{"id":1956417,"date":"2026-05-26T14:41:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T11:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1956417"},"modified":"2026-05-26T14:41:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T11:41:08","slug":"chewing-gum-and-ash-filled-cookie-jars-inside-the-world-of-extreme-pop-fandoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1956417","title":{"rendered":"Chewing gum and ash-filled cookie jars: Inside the world of extreme pop fandoms"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/94\/16\/1200x675_cmsv2_1a0e46d2-fc5b-5f14-a3d4-f17f837bf3f1-9769416.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2896499-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2896499\" data-cid=\"9771983\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896499-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/19\/83\/189x106_cmsv2_13bfbfbd-4473-5938-8bf0-3ab65012e26f-9771983.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Employees of the national electricity distributor work in freezing temperatures to fix power lines damaged by blizzards, near Pitulicea, Romania, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    No reply means yes: EU pushes silent approval for energy grid permits\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896750-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2896750\" data-cid=\"9773081\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896750-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/30\/81\/189x106_cmsv2_870e2d38-0c0b-5ad3-98b6-c70bd2fe9391-9773081.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman drinks water in temperatures of up to 30 degrees at the Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben in London, Tuesday, May 26, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Climate<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Britons flock to beaches and pools as UK breaks May heat record\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896761-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2896761\" data-cid=\"9773115\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896761-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/31\/15\/189x106_cmsv2_baf3a96e-89e7-5ed0-97f0-394ef6cce216-9773115.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"US Secretary of State Marco Rubio participates in a signing ceremony with Armenia&apos;s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan, 26 May, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Armenia<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US and Armenia pledge to move forward on corridor during Rubio visit\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895430-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2895430\" data-cid=\"9767042\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895430-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/70\/42\/189x106_cmsv2_9d9c17dc-e1c7-56eb-80bc-0a49c8d19990-9767042.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Nicolas Forissier, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, during an interview with Euronews in Brussels\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    12 minutes with<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Limiting trade with Israeli settlements is &#8216;normal&#8217; &#8211; French minister\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896499-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2896499\" data-cid=\"9771983\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896499-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/19\/83\/189x106_cmsv2_13bfbfbd-4473-5938-8bf0-3ab65012e26f-9771983.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Employees of the national electricity distributor work in freezing temperatures to fix power lines damaged by blizzards, near Pitulicea, Romania, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    No reply means yes: EU pushes silent approval for energy grid permits\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896750-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2896750\" data-cid=\"9773081\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896750-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/30\/81\/189x106_cmsv2_870e2d38-0c0b-5ad3-98b6-c70bd2fe9391-9773081.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A woman drinks water in temperatures of up to 30 degrees at the Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben in London, Tuesday, May 26, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Climate<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Britons flock to beaches and pools as UK breaks May heat record\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896761-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2896761\" data-cid=\"9773115\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896761-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/31\/15\/189x106_cmsv2_baf3a96e-89e7-5ed0-97f0-394ef6cce216-9773115.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"US Secretary of State Marco Rubio participates in a signing ceremony with Armenia&apos;s Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Yerevan, 26 May, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Armenia<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US and Armenia pledge to move forward on corridor during Rubio visit\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2895430-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2895430\" data-cid=\"9767042\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2895430-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/70\/42\/189x106_cmsv2_9d9c17dc-e1c7-56eb-80bc-0a49c8d19990-9767042.