Divergent Fan Forums and Political Consciousness Raising

This article conducts a thematic analysis of 40 threads related to sociopolitical issues on two <em>Divergent</em> fan forums, one Divergent Fans and another Wiki, determine whether these forums raise political consciousness, especially among young people. As scholars civic imagination show, popular culture narratives may lead the ability imagine better future. Utopian in particular facilitate this process dialectical way by presenting us with an impossible world, dystopian operate similarly fashion offering negative example or warning. Analysis posts utopia dystopia, story world versus real historical contemporary parallels, governmental reform, non-normative sexuality reveals that participants <em>Divergent </em>fan discuss real-world sometimes but does not conclusively consciousness. We can account for successes failures considering Dahlgren’s (2009) six elements cultures: knowledge, values, trust, spaces, practices/skills, identities. While spaces are strong, identities be experienced as relatively static, values practices/skills important areas intervention cultivate consciousness Critical education at secondary school level could foster democratic teaching media literacy discussion skills improve students’ think critically about entertainment narratives.