This project explores the subjective experiences of five self-identified devoted “fams” of superstar icon, Prince, who died in 2016. This study aims to understand their experiences of fandom, what it means to them to be fams, and how these experiences and meanings have been impacted by Prince’s death.

The participants in this study fell in love with Prince’s persona, music, and artistic productions, and they internalized him as a good object, using him in adaptive and imaginative ways. He was uncategorizable and mysterious, an excellent receiver for projections of the participants’ fantasies. Through his music, Prince fostered internal respite and uncanny connection. By creating the soundtrack of their lives, he facilitated continuity and a sense of going on being. He invited participants to play. His music is a transitional object and a transformational object. All participants felt loss when Prince died, and most mourned his death. Now many are connecting with the fam community in new ways and experiencing his death as a catalyst for change.

Each participant was interviewed three to five times. Interview material was analyzed twice. The first analysis revealed themes of significance for each individual. These are presented in case studies in Chapter IV. The second analysis revealed themes that were significant across most or all cases. These are presented in the discussion in Chapter V.