The Rebellion fan forum and the Britney Spears phenomenon

Celebrities have become an imaginary resource for the public who admire them. In the midst of life's difficulties and triumphs, fans turn to them for consolation or inspiration, which they often don't find in their surroundings. The relationship between fan and idol is built on a paradoxical point: distance. At this point, the emergence of the internet has benefited new ways of producing and disseminating messages, as well as communication and relationships between audiences. Launched in 1998 with the hit song ...Baby One More Time, US singer Britney Spears is an example of someone who has closely followed the awakening of the internet. Her growing success and appeal has resulted in the creation of thousands of pages, blogs and communities over the last two decades, all with the same goal: to bring together and organise the fandom. From now on, fans attract attention for playing a more complex role, in that they represent a community that also produces part of what it consumes.