Limerence: persona as face — persona as fantasy
In my previous article, the little-known psychological experience of limerence was explored by using three key academic texts.
Limerence is a cognitive and emotional feeling of loving adoration and attachment to another person.
On the one hand, limerence consists of many positive feelings; euphoria, excitement, elation, romance. On the other, it is experienced involuntarily, and often without end. In many ways it can be a living hell for those experiencing it, being so deeply infatuated with another who torments them almost every waking (and dreaming) moment of the day. However, it is the argument of this series that limerence can be reframed as a potentially transformative experience and language for social movement. Future articles will represent BTS’s Kim Namjoon, also known as RM, as an exemplar for this. RM is using his immense social and cultural influence to create positive social change; harnessing limerence experienced towards him and his idol group.
First things first
We must continue the exploration of limerence, and from there establish an understanding of idol. In order to do this, additional theories must be incorporated. Willmott and Bentley’s research — and creation of the Limerence Trajectory…
