Almost, Beyond, or Alongside Fandom? An Alternative Frame for QAnon

This conceptual paper argues that parafandom offers a potentially useful framework to make sense of fannish forms of dis- or misinformation. To support this argument, I first provide an overview of dis- and misinformation and the ways that it has been studied within LIS and fan studies, respectively. From this scholarship, I identify several existing frameworks for studying atypical fan(dom)s, including research on ‘fans’ of QAnon. Finally, I offer a working definition of parafandom, concluding with several possibilities for its application in future FanLIS research.