Fandom: Audience and Identity - Essay Example

? Fandom: Audience and Identity. A fandom is a group of individuals with a common interest in a of any area of humaninterest or activity. The term fandom originated from the expression fan domain, and it is a community that revolves around shared interest/fascination or love for an object, subject or individual. Fan interest can be focused on a subject that can be an individual like celebrities in the music industry, actors, politicians, socialites in the community. Individuals who inspire any profound admiration in other people and have fandoms develop around them. Fandoms do not only develop around individuals, but can also develop around hobbies, fashions and/or genres. There are various interests that are common promoters of fandoms, for example, sports like football and various entertainment models like music and dance. In today’s world, these are the most common interests that garner a lot of fans; the activity itself and the individuals involved these activities. Fandoms have also come to be used to refer in a broad spectrum to social networks that have come about due to the advent of technology and social media. Social media like Facebook and Twitter have seen fandoms develop over a number of interests and individuals in an overlapping manner. In this sense, a fandom can be construed to represent people who are in a state of being fans and all that encompasses fan behaviour and culture, and the evaluation, investigation and study that goes into fandoms. Audiences are persons who are available to listen or spectate to an occasion that is graced by their centre of interest. There are many factors that lead people to become members of a fandom, and in this case, this paper is going to evaluate the factors that lead to fandoms associated with television (TV) crime programs. This will be in relation to its effects on empowerment, audience, place, identity, fan communication and culture. The factors that lead people to associate with TV crime programs are numerous and can be viewed from different perspectives depending on the fan(s) involved. Fan(s) are characterized by being enthusiastic followers of an activity like sport or entertainment. They can also be enthusiastic admirers of an individual(s) who represent something they love and respect. Fans involve themselves in various activities that help identify with a certain object or subject of their attention. Some of these activities include fan conventions where fans come together to exchange ideas and experiences that they relate with their subject or object of attention. Communication is vital to this interaction where archiving of detailed information pertaining to their given fan base is concerned. Terminologies have been developed with relation to these activities that fans involve themselves in an effort to form a defining niche that effectively identifies them. Fanzines are newsletters that are published and exchanged amongst fans of a defined fan base, which acts as an updating forum for the members (Thornham & Purvis, 2005:130). These forums can be internet based or in print where regular and up to date information pertaining to the subject of interest is available. Emerging trends that are as a result of the subject’s or objects’ influence are also availed through these forums. Fandoms have also been known to dress in costumes, an act that is called cosplay where fans recite lines of dialogue in-context or out of context as part of group re-enactment (Bignel & Lacey, 2005:106).Fan fiction is another element that is as a result of fandoms that develop around a character of interest, which translates to stories based on these characters’ lives or through direct or indirect inspiration. Fans also engage in activities like creation of fan videos and fan art that is focused on the source of their fandom. These activities are referred to as fan labour or fanac which is an abbreviation of fan activities. The advent of the internet has facilitated faster and easier interaction of fans from a wide range of fan-bases which interact with each other; with critique and praise exchanged in equal measure. The extent or degree of enthusiasm can be to such an extent that it is recognised as fanaticism, and some fandoms have been known contain features of religious faithfulness and cult like associations (Sandvos, Harrington & Gray, 2007: 200). TV crime programs, like TheWire and Criminal Mindshave, have an impact on the lives of the viewers and those that they associate with in their daily lives. Fandoms for these two TV crime programs are found on websites like Tumblr and Twitter where fans share fan art and fan fiction among other activities. For a long time, fandoms have been associated with science fiction and fantasy genres like Harry Potter and The Star Wars, but recent times have seen fandoms expanding into new territories like drama and horror(BIGNEL&LACEY, 2005:138). The Wire is a series on a criminal drama created by American screen writer David Simon, which ran for five seasons between 2002 and 2008 (POTTER & MARSHALL, 2009: 20). The series was centredon the inner city of Baltimore’s drug scene that follows the lives of the city’s law enforcement and drug dealers. The show was aired by Home Box Office (HBO), and during its run, it garnered an extremely active fan base which is still accessible up to today. The development of the show’s fandom was due to the main topic of the show which the fans took up as their issue of discussion in the forums that they formed. The main topic was social injustice and their response to the character Omar little who was an openly gay gangster. This and the issue of social injustices that were portrayed in the show facilitated the development of the HBO forum that was extremely active especially after the death of Omar Little. His conduct in the show generated a lot of interest in the audience, an indication that most people in the audience were intrigued, thus the increase in interest. The subculture portrayed by the show was that of an urban hyper-masculine culture that was in contrast to societal norms. The fandoms that developed from the airing of this show were an illustration of how fandoms attract clashes of opinion and diversity in perception among individuals. Fans in the fandom created in response to The Wire were characterized by their efforts to distinguish themselves from other similar shows that might have addressed the same social injustices and characters in their shows. The fans evaluated all aspects that were the main focus of the show by policing the boundaries the show