Week 9
What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?
According to Hills (2004), the cult TV fans are distinctive, because they support their TV programs with their loyalty. They can organize or reorganize TV programs into an intertextural network and describe them in the term of “Cult”. They also form their appreciation society to maintain the cult status. Moreover, Cult TV fans contribute the fan-fiction and fan talking enrich their cult culture. So, we can find that such Buffy’s success largely due to the fans loyal support and love. I think, the most impressive influence is that the fans permeate the cult elements into their daily life. When these influences become widen enough in the society, the certain element could become a social culture trend. As a result, the Cult TV itself becomes mainstreamed super popular and the fandom would be bigger and the interaction and activities can be more rich and colorful. Therefore, I think, a smart media producer might pay more attention on the fans activities to monitor audience interests.
The new media played a great communication role in the fandom. For example, the internet provides a big platform for the fans. The virtual spaces such as E communities, Twitter, Facebook, gather the fans to share their ideas and comments; blogs and fan space are the good places for the fan-fiction writing. Furthermore, the cult TV Videos and audios transmitted among the smart phones bring the fans the show updates and comments; the e magazines publish the fans works and activity announcements etc. These various Medias are the important communicate medium between the fans. I think, the media is open to everyone, the nonfans and different Cult TV program fan group can participate in the discussions as well. This not only helps to promote certain TV program but also helps to distinguish the “cult TV” from other genres.
Hills, M. (2004). Defining Cult TV; Texts, Inter-texts and Fan Audiences, The Television Studies Reader, in R. C. Allen & A. Hill. London and New York:Routledge.
Elle you are quite right about the fact that media plays a big role in promoting Cult TV and communication is another aspect which helps contructing Cult tv. Internet platforms such as blogging and other social networking sites help in contructing and promoting programmes or a particular genre such as Cult TV because these platforms or channels allow audience to decide what they wish to see more of and creates new fans. Media allows everyone to contribute and share their prespectives whihc helps promote the programme.
ReplyDeleteInteresting response. Your point that the fans "permeate the cult elements into their daily life" is a relevant one. Your attempt to describe new media fan practices (beyond the limited description offered by Hill) is also good. Check out my comments to others on this question. Nice comment Aafia.
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