My bizarre areas of interest

This isn't me, but damn that's a fan.

Today I received a brutally embarrassing package at work. My Amazon order containing all three Twilight movies (accompanied by an illustrated companion to the books) came in.

After my boss Paul was done laughing at me, I explained that I’m interested in Twilight because author Stephenie Meyer is a Mormon (I am fascinated by Mormons), and that LDS culture is sprinkled throughout the books (ie. eternal families, gender roles, chastity) This is true, but also a lie because I would be interested in Twilight even if it were written by a secular humanist. It speaks to the 13-year-old girl in me, and helps me understand how to sell things to teens.

Paul pointed out that I seem to go through phases of being interested in certain topics and asked me what came before Mormons. I had trouble thinking up the list, but here are all my bizarre areas of interest:

Mormonism
Twilight
Walt Disney (the company and the man)
The Simpsons
Scientology
Harry Potter (not so much any more)
Buffy (ditto)
Playboy/Hugh Hefner
Apple/Steve Jobs
Interior design
Studio 54/disco culture
The British royal family
Vintage etiquette books/mental hygiene films
New school evangelicals (see: the Duggars)
…and I’m sure I’m missing some

I love all of these things for different reasons, but the thing that unites them is fan/disciple cultures that involve codes, conventions and protocol. I am fascinated by people who can say, “Here is the world I am creating. Now you live in it.” Authors do this with fiction all the time, but religious movements and companies are able to do this IRL. Can you imagine creating a brand or theology and building a physical representation of it? Hugh Hefner has lived his brand for close to 60 years, creating a lifestyle that involves never changing out of silk pyjamas and girlfriends with an established pecking order. Walt Disney reinvented small town America through the lens of Disney and created Disney World, one of the most efficiently run and well thought-out physical environments I’ve ever been in.

Anyway, this is mostly a record for myself so I can keep track of my weird areas of interest as they change over time. In the meantime, I hope my fascination with these things that revolve around systems and cultural movements doesn’t make me a sociopath.