This present Master thesis with the title ?We are GAK ? The fan scene of Grazer Athletiksport-Klub? is based on qualitative social research. The aim of this investigation is to describe the actively supporting fan scene (?Fankurve?) of the former football team GAK, new founded as GAC. The focal points, on the one hand, lie on a comparative description of the actively supporting fan scene and their actors per se and on the other hand, on the answering of GAK/ GAC specific questions. Further this paper is based on the considerations that Fandom is connected with strong emotions for the team, that the fan scene of GAK/ GAC highly influenced by the fan culture of England and Italy, that it could be understood as a relatively closed social group, and finally that the fan scene of GAK/ GAC has peculiarities which are different to other Austrian football fan scenes. Furthermore the ?special? relationship between the GAK/GAC and its local rival SK Sturm Graz, which is giving interesting information about the self-conception of the GAK-fans, will be reflected. Hence, the for Austrian fan scenes relatively heavy and in the media highly publicized riots in the east-styrian city Hartberg, which were started by fans of GAK/ GAC in part of a relegation match, will be investigated. Summarizing this thesis looks into the following matter: Which features are characterizing the fan scene of GAK/ GAC? What are the differences and commonalities to the fan scenes of other Austrian football teams? The results of this present Master thesis are based on several qualitative interviews, the analysis of various Internet discussion platforms about football and GAK/GAC, the content analysis of fan chants as well as sufficient participant observations during home and away matches of the GAK/GAC. Moreover the relevant topics of ?Kleine Zeitung? as the biggest and for styrian football most important regional and daily newspaper have been regarded. |