HENRY JENKINS- FANDOM!

 

HENRY JENKINS- FANDOM:

Read Media Factsheet #107 on Fandom. Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) or log into your Greenford Google account to access the link. Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions:

What is the definition of a fan?

Fan: a person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal

What are the different types of fans identified in the factsheet?

• Potterhead
• Trekkie
• Twilighter
• Gearhead
• Whovian

What makes a ‘fandom’?

The state or attitude of being a fan. Fandoms can be narrowly defined and can focus on something like an individual celebrity, or be more widely defined, encompassing entire hobbies, genres, or fashions. In recent times media critics have suggested that fandoms can even be applied to the love of consumer goods or brands such as Apple. This may be stretching the definition a little, but what is true to say is that fandoms are built by audiences that are so passionate about the media texts they consume that fandoms can last for a lifetime, Hills calls this ‘enduring fandom.’

What is Bourdieu’s argument regarding the ‘cultural capital’ of fandom?

Bourdieu argues a kind of ‘cultural capital’ which confers a symbolic power and status for the fan, especially within the realm of their fandom.

What examples of fandom are provided on pages 2 and 3 of the factsheet?

- Liverpool fan room with duvet, cover, wallpaper etc

Why are imaginative extension and text creation a vital part of digital fandom?

Fans use the original media texts and get creative and innovative with the material. Crawford suggests that it is this which distinguishes fans from ordinary consumers. They engage in diverse activities such as ‘the production of websites, mods and hacks, private servers, game guides, walkthroughs and FAQs, fan fiction and forms of fan art, fan vids’ all of which have been aided by digital technology.

Henry Jenkins - degree-level reading

Read the final chapter of ‘Fandom’ – written by Henry Jenkins (note: link may be blocked in school - try this Google Drive link if you need it.) This will give you an excellent introduction to the level of reading required for seminars and essays at university as well as degree-level insight into our current work on fandom and participatory culture. Answer the following questions:

There is an important quote on the first page: “It’s not an audience, it’s a community”. What does this mean?

this means new digital media is more about bringing people together rather than selling and talking to an audience. 

Jenkins quotes Clay Shirky in the second page of the chapter. Pick out a single sentence of the extended quote that you think is particularly relevant to our work on participatory culture and the ‘end of audience’ (clue – look towards the end!)

'some are calling them “media actives,” suggesting that they are much more likely to demand the right to participate within the media franchise than previous generations

What are the different names Jenkins discusses for these active consumers that are replacing the traditional audience?

Media actives/prosumers/“inspirational consumers' “connectors” or “influencers

On the third page of the chapter, what does Wired editor Chris Anderson suggest regarding the economic argument in favor of fan communities?

Anderson argues that investing in niche properties with small but committed consumer bases may make economic sense if you can lower costs of production and replace marketing costs by building a much stronger network with your desired consumers.

What examples does Jenkins provide to argue that fan culture has gone mainstream?

Jenkins provides several examples to argue that fan culture has gone mainstream. One example he mentions is the success of fan conventions like Comic-Con, where thousands of fans gather to celebrate their favorite franchises. Another example is the rise of fan fiction and fan art, which have gained widespread recognition and even been adapted into official content. These examples show how fan culture has become more visible and accepted in mainstream society. 

Look at the quote from Andrew Blau in which he discusses the importance of grassroots creativity. Pick out a sentence from the longer quote and decide whether you agree that audiences will ‘reshape the media landscape from the bottom up’.

'A new generation of media makers and viewers are [sic] emerging which could lead to a sea change in how media is made and consumed.'
I agree because the audience now dictates a lot of the decisions that producers make due to the various platforms where people can voice their opinions about any media production

What does Jenkins suggest the new ideal consumer is?

they used to be the ones who watched television, bought products and didn't talk back, passively consuming. whereas now its the ones who offer ideas and opinions on how to improve the product, a person who "talks up the program and spreads word about the brand."

Why is fandom 'the future'?

fandom is the future because it is the fans who lead the 'hype' on social media about their favorite products and they form groups of people (fanbases) that eventually become appealing to a wider audience, thus creating a bigger fanbase for the product

What does it mean when Jenkins says we shouldn’t celebrate ‘a process that commodifies fan cultural production’?

we should not promote this process as larger media companies exploit the products that are produced by the fans - the fans are not rewarded for their efforts.

Read through to the end of the chapter. What do you think the future of fandom is? Are we all fans now? Is fandom mainstream or are real fan communities still an example of a niche media audience?

I think the future of fandom is definitely evolving, While fan culture has become more mainstream in recent years, there are still real fan communities that exist as niche media audiences. It's a bit of both. On one hand, we see fandoms gaining more visibility and acceptance in popular culture. On the other hand, there are still dedicated fan communities that engage deeply with specific franchises and create their own unique spaces. So, I would say that while fandom is becoming more widespread, there will always be pockets of dedicated fans who form their own passionate communities.