sought to cross or remain within (Potter & Marshall, 2009: 120). The issues addressed in the show formed a common background onto which the audience was able to relate and identify with in their immediate surroundings. The fandom based on this show can be deemed to have developed due to the common need that the show’s themes elicited in the audience. The themes of economic, social and political change that the show’s themes sought to address brought fans together under a common objective of a desire for change. Criminal Minds was created by Jeff Davis as a crime drama that was aired in the year 2005, and it is based on the lives of seven FBI profiler agents who travel around America profiling and catching criminals (Mariotte, 2010:184). The fandoms generated by this show are different from that of The Wire through the fact that the fans are more involved with the show. The fans have various forums aimed at addressing a wide range of factors in the show. For example, there is a forum that is dedicated to actors and characters in the show, and the lives of real FBI agent profilers and the cases they strive to solve. The level of involvement by this show’s fandom is to such an extent that it prompted the creators to come up with another show that is focused on the same aspects as that of the original show. This is an illustration of the influence that fandoms have on the nature of objects and subjects of their affection. According to Mariotte, fandoms have been documented to have profound effects on the nature of their centres of interest, and led to modification of the objects’ or subjects’ purpose and orientation. Majority of fandoms that develop in response to TV crime programs are of those genres that are based on Science Fiction and Supernatural phenomena. This is an illustration of the audience’s desire for escapism, an aspect that is characterized by people’s need to immerse themselves into their fantasies (CASEY & CALVERT, 2008:239). Fandoms that originate from TV crime programs as a whole, give fans the opportunity to share and converse amongst themselves. They do this by creating role playing games where the fans engage in games that they act like their favourite actors and characters in these programs. The portrayal of real life situations and circumstances in these shows allows the audience to form opinions and freely judge characters with whom they can relate within the shows. This serves to help the audience easily and better understand themselves through associations and relations that they create with characters and actors in crime shows. Crime shows on TV not only portray characters that assume the role of criminal perpetrators, but also portray characters that play the role of victims of these criminal acts. A good example is the fandom for the TV crime series Criminal Minds, where there are forums where victims of actual crimes related to those portrayed by the show come together to share and discuss their experiences. Audiences who become part of fandoms for TV crime programs do so as a way of gaining more knowledge and information with regard to crimes and their various forms. This is an illustration that some part of society that feels that there is a need to give more attention to matters related to crime and its prevention. The audience’s keen and ever increasing interests in fandoms that are associated with crime programs on TV is a clear indication of their concern of matters related to crime. This is because the audience sees joining a fandom as a way of dealing with crime especially where, doing so, means getting information on how these crimes can be prevented and solved. Societies’ inadequacies can be discovered by analysing fandoms that develop around certain issues that are addressed by TV crime programs. The TV series The Wire is a good example of how people become part of an audience for a TV program that addresses issues that they feel and think are not adequately represented in their world. These TV programs are seen as an alternative world or forum through which they can address issues that they term as neglected by the authorities and institutions they have put in place to address such matters (Potter & Marshall, 2009: 89). Audience to TV crime programs is bolstered in populations where people feel insecure and under-protected by institutions that have been tasked with providing security and protection. Crime based TV programs also serve to satisfy the curiosities of their audience regarding issues of interest about crimes and criminals. Some TV crime programs offer some crucial information regarding crime solving techniques employed by law enforcement authorities. The availability of this information on such shows attracts individuals with deviant behaviour and intentions into joining fandoms where they get to interact with others of their orientation. This creates a precedent where there is the formation of alliances among individuals who do not have the best interests of their community at heart. Some portion of fandoms for some crime programs on TV might be inspired by characters in these shows, who deem themselves capable of achieving or carrying out the criminal acts they have seen on TV. There have been documented cases where people have committed criminal acts based on events televised on TV crime programs (Casey & Calvert, 2008: 103). People should be careful when joining fandoms because it is difficult to know the motive, nature, personality and many other aspects about people in fandoms that they ascribe to. This is because there is no way of knowing what drives people to these fandoms and what motivates them join them. People have different reasons for ascribing to fandoms and not all have noble reasons, and especially with continued and increasing use of internet based virtual forums. Virtual forums are convenient because they enable people from different parts of the globe share and engage in activities that would have otherwise been made impossible by geographical barriers and time zones. The revolution of communication by the internet and mobile communication has made fandoms more efficient in terms of relaying information, which facilitates easier and faster interaction between fans. TV crime shows attract audiences because they provide insights into matters that are of primary and direct concern of most individuals in society. When individuals ascribe to fandoms of TV crime programs, they are seeking to identify with aspects portrayed by the characters, actors and themes in the show. Fans offer audience to a crime TV program when they see some association in the characters, actors