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Nicolas Forissier, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, during an interview with Euronews in Brussels\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    12 minutes with<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Limiting trade with Israeli settlements is &#8216;normal&#8217; &#8211; French minister\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Culture<\/p>\n<p>                          Art<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Chewing gum and ash-filled cookie jars: Inside the world of extreme pop fandoms<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/94\/16\/1536x864_cmsv2_1a0e46d2-fc5b-5f14-a3d4-f17f837bf3f1-9769416.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Children of Graceland (project).\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Children of Graceland (project).<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Hayley Louisa Brown<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Hayley Louisa Brown\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspAmber Louise Bryce\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1779806468\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-05-26 16:41:08 +02:00\">26\/05\/2026 &#8211; 16:41 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup\" class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup js-c-article-partage-commentaire-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"Close Button\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-partage-commentaire-close\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content u-display-flex\">\n<div id=\"partage-commentaire-popup-content-container\" class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire-popup__content__container u-display-flex\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" 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class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        &#8216;Holy Pop!&#8217; takes visitors inside the bizarre and beautiful world of obsessive fans.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content c-article-content--culture js-article-content\">\n<p>I have loved many people in my life, but for a while, I loved Christina Aguilera the most. <\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>It started as most millennial pop culture obsessions once did: standing in the aisles of a record shop. My dad said I could choose anything, so I chose \u2018Stripped\u2019, Aguilera\u2019s second (and at the time, newly released) album. <\/p>\n<p>Slotting it into the car\u2019s CD player on the way home, I rolled down the windows and felt my old identity slipping into the breeze, replaced by a gust of something new. <\/p>\n<p>Maybe I wasn\u2019t a pre-pubescent girl obsessed with cartoon dogs and rainbow flannel skirts. Maybe I was a misunderstood woman with a powerful voice and poetic angst &#8211; I just hadn\u2019t found the right low-rise jeans yet. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id data-event=\"widget_related\">\n<div class=\"c-widget-related__title\"><b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b><\/div>\n<ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n<li class=\"c-widget-related__item\">Danger in the deep: Prehistoric predators emerge at London&#8217;s Natural History Museum<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>The years that followed were a blur of GeoCities fan pages, collecting every magazine poster I could find, and wearing a fake nose ring from Claire\u2019s Accessories. I changed my Nokia ringtone to \u2018Fighter\u2019, perfected the dance routine from \u2018Dirrty\u2019, and kept the brochure from the 2003 Xtina tour beside my bed like a bible. <\/p>\n<p>Then one day, as quickly as my obsession had taken hold, it vanished &#8211; leaving behind only the memories and mementos. <\/p>\n<p>A tin pencil case with the singer\u2019s face on, a crumpled image of her wearing those infamous chaps. Nostalgic nonsense to anyone else, but once magical buoys amidst the chaos of adolescence to me.<\/p>\n<p>The power of such celebrity devotions, and the identities we construct around them, is the subject of a new exhibition at London\u2019s Somerset House, titled \u2018Holy Pop!\u2019 <\/p>\n<p>Filled with shrines and souvenirs dedicated to everyone from The Spice Girls to Elvis, it feels like stepping inside a teenager&#8217;s diary. The bubblegum glow of perfume bottles, dazzling diamant\u00e9d pews, and hurriedly scrawled love letters; everything belongs to someone else\u2019s inner-world. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/75\/45\/58\/808x539_cmsv2_fcba74dd-6597-562c-b03f-5fb5e1636f80-9754558.jpg\" alt=\"Dream Girl (2023) Athen &amp; Nina: Sleepover, Gathering&apos;s GLASSHOUSE, London. \"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Dream Girl (2023) Athen &amp; Nina: Sleepover, Gathering&#8217;s GLASSHOUSE, London. <\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Photo: Damian Griffiths<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThe exhibition is obviously about pop culture, but it&#8217;s also about people, and how we navigate life. The things that we hook onto to make us survive life and feel a sense of belonging,\u201d curator Tory Turk told Euronews Culture. