First there was the stage door; then came the low rent fanzine. Today, thanks to the
Internet, stratruck fans can shout their esteem/obsession/lust for a celebrity from the
rooftops -- or at least, from their droning, overheating modems.
Twinklng way on the World Wide Web is a galaxy of fans club and fan sites -- most of
them unofficial and happily unknown to the celebrities they honour.
Clive James was right -- acquiring it and losing it -- has been on of the great themes
of the 20th Century. Just look at the myriad of newsgroups and chat rooms that sparked to
life when Princess Diana died and Tiger Wood became an overnight golfing legend. The
digital age gives celebrity worship a whole new dimension.
Sometimes that level of hero worship blurs into pure, unadulterated lust. Earlier this
year Time reported that the top five online attractions with the largest number
of fan Web pages were all about women: pamela Lee, Sandara Bullock, Madonna, Tori Amos and
the Spice Girls.
....
Cult celebrities from TV and film can sometimes become major stars on the Internet.
Take the show Xena: Warrior Princess, which was a spin-off from the Hercules
series. Xena, who has an imposing chest and deck 'em fists, has fan clubs, mailing lists,
and even "XenaFests" organised for her via the World Wide Web.
"I feel strongly about the show" says MaryD, president of an online Xena Fan
Club in Sydney. "It's the story of a woman trying to find redemption. The show also
highlights the strong friendship between two women - Xena and Gabrielle - which is
unusual".
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