assurance to provide land for developing ski slopes at Kargil and said the tourism ministry will provide adequate funds for the development of this area.
The minister was also briefed by experts on the feasibility of opening a skiing and mountaineering institute and creating facilities like ski-lifts at Linkipal Ski Slopes.
Patel directed officers to submit a detailed project report in this regard to the tourism ministry so that work for development of Linkipal Ski Slopes can be started in this summer season once land demarcation and other necessary formalities are fulfilled.
Officers were also directed create basic infrastructure to ensure setting up of initial facilities before going into the whole project.
Patel also stressed that the DPR should be designed in such a way that tourists experience world class snow skiing facilities and hospitality.
During the minister’s visit, local skiers put forth their demands for installation of cable cars, construction of a resting room, providing snow grooming machines and snow ski equipment.
Patel also visited the Bodhisattva Maitreya statue and the Shargole Cave Monastery and also interacted with the locals and the folk artistes.
Summer (April to June) is the best time to visit Kargil. During this period of the year, the town stays comparatively warm with cooler nights. Visitors can expect a pleasant experience as the climate stays quiet and calm with clear views all around.
Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson speaking at a press briefing on MondayBeijing [China], January 25 (ANI): Days after a physical brawl between the Chinese and the Indian Army took place on January 20 along the Line of Actual Control in Sikkim, the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday “urged” India to “refrain from actions that might complicate the situation along the border”.
Speaking at a press briefing, Zhao Lijian, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, also claimed that the Chinese border troops are “committed to upholding peace and tranquillity along the border with India”.
“I would like to stress though that China’s border troops are committed to upholding peace and tranquillity along the border with India,” he was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.
“We urge the Indian side to work in the same direction as us and refrain from actions that might escalate or complicate the situation along the border,” he said while adding that both countries will take “proper actions to manage their differences and take concrete actions to safeguard peace and stability along the border”.
This comes after the Indian Army had confirmed that a physical brawl between the Indian and Chinese soldiers took place on January 20.
“It is clarified that there was a minor face-off between Indian Army and Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops at Naku La, Sikkim on January 20. It was resolved by local commanders as per established protocols,” the Indian Army said.
According to earlier sources, soldiers from both sides were injured during the brawl.
This comes amid the ongoing standoff between India and China.
In June last year, 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel, lost their lives in the face-off in clashes with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley.
The ninth round of Corps Commander Level talks between India and China to address the ongoing military standoff in Ladakh ended at 2:30 am on Monday.
The meeting lasted for more than 15 hours after starting at 11 am on Sunday at Moldo opposite Chushul in the Eastern Ladakh sector.
The two countries have been engaged in a stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since April-May last year. While China began amassing massive military strength along the LAC, India responded with a befitting build-up.
Multiple rounds of talks have failed to yield any significant result in defusing border tensions. (ANI)