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cLooking after your objects, carefully arranging them is really therapeutic. And actually, it&#8217;s really meaningful.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>It was during her time working at HyMag, which boasts the world\u2019s largest collection of magazines, that Turk developed a fascination with niche-subject enthusiasts and their collections &#8211; the kinds of tacky or strange objects that hold no traditional museum prestige, but harbour a unique humanness. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was the stuff that had been overlooked by the canon who were interested in the best in design,\u201d she said. \u201cI felt like pop culture was seen as a bit low rent, and so I started collecting collectors.\u201d <\/p>\n<h2>Gotta have faith<\/h2>\n<p>As the world has become more secular, people have turned their veneration towards celebrities and pop culture to fill a void.<\/p>\n<p>In her novel &#8220;Beautiful World, Where Are You&#8221;, Sally Rooney calls it \u201ca malignant growth where the sacred used to be.\u201d But for all the parasocial and potentially harmful consequences of putting celebrities on pedestals, there can be an endearing quality to it too. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"1.3333333333333333\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/94\/16\/808x1077_cmsv2_916d59ad-fa0c-548c-a6e2-0934a351ccc5-9769416.jpg\" alt=\"A George Michael shrine at &apos;Holy Pop!&apos;\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">A George Michael shrine at &#8216;Holy Pop!&#8217;<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Amber Bryce<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>From holographic stickers of George Michael on heart-shaped mirrors, to pastel pink tribute wreaths and Yellow Submarine cookie jars filled with ashes, it&#8217;s astonishing to see how fandoms inspire community, connection, and a creativity that\u2019s both clumsy and enchanting. <\/p>\n<p>For most people, these passions can be sparked out of nowhere by anyone and anything. But it&#8217;s noticeable that certain icons &#8211; like Dolly Parton, Prince and Elvis &#8211; seem to hold a particular intensity of appeal that continues to captivate new generations. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think some people just have that magic, and it&#8217;s that magic that touches people&#8217;s souls,\u201d Turk said. \u201cFor example, Elvis\u2019 spirit of just crashing into pop culture. He became like Jesus, you know. A prophet.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Nina Simone\u2019s gum<\/h2>\n<p>The exhibition ends in a darkened room, where only the orb-like glow of a tiny piece of chewing gum can be seen. This is perhaps the most holy of all the objects here: a cloudy blob that, for a brief moment in time, was in the mouth of Nina Simone. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/94\/16\/808x454_cmsv2_1c667b65-c392-5493-9339-85f38e6e6d06-9769416.jpg\" alt=\"Nina Simone\u2019s Gum. \"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Nina Simone\u2019s Gum. <\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Royal Danish Library, Anders Sune Berg<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The singer had left it on her piano during a London performance in 1999, which Australian musician Warren Ellis then rushed to retrieve. He later wrote a book inspired by it, saying: &#8220;I love the fact that this little thing, this gum, is actually nothing, and that it became something almost sacred and spiritual. A hallowed relic\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As anyone who has wandered through a flea market or pondered an abandoned sock on the pavement will know, it&#8217;s often the most mundane objects that connect us to each other most. <\/p>\n<p>At &#8216;Holy Pop!&#8217;, these objects not only represent society\u2019s shift towards celebrity worship, but a desire within all of us to hold onto the way a specific time, place or person made us feel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAn object has the power to transport you back to a time and a feeling. Keeping a train ticket or, you know, stealing the butt from [a celebrity\u2019s] cigarette butt,\u201d Turk said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever mundane, or however silly, these things have the power to make you feel a certain way.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>After all, the mementos of our celebrity devotions are never truly shrines to them, but shrines to ourselves: the people we have been, and the people we have loved unashamedly &#8211; Dirrty dance routines and all. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8216;Holy Pop!&#8217; is open now at Somerset House in London, UK, until 9 August 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-partage-commentaire__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-partage-commentaire-share\"><span>Share<\/span><\/span><span>Comments<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" 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class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/72\/28\/21\/480x270_cmsv2_80ae4324-f3d1-551a-84aa-43a94ba55990-9722821.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Antonas Sutkus \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Culture news<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    War stories of displaced Ukrainian Refugees feature in Lithuanian exhibition in Baku<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896610-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2896610\" data-cid=\"9772317\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896610-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/23\/17\/320x180_cmsv2_9a1d62f5-5c2c-584a-94f6-dfc847c86d7d-9772317.