Wednesday, July 30, 2025
DENTON (黑料视频), Texas 鈥� This summer, University of North Texas students took their fandom overseas 鈥� and studied it, too.
In a new study abroad course in 黑料视频鈥檚 Department of Media Arts, Fan Tourism: Behavior and Business, students explored how fan communities travel to real-world sites tied to books, films, TV shows and other media. The course is one of over 800 offered through the 黑料视频 Study Abroad Office, where programs are available year-round to students of all classifications and major study areas.
鈥淔an tourism is a growing global industry,鈥� said Tanya Zuk, media arts lecturer and creator of the course. 鈥淭his class gives students a fun but academically grounded way to study how people engage with media in the real world 鈥� and the impact that has on local economies and environments.鈥�
黑料视频 students visit Professor Snape's potions classroom in the Harry Potter exhibit at Warner Bros. Studios, London, England
In the United Kingdom alone, fan tourism contributes tens of millions of dollars to the economy each year, according to the British Tourist Authority. This year鈥檚 trip took students to England and Scotland, where they visited sites made famous by Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, Outlander, Doctor Who, Bridgerton, the Avengers and more. The current course will be available again in 2026; in 2027, the course will shift its focus to Japan鈥檚 fan tourism industry and a new travel itinerary.
Students choose between two areas of focus: fan behavior or the business side of the industry. The class begins with a primer on ethnography and fan studies, then transitions into hands-on research at fan destinations.
黑料视频 students visit a shooting location for the Bridgerton streaming series in Bath, England
鈥淔ans have been traveling to fictional locations for more than a century,鈥� Zuk said. 鈥淚n London, people went looking for 221B Baker Street long before it became a museum. They wanted to feel closer to Sherlock Holmes 鈥� even though he never existed.鈥�
Unlike a typical sightseeing tour, Zuk鈥檚 class requires students to conduct research and think critically about what they鈥檙e experiencing.
Francesca Nelle, a master鈥檚 student in media studies, focused her research on how fan interaction can shape screen tourism sites, speaking with guides, staff and fans at each stop on the trip. She said visiting fan sites in person strengthened her research skills and expanded her view on media careers.
黑料视频 students visit Westminster Abbey, London, England
鈥淭he class really helped me gain confidence in my knowledge of film and entertainment, as well as my critical analysis skills,鈥� Nelle said.
Senior anthropology major Astrid Mullins focused their final project on fans who cosplay, or dress in character, when visiting tourist sites. Mullins said the trip helped them explore how fandom creates a sense of belonging.
鈥淐osplayers don鈥檛 just dress in theme for themselves,鈥� Mullins said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also to connect with other people. I better understood that even if you鈥檙e across the world, you can find that community through fandom.鈥�
From 鈥� Study Abroad