The Church of one direction a documentary on Filipino one direction fandom

• Main Authors: Bernasor, Patricia Marie J., Lazaro, Maria Clarizza H., Regis, Joshua Jairus
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2014
• Subjects: Fans (Persons); Documentary films; One Direction; Communication
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10637
• Institution: De La Salle University

This documentary film explores how the local fandom of One Direction is solidified and it their behaviors manifest similarities with religious, cults, or if its just pure admiration. The film shows clips of fan gatherings and interviews of different fans as the proponents discover if the concept of idol culture can be considered religious or cult-like, using the local One Direction fandom as a basis. This thesis verifies that most, it not all, One Direction fans treat their co-Directioners as family and they regard One Direction members as their idols and/or inspirations in life. One of the main reasons why Directioners are very much involved in fan groups is because of the friends they have made because of their love for One Direction. The behaviors they manifest do not necessarily mean that they regard the boyband as higher beings or similar to religious deities even though from a non-fan perspective, there is a possibility that Directioners can lead to this religious group and/or phenomenon. One common behavior that they exhibit is mass hysteria, which is typical in most fandoms. Fans whose behaviors exceed the normal ones are being regarded as crazy fans, from an outside point of view. This documentary film was done mainly because the proponents believe that everyone is a fan of someone or something. It may or may not be one Direction, but this kind of study is relevant in today's society especially the youth who are the main target of this study.