Journal Post #4

This journal post addresses the question asked in week 6’s lecture:

Have ‘fannish modes of engagement’ become mainstream in contemporary television culture?”

I think it has become mainstream, but it is not at all a bad thing in my opinion. I think the line between knowledge culture and fan culture are becoming thinner as technology becomes more advanced especially in terms of the internet. While there are still sites that are dedicated purely to the notion of fandom It is much easier now for people to get educated with a particular show that they love because of how easy it is to access information about them in the internet. The internet has become a new knowledge space accessible by anyone with an internet connection.

With the availability of sites such as Reddit, an entertainment, social networking service and news website where registered community members can submit content, such as text posts or direct links, fans are able to discuss theories and facts about the show they follow by creating a specialised section in the website called “subreddits” that are dedicated to that particular show.  –

Subreddit dedicated to the show ‘True Blood’.

Through this medium where knowledge culture meets fan culture, individuals  demonstrate their competency of their knowledge on these shows by  contributing the the “threads” started by other fans of the show. A particular thread may start off with a topic on fan-based theories, and fans get to demonstrate their grasp on the elements of the show by presenting their own theories based on the ques that they have observed from either the show’s plot, or its mise-en-scene.

On the surface, these simple threads may appear as nothing more than an act of fandom. But in actual fact they are much more than that. In this particular thread, fans discussed on the whole issue on True Blood losing the qualities of Quality TV. It is a good example of fans coming together and using their knowledge to discuss on the topic. With threads like this, less knowledgeable fans are able to learn more about the show simply by scrolling through the hundreds of comments and opinions posted by other members. On top of that, these threads are way more relatable to less cultured fans compared to reading through an entire academic article. Thus creating a much simpler and understandable knowledge space, but at the same time maintaining an adequate form of literacy. Nevertheless, this site caters to fandom as well. For example, this thread shows a fan using photoshop to give others a glimpse of what it would look like should the show’s plot go a certain direction. But this is a lighthearted act of fandom compared to other more fan-dedicated websites that has contents like fan-made fiction, fan-made art and so on.

Fannish modes of engagement have become mainstream not because knowledge culture are fading, in fact it is because knowledge culture are being more and more integrated with the internet with the existence of things like subreddits and discussion threads. Of course if cultured fans want to differentiate themselves from the non-cultured, that world still exists; likewise for fans purely dedicated to fandom. But this integration means there is now a common ground for both cultures to engage with each other. Non-cultured fans can be educated about the show from cultured fans; whereas cultured fans are able to enjoy casual and creative contents that are made for fandom. Now fans can get the best of both worlds.