Hills (2004) in his essay discussing the definition of ‘cult TV’ has argued ‘cult TV’ as dependent to fan audience. He says that cult TV fans have more influence on the program production, depend greatly on ‘air time’ comparing to soap program fans. In addition, a common stereotype that differences in fan gender between the two kinds of programs also is stated non-inclusive (ibid). Buffy the vampire slayer show is a typical example to extent this as Buffy and her group of friends is referred as Scoobies or the Scooby gang by scholars and her fans (Buffy as Cult Television, 2009). As a result there is no distinct difference if a gender is dominant in both soaps and cult TV. Also from Hills (2004), new media on the internet helps cult TV fans to meet up with people around the world who share the same idea in their fandom. Moreover, from the love, passions for the show from cult TV fans, new media promotes a network of commercialism through merchandise from the show as well as encourage more people to join in the fandom.
Reference:
Buffy as Cult Television (2009). Retrieved 9 September, 2009 from: http://culttvbuffy.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/buffy-the-vampire-slayer/
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.
Hey Simon, you made some good points this week, i think that you are spot on with regards to new media and the internet - "helps cult TV fans to meet up with people around the world who share the same idea in their fandom."
ReplyDeleteI think you should separate the reference list at the bottom, it shouldn't be in your paragraph.