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"So long \u2018Saxophone Colossus\u2019: Jazz legend Sonny Rollins dies aged 95 \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    So long, \u2018Saxophone Colossus\u2019: Jazz legend Sonny Rollins dies aged 95<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896689-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2896689\" data-cid=\"9772834\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896689-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/28\/34\/320x180_cmsv2_d50c1d7f-9d21-554b-93a8-a73a4c75397f-9772834.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Metallica wants your blood... Rock band urge fans to donate blood ahead of UK tour\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Rockers Metallica urging fans to donate blood on last leg of EU tour<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896645-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2896645\" data-cid=\"9772533\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896645-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/25\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_ea9c00cb-fb12-5794-b054-73f9563d9c4e-9772533.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Muette - Boris Charmatz\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Suffering in silence: Brussels arts festival tackles childhood trauma<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896657-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2896657\" data-cid=\"9772643\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896657-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/26\/43\/320x180_cmsv2_235b50fd-65d8-547b-83d9-5e81898dcbab-9772643.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"K-pop makes history by dominating 2026 American Music Awards \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    K-pop makes history by dominating 2026 American Music Awards<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896448-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2896448\" data-cid=\"9771628\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2896448-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/77\/16\/28\/320x180_cmsv2_6a1de7cd-b27c-5a46-9c9a-05f8279fedf9-9771628.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"From creepypasta to Hollywood: Everything you need to know about &apos;Backrooms&apos; and liminal horror \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;Backrooms&#8217;: Everything you need to know about liminal horror<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896364-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2896364\" data-cid=\"9771311\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    A Chris or a talking animal more likely in films than a woman over 60<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896470-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2896470\" data-cid=\"9771773\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    FBI \u2018concerned\u2019 about death threats to Bruce Springsteen during tour<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2893165-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2893165\" data-cid=\"9755844\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Where mountains, art and urban life meet<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__quote\">In partnership with <strong>MDQ<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2869731-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2869731\" data-cid=\"9648318\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    &#8216;A heartbreaking loss&#8217;: Celebrities pay tribute to James Van Der Beek<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2896356-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-related the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2896356\" data-cid=\"9771261\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Two 17th-century paintings recovered after nearly 100 years missing<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">I have loved many people in my life, but for a while, I loved Christina Aguilera the most.\u00a0It started as most millennial pop culture obsessions once did: standing in the aisles of a record shop. My dad said I could choose anything, so I chose \u2018Stripped\u2019, Aguilera\u2019s second (and at the time, newly released) album.\u00a0Slotting it into the car\u2019s CD player on the way home, I rolled down the windows and felt my old identity slipping into the breeze, replaced by a gust of something new.Maybe I wasn\u2019t a pre-pubescent girl obsessed with cartoon dogs and rainbow flannel skirts. Maybe I was a misunderstood woman with a powerful voice and poetic angst &#8211; I just hadn\u2019t found the right low-rise jeans yet.\u00a0The years that followed were a blur of GeoCities fan pages, collecting every magazine poster I could find, and wearing a fake nose ring from Claire\u2019s Accessories. I changed my Nokia ringtone to \u2018Fighter\u2019, perfected the dance routine from \u2018Dirrty\u2019, and kept the brochure from the 2003 Xtina tour beside my bed like a bible.