and themes of the show with a part of their identity. Fandoms attach their identity to these programs because they perceive them as representatives of their real lives or a portrayal of their fantasies (Sandvos, Harrington & Gray, and 2007:109). Relationships that are created and established between two or more individuals in a fandom form an important part of person’s identity. This is because these relations based on similar beliefs or interests can only be found in such fandoms. They offer the fans the opportunity to engage in acts or behaviours that can only be deemed as transgressions by the rest of the society, but are allowed and understood by individuals in the fandoms (Sandvos, Harrington & Gray, 2007:204). Fandoms provide a forum for members through, which they can engage in activities that they believe are vital to their identity and crucial in relation to what matters in their lives. Fandoms offer abstract associations with other fans, which serve to help them develop their sense of self and cultural identity. Some people use various tools and features around them to help them develop a sense of identity for self and their environment. The use of crime TV programs as tools of developing or nurturing an identity can be construed as a therapeutic measure rather than a formative one. This is because more likely than not, crime TV programs offer their audience ways and means of preventing and solving crimes. A victim of crime might ascribe to a fandom of this nature to try and interact with people who fancy these programs in a bid to try and understand them. This might help the victim come to terms with their experience and lead a better life after the incident in their lives. Fandoms serve as empowerment tools for their members because they offer them opportunities to engage in activities that serve to boost their identities as mentioned above, and many other aspects. Fandoms have been expressed as having the power to exert their influence and power on the nature and direction of TV shows as exemplified by the fandoms belonging to the show Criminal Minds. Fandoms enable fans to come together and speak in one voice through which they can address issues that affect and concern their interests. Fandoms have been used by fans to empower themselves in terms of realizing the limits of their fantasies and dreams. Fandoms have been known to be the source of popular social and political movements that seek to advocate for social, economic and political interests in society (Casey & Calvert, 2008: 183). Fandoms have been accredited with fermenting social and political movements in various nations after they were formed in response to a TV program. TV programs like The Wire that address socio-cultural issues like homosexuality and drug related crime saw fandoms coming up to discuss and share their views, ideas and opinions regarding these issues in society.Empowerment through fandoms is seen as an alternative way through which fans are enabled to appreciate their notions of reality and share with other people. Fandoms empower their fans by allowing them to realise and gain an understanding of their self and others through the unique modes of expressions that are availed in their forums. Communication is a vital component in fandoms because it facilitates the exchange of ideas, opinions and views regarding different aspects that concern fans and their interests. Communication enables proper, efficient and effective coordination of fandom activities that work towards in helping fans achieve their goals and satisfy their desires and objectives. Fandoms have been progressively advancing in ways that they conduct their affairs with the advent of more sophisticated communication technologies and gadgets. Technology, and especially the World Wide Web has revolutionised the way that people communicate turning the world into a global village through instant communication (Thornham & Purvis, 2005: 116). This has made it possible for fans to converse with each other and relay real time information including facts and figures as events occur within their centre of interest. Mobile communication devices like mobile phones have changed the way people communicate, with development of unique language patterns that are meaningful to members of a specified fandom. Examples of these unique languages are those used by fans across various social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to covertly converse with each other. These and other features that develop from fandoms have had an impression on society and the world in general because they redefine the way that people conduct their businesses and affairs. Fandoms have a significant influence and impact on the world’s societies because they pose as factors that determine the code of conduct of some members of these societies. It has been established through research on past events that fandoms have the ability to instigate social and political movements in societies. These movements have had positive and negative impacts on the well being of people in these communities. Fandoms in response to TV crime programs are due to societies need to identify with characters and actors they see as representatives of their fantasies and desires in real life. This crime shows amass massive followings from fans that form fandoms where they discuss numerous issues pertaining to the show’s main themes. Crime shows attract fans because some feel the need to acquire information about crime, its prevention and solving. This is because they feel there are inadequate security measures around them to guarantee their safety thus; they take matters into their own hands. Fandoms can be good ways of realising one’s fantasies and desires, but care should be taken to ensure that they join fandoms that constructively benefit them and others. Bibliography Bignell, J. & Lacey, S. (2005).Popular Television Drama: Critical Perspectives. Manchester: Manchester University Press. Casey, B. & Calvert, B. (2008). Television studies: the key concepts. 2nd Revised Edition. London: Routledge. Mariotte, J. (2010). Criminal Minds: Sociopaths, Serial Killers, and Other Deviants. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Potter, T. & Marshall, C.W. (2009).The Wire: Urban Decay and American Television. New York: Continuum International Publishing Group. Sandvos, C., Harrington, C. L & Gray, J. (2007). Fandom: Identities and Communities in a Mediated World. New York: NYU Press. Thornham, S. & Purvis, T. (2005).Television Drama: Theories and Identities. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Read More