The Phenomenon
of Parasocial Relationships

A visual essay that aims to explore the phenomenon of comment culture & parasocial relationships within modern media consumption.




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A parasocial relationship is the idolisation of a celebrity, where fans invest excessive time, emotion, and interest into a largely one-sided connection.

My intention is to highlight the absurdities of social media culture. In a time where digital escapism is shaped by curated celebrity personas. Accessibility gives the false impression of intimacy, warping how we perceive not only celebrities, but people in our own lives.

We need to re-establish the boundary between our ‘real’ selves and our internet selves. Fans should be able to disconnect from the parafictional realm of celebrity culture and online identities in order to live healthier, more balanced lives.

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