\u00a0Then one day, as quickly as my obsession had taken hold, it vanished &#8211; leaving behind only the memories and mementos.A tin pencil case with the singer\u2019s face on, a crumpled image of her wearing those infamous chaps. Nostalgic nonsense to anyone else, but once magical buoys amidst the chaos of adolescence to me.The power of such celebrity devotions, and the identities we construct around them, is the subject of a new exhibition at London\u2019s Somerset House, titled \u2018Holy Pop!\u2019\u00a0Filled with shrines and souvenirs dedicated to everyone from The Spice Girls to Elvis, it feels like stepping inside a teenager&#8217;s diary. The bubblegum glow of perfume bottles, dazzling diamant\u00e9d pews, and hurriedly scrawled love letters; everything belongs to someone else\u2019s inner-world.\u00a0\u201cThe exhibition is obviously about pop culture, but it&#8217;s also about people, and how we navigate life. The things that we hook onto to make us survive life and feel a sense of belonging,\u201d curator Tory Turk told Euronews Culture.\u00a0\u201cLooking after your objects, carefully arranging them is really therapeutic. And actually, it&#8217;s really meaningful.\u201d\u00a0It was during her time working at HyMag, which boasts the world\u2019s largest collection of magazines, that Turk developed a fascination with niche-subject enthusiasts and their collections &#8211; the kinds of tacky or strange objects that hold no traditional museum prestige, but harbour a unique humanness.\u00a0\u201cIt was the stuff that had been overlooked by the canon who were interested in the best in design,\u201d she said. \u201cI felt like pop culture was seen as a bit low rent, and so I started collecting collectors.\u201d\u00a0Gotta have faithAs the world has become more secular, people have turned their veneration towards celebrities and pop culture to fill a void.In her novel &#8220;Beautiful World, Where Are You&#8221;, Sally Rooney calls it \u201ca malignant growth where the sacred used to be.\u201d But for all the parasocial and potentially harmful consequences of putting celebrities on pedestals, there can be an endearing quality to it too.\u00a0From holographic stickers of George Michael on heart-shaped mirrors, to pastel pink tribute wreaths and Yellow Submarine cookie jars filled with ashes, it&#8217;s astonishing to see how fandoms inspire community, connection, and a creativity that\u2019s both clumsy and enchanting.\u00a0For most people, these passions can be sparked out of nowhere by anyone and anything. But it&#8217;s noticeable that certain icons &#8211; like Dolly Parton, Prince and Elvis &#8211; seem to hold a particular intensity of appeal that continues to captivate new generations.\u201cI think some people just have that magic, and it&#8217;s that magic that touches people&#8217;s souls,\u201d Turk said. \u201cFor example, Elvis\u2019 spirit of just crashing into pop culture. He became like Jesus, you know. A prophet.\u201dNina Simone\u2019s gum\u00a0The exhibition ends in a darkened room, where only the orb-like glow of a tiny piece of chewing gum can be seen. This is perhaps the most holy of all the objects here: a cloudy blob that, for a brief moment in time, was in the mouth of Nina Simone.\u00a0The singer had left it on her piano during a London performance in 1999, which Australian musician Warren Ellis then rushed to retrieve. He later wrote a book inspired by it, saying: &#8220;I love the fact that this little thing, this gum, is actually nothing, and that it became something almost sacred and spiritual. A hallowed relic\u2026\u201dAs anyone who has wandered through a flea market or pondered an abandoned sock on the pavement will know, it&#8217;s often the most mundane objects that connect us to each other most.At &#8216;Holy Pop!&#8217;, these objects not only represent society\u2019s shift towards celebrity worship, but a desire within all of us to hold onto the way a specific time, place or person made us feel.\u201cAn object has the power to transport you back to a time and a feeling. Keeping a train ticket or, you know, stealing the butt from [a celebrity\u2019s] cigarette butt,\u201d Turk said.\u00a0\u201cHowever mundane, or however silly, these things have the power to make you feel a certain way.\u201dAfter all, the mementos of our celebrity devotions are never truly shrines to them, but shrines to ourselves: the people we have been, and the people we have loved unashamedly &#8211; Dirrty dance routines and all.&#8217;Holy Pop!&#8217; is open now at Somerset House in London, UK, until 9 August 2026.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/culture\/2026\/05\/26\/chewing-gum-and-ash-filled-cookie-jars-inside-the-world-of-extreme-pop-fandoms&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/76\/94\/16\/1200x675_cmsv2_1a0e46d2-fc5b-5f14-a3d4-f17f837bf3f1-9769416.jpg&#8221;] Europe News No reply means yes: EU pushes silent approval for energy grid permits Climate Britons flock to beaches and pools as UK breaks May heat record Armenia US and Armenia pledge to move forward on corridor during Rubio visit 12 minutes with Limiting trade with Israeli settlements is &#8216;normal&#8217; &#8211; French [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-1956417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1956417","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1956417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1956417\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1956417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1956417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1956417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}