What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?
Hills (2004) has suggested, “a cult status comes from, ultimately, the desire for a TV show’s audiences.” Hills (2004) suggests that the role of fans in the construction of the cult TV is one the three definitions of the cult TV. In this case, the fans or the audiences who make and come with the whole concept called cult TV. In my point of view, new media such as blogs or portfolios make it much easier for fans of cult TV to recognize their own ideas in relation to cult TV. Hills (2004) states, “the internet and forms of media makes it easier for fans to contact other like-minded veterans and increases the possibility of small-scale web forums organized around the emerging wider variety of TV shows. Furthermore it is a wider audience and fan base as it allows the forwards. “This opening allows the boundaries of fandom that most people participate in culture technology and the television programmes values obtained as fan.”(Hills, 2004). With the help of the internet, it can become more main stream and a lot more people can understand and enjoy.
Meanwhile I guess with kinds of new media, it is much easier to target wider range of audience to a group of people who are using this media day to day basis.
References:
Hills, M. (2004). Defining Cult TV; Text, Inter-texts and Fan Audiences, The Television Studies Reader, in R. C. Allen & A. Hill. London and New York: Routledge.
I enjoyed reading your answer because you went into more detail with Hills' (2004) Definition III of cult TV, which I reckon is important, because without the fans, cult TV wouldn't be - especially with the lengths some crazy fans will go to prove their devotion to the show.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nik, really enjoyed reading this. To me, cult tv is a cycle - tv show portrays a character with a certain characteristic, fans view characteristic and elaborate further through forms of new media, show develops initial characteristic further.... and so on and so on. Im generally not a fan but i know people who cant get enough. My guilty pleasure is cops, jus cos i know there are die hard fans and it paints such a strange picture of America for me. I didnt see anything similar from the cops when i went the other year, felt like i missed out. Cops fills the void. And im sure this is how other people feel towards other shows.
ReplyDeleteSome relevant references to Hill to set up your arguments - but can you exemplify these by describing fan practices as they occur on an actual new media site?? Good comments by others.
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