Football hooliganism, the death drive and Millwall fandom as symbolic masochism. (1st September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bleakley, Paul
• Is Part Of: Journal of fandom studies. Volume 6:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 225
• Page End: 241
• Publication Date: 2018-09-01
• Subjects: Fans (Persons) -- Periodicals; Subculture -- Periodicals; Popular culture -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 306.1
• DOI: 10.1386/jfs.6.3.225_1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-6692

Abstract

Despite their reputation for violence and hooligan behaviour, south-east London's Millwall football club has sustained a strong fan base thanks significantly to the siege mentality that has developed around its supporters. This siege mentality is fuelled largely by the antipathy of wider society; by undertaking a Freudian analysis of Millwall fandom as it was during the zenith of the club's notoriety in the 1970s and 1980s, it is possible to view this collective persecution complex as a manifestation internalized masochism described in the philosopher's 'death drive' theory. Combined with a Lacanian interpretation of the death drive, it is possible to perceive Millwall fandom as a form of symbolic masochism, explaining to some degree the continued support for a team treated in a consistently pejorative manner.