Why do humans form fandoms around artists?

I think you unknowingly stepped into the classical philosophical debate of materialism vs spiritualism.

By keeping up with a mainstream educator, you're not only gaining a role model, but you're also learning something from them every time you consume their content. That's what they put themselves out there for, after all, to spread scientific knowledge and widen its audience. Just because this is what you find important, though, doesn't mean that everybody else thinks the same way.

Someone else might find a role model under a different circumstance. I think using DeVeto is a bad example because his presence on Reddit seems to be more of a meme than a result of something specific he did/does. Someone could, however, find an equal and arguably greater effect from an "artist". The term seems like it can be used rather loosely. It could apply to spiritual leaders, to musicians, to painters, architects, martial artists, stunt pilots, athletes, etc.

One can find worth in literally anything, as long as it means enough to them. If you can't understand why someone chose something specifically, maybe you should have a conversation with them about it :)

/r/AskAnthropology Thread