Paper short abstract:

Through a material culture approach, this paper analyzes how "Trekkies" use the television show Star Trek and its related objects, such as clothing, consumption practices and language, in the negotiation and presentation of their identities.

Paper long abstract:

The process of negotiating and expressing personal identity, especially by marginalized populations, can be a lengthy and difficult process. Through the exploration of fan culture, this paper will shed light on how Trekkies use the material culture associated with Star Trek as a touchstone in the negotiation of their personal and group identity.

Drawn to the math and science base of the show, many fans found comfort in the humanist philosophy presented by Gene Roddenberry, as well as the accepting and safe principles of the concept of the IDIC - Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. Within this safe sphere, Trekkies have used clothing, language and convention attendance to express themselves. Following Bourdieu's (1984) theory on the semiotics of clothing, the Star Trek costumes worn by Trekkies are expressions of personal identity. The costumes help construct the Trekkie self in the world. In the development of culture and identity, language plays an integral role. While the material culture of the Klingon subset of the larger Trekkie group is almost entirely book based, it allows Trekkies to legitimize their Klingon-self. Convention attendance and its associated purchases have been compared to Christian pilgrimages, while also creating an atmosphere much like Turner's (1974) concept of communitas.

Looking past this specific subset of fan culture, the paper asserts that the study of Trekkies can be used as a framework for the study of identity negotiation, especially for modern individuals and groups, in which the media plays a large role.