What communities devoted to hero-worship tell us about the psychology of belonging.
by Ellen Peirson-Hagger
Pop culture fans have long been derided. In this magazine in 1964, Paul Johnson wrote that, “Those who flock round the Beatles, who scream themselves into hysteria, are the least fortunate of their generation, the dull, the idle, the failures.”
Of course, the adoring Beatles fans Johnson described were predominantly young women and teenage girls. This cultural sexism isn’t just historical. Writing for GQ in 2013, Jonathan Heaf portrayed the crowd at a One Direction concert as “an ocean of 20,000 wide-open mouths, hundreds of pleading white eyes, 40,000 palms raised skywards, a dark-pink oil slick that howls and moans and undulates with every impish crotch-thrust from their idols’ plinths”. The writer left the gig early, unwilling to further endure “the shrill sonic boom of a whole generation of women coming of age”.
This writing is hugely patronising. It is also, writes Michael Bond, an example of the “common ethnographic error in trying to judge the norms of an in-group by contemplating it from the outside. The first impulse of those who don’t understand a culture has often been to rage against it.”
Fans is Bond’s exploration of why people join fandoms – communities that follow particular sports teams, celebrities, musicians and fictional characters – and what these groups tell us about the human need for connection. The term “fan”, derived from “fanatic”, was coined in 1884 by the baseball executive Ted Sullivan to describe the devoted followers of his sport. In common parlance today you can be a “fan” of almost anything – I am a fan of eating my lunch as soon after midday as possible – but Bond, a former New Scientist journalist whose book The Power of Others won a British Psychological Society Book Award in 2015, focuses his gaze on more traditional communities of enthusiasts. He meets Jane Austen aficionados who dress in Regency-era clothing to visit the red-brick house in Chawton, east of Winchester, where the novelist spent the last eight years of her life. He goes to a “fan studies” conference and listens to a presentation by Atlin Merrick, who has written more than a million words of fan fiction, most of which is about Sherlock Holmes.
He even turns to those who work to promote a “more balanced view” of the much maligned Richard III, whom history remembers as a “ruthless Machiavellian” complicit in the deaths of numerous relatives. Members of the Richard III Society “do not categorise themselves as ‘fans’ of Richard”, Bond writes. “They prefer to see themselves as part of an academic reappraisal of their hero. But their attitude towards him and the dynamic of the group have much in common with other fandoms… They are united by a feeling that a terrible injustice has been done to Richard’s name, and a desire to set the record straight.”
i like his outfit today but don't like the bucket hat with it, it looked better with the outfit yesterday. i am very relieved to see high top converse on his feet though
I’m getting 2017 British GQ shoot from today’s outfit. Plus the bucket hat which was probably closest to the door and easiest to grab on his way outside…
Birthdate: Jan. 28, 1977
Hometown: Tokyo, Japan
Residence: Indianapolis/Tokyo
Height/Weight: 5’4”/117lbs
Rookie Year: 2010
Team: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Indy 500)
Follow him on: Instagram Twitter
Career Stats
2010: KV Racing Technology - 21st Overall
2011: KV Racing Technology – Lotus - 13th Overall
2012: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing - 14th Overall
2013: A. J. Foyt Enterprises - 17th Overall
2014: A. J. Foyt Enterprises - 18th Overall
2015: A. J. Foyt Enterprises - 14th Overall
2016: A. J. Foyt Enterprises - 17th Overall
2017: Andretti Autosport - 8th Overall
2018: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing - 12th Overall
2019: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing - 9th Overall
2020: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing - 7th Overall
2021: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing - 11th Overall
2022: Dale Coyne Racing w/ Rick Ware Racing - 19th Overall
2022: Chip Ganassi Racing (ovals only) - 29th Overall
Formula One
2002: DHL Jordan Honda - 15th Overall
2003: Lucky Strike BAR Honda - 18th Overall
2004: Lucky Strike BAR Honda - 8th Overall
2005: Lucky Strike BAR Honda - 23rd Overall
2006: Super Aguri F1 Team - 23rd Overall
2007: Super Aguri F1 Team - 17th Overall
2008: Super Aguri F1 Team - 21st Overall
-A two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.
-Sato was the first Japanese driver to win an INDYCAR SERIES race and the first to win the Indianapolis 500.
-Sato previously raced in Formula One.
-Outside of racing, Sato was a national high school cycling champion and still uses cycling as part of his training regimen.
-The Japanese edition of Esquire magazine named Sato one of The Mavericks of 2019 and the Japanese edition of GQ magazine named him one of the nine “2017 Men of the Year.”
-He was also awarded “Goodwill Ambassador” for the British Embassy in Tokyo.
-nicknamed "Taku"
-Sato has become known among fans and media for his motto "no attack, no chance" with regards to his racing style
Iconic/memorable moments
INSIDE THE RACE // TAKUMA SATO AT GALLAGHER GRAND PRIX
No Attack, No Chance: Takuma Sato
Takuma Sato Captures His Second Indianapolis 500 Victory // Behind The Visor
Honda Pace Car Lap with Graham Rahal and Takuma Sato // Mid-Ohio
Bourdais, Sato fight after IndyCar practice in Toronto
The Hayai Man from Japan: Takuma Sato
2022 PACE CAR LAPS // TAKUMA SATO AND DAVID MALUKAS AT BARBER
Tom Griswold Interviews Takuma Sato (2022 Indy 500)
Dave Calabro shares sushi with Takuma Sato
11 in '11 with Takuma Sato
2017 Indianapolis 500 - Last 5 laps + Interviews
JAVA WITH JAMES // TAKUMA SATO AND JAMES HINCHCLIFFE
The Fast Four: Takuma Sato, The Fighter
Sato Talks Japan, Part 1
Sato Talks Japan, Part 2
Sato Talks Japan, Part 3
One of the most liked guys in the paddock, Takuma is also, not exactly feared on track, but other drivers are wary. His ‘No attack, no chance’ philosophy leads to him making high risk moves, often successfully. But then they’re not, and another driver has paid the price, it’s referred to as being ‘Sato-ed.” Moderately well-known in the states, he is a very big deal in Japan, a national hero, welcomed home with a massive celebration after his 2017 Indy 500 win.
2021 in Review: GQ Heroes (UK), GQ Big Fit of the Year (LA)
“It’s an incredibly emotional experience to know that I’ve done something that has helped, you know, lighten the load, or helped change the conversation within a family, or made someone feel empowered, because growing up that’s all I feel like I hoped for.”
-Dan Levy to British GQ: https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/dan-levy-interview
(Also, the article links to a great YouTube video of an interview with Dan.)
Photos: Dan’s IG, Darren Gerrish, Jack Guinness’ IG, Rodin Eckenroth, Leon Bennett