Tuesday, 4 February 2020
Monday, 27 January 2020
Stranger Things fandom
Learner Resource 9
Research Activity 3 – Long form TV drama and fandom
The term ‘fan’ is believed to come from the term ‘fanatic’
and refers to an audience member who has an intense enthusiasm and, often, an
uncritical devotion to a product, person or activity.
There are many ways in which a fan of a long form TV drama
can express their enthusiasm and interest for the show. Continuing developments
in technology have enabled the distribution and sharing of fan-made materials
and the development of fan made communities.
For the Long Form TV Drama unit, you are required to
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fandom and fans’ responses to the
set products you have chosen to study.
Task
In order to find out how fans are targeted, how they
interpret content from the drama and how they make meaning across different
platforms, you will complete a short research activity into the fans of your
chosen set products.
To complete this task successfully you will:
1.
Go online and search for a variety of fan made
materials. Sites which may help you find fan made materials include:
·
the official social media accounts for the set
products
·
fan-made social media accounts for the set
products.
2.
Select three different fan-made products for
each set product and complete the grid below.
3.
Present your research findings in a visual
format. You will need to take screenshots and embed the links to the fan made
materials you have found into your visual document.
What is the product? Give an
overview.
|
Who is it by? What demographic/
psychographic can the fan be defined by?
|
Where can you find this
product? Which platform?
|
Which features of the drama’s
content does the product focus on? What does it suggest is the main appeal
of the TV drama?
|
How have other fans responded
to the content? Give examples of how they respond?
|
|
Fan-made product 1
|
Mugs.
 |
Company
– ShotDeadInTheHead.
|
Amazon
sellers
|
The
lights and alphabet that Joyce hangs on the wall to communicate with Will when
he is in the upside down.
|
4
stars, 34 reviews.
|
Fan-made product 2
|
Hoodies
 . |
Company
- MellorDesign
|
Amazon
sellers
|
The
Stranger Things logo with the kids on their bikes.
|
4.5
stars on Amazon, with over 300 reviews.
|
Fan-made product 3
|
Backpacks.
 |
Company
- HippoWarehouse
|
Amazon
sellers
|
The
Stranger Things logo.
|
5
stars, 13 reviews.
|
Stranger Things audience
Stranger Things audience
· 15-49 years old.
· Why they love it – 80s, nostalgia.
· How they are targeted.
Audience appeal:
Audience appeal:
· Synergy with Netflix – ability to binge watch.
· Extensive narrative enigmas – always want to know more
about the story.
· Realism – friendship/loyalty, young protagonists,
collective identity (social groups) vs marginalisation (outsiders),
hybridisation – sci-fi, horror/thriller.
· Retro styling – nostalgia, soundtrack.
· Must see TV – everyone talks about it.
Gratifications theory:
Personalisation – relatable.
Information – anything it teaches you – more for documentary.
Entertainment
Social interaction – twitter, talking to friends etc.
Applying the
gratifications theory to Stranger Things:
· Stranger things are an escapist, non-realist entertainment
drama.
· Much discussed, hyped, written about.
· Information given on 80s cultural history.
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