Weeks 10 and 11 – Buffy.
1) Q. Wilcox and Lavery
(2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of 'quality TV' - can you apply any
of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there
any other characteristics that you could add to their list?
2) What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans
play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?
3) Hills (2004)
lists a number of defining characteristics of cult TV that contain similarities
to the defining characteristics of pop genres (e.g. fantasy, science fiction)
discussed earlier in the Pop Genres paper. Can you identify these and discuss
why you think that these characteristics are repeatedly viewed as underpinning
popular genres?
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ReplyDeleteWhat role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?
ReplyDeleteWhat is Cult TV?
‘Cult’ by definition is set apart from the mainstream. Cult TV programs are shows with a small and dedicated audience. Cult TV shows are often objects of special devotion, it is often distinguished by its high style, its innovative, non-mainstream subject matter (going against the norms such as having a female lead who is strong and independent) and uncompromising political stance (Lewis and Stempel, 1996)
What roles do fans play in the construction of cult TV?
According to Matt Hills (2004), fans play a crucial role in the construction of cult television. He indicated that cult TV is “created by fans rather than media producers”, this means that fans are the ones responsible for keeping as program running.
For example, most Cult TV programs such as ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, often succeeds after a troubled start because of the campaigns by devoted and loyal fans, without the fans, there would be no show. This means that the fans are the ones who have the power in regards to whether the show would continue or not.
I am not dismissing the media producers or creators because without them there would be no show, however, I think it’s the fans plays a significant role in giving a show its ‘cult’ status as they are the ones who create the fandom or ‘fan culture’ that supports the TV show and its creators.
How is new media central to this?
Fans use new media as an interactive tool to communicate, share and connect to other people. Hills (2004) mentioned that fans organised themselves socially into ‘Appreciation Societies’, which is a convention where fans can gather and share their interests. New media has given fans the ability to share their commentaries, fan fiction, episode guides and production histories to the fandom community via online.
According to Hills (2004), new media has impacted the formation of cult shows as it makes it easier for fans to contact other like-minded devotees and “the web increases the possibility of small-scale fandoms emerging around a variety of TV shows.” In summation, new media is a both a gateway and a tool for fans to participate in fan culture as it engages them more in their fandom societies.
References:
Hills, M. (2004). Defining Cult TV; Texts, Intertexts and Fan Audiences, The Television Studies Reader, in R. C. Allen & A. Hill. London and New York: Routledge.
Lewis, J. E., & Stempel, P. (1996). WHAT IS CULT TV? Retrieved from http://www.culttv.plus.com/whatis.html
https://www.amazon.com/Cult-TV-Essential-Critical-Guide/dp/1857930533
Good comment. This sentence: "however, I think it’s the fans plays a significant role in giving a show its ‘cult’ status as they are the ones who create the fandom or ‘fan culture’ that supports the TV show and its creator,"should not be a speculation (I think....) but based on evidence.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete1) Q. Wilcox and Lavery (2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of 'quality TV' - can you apply any of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there any other characteristics that you could add to their list?
ReplyDeleteQ. Wilcox and Lavery (2002) list of ‘what makes a quality TV show’ is as follows
1. “Quality TV usually has a quality pedigree”
2. “Desirable demographics notwithstanding, quality shows must often undergo a noble struggle against profit-mongering networks and non-appreciative audiences.”
3. “Quality TV tends to have a large ensemble cast”
4. “Quality tv has a memory”
5. “Quality tv creates a new genre by mixing old ones.”
6. “Quality tv tends to be literary and writer-based.”
7. “Quality tv is self-conscious.”
8. “The subject matter of quality TV tends towards the controversial.”
9. “Quality tv aspires toward realism’”
I believe that a few shows that I watch on a regular basis and have watched in the past adhere to the things mentioned on this list.
For example;
1. Game of Thrones; it has a large ensemble cast, that is one of the aspects of the show that it is known for, even though I have only watched the first season and it took me a bit to get into it, the main reason it held my interest is because it has various and great storylines.
2. West World, this is HBO’s new ‘it’ show, in my opinion. I have only watched 3 episodes and I am hooked, the main reason is because it shows the robot ‘hosts’ in the (theme) park remembering things that have happened to them in the past as well as some of them have nightmares and they see themselves being tortured by their creators or workers in the parks ‘behind the scenes’ area.
3. Once Upon A Time. I have been an ‘hard out’ fan of OUAT since it came out in late September in 2011, and I’ve watched every episode -(except for 3 in the current season). Now in it’s 6th season I am amazed at how it has progressed. I think it’s mash-up of the genres fantasy, drama, adventure fiction and mystery is a superb mix and that has birthed something new.
4. How To Get Away with Murder. This show is another I have watched since it came out and I’m a big fan of it. I believe that it has some very controversial aspects about it and I’m sure that is what has kept me hooked on it over the years. For example; how often do you a black woman as one of the lead roles on a show? (rhetorical question) also there’s another lead role played by a black male. Not just that but there’s also a gay character on the show, and the way the actor who plays that character is portrayed is very well done. Also the way he kisses his partner in the series is very believable, unlike when a straight actor kisses another straight actor on screen, or how a straight actor would kiss a gay actor, it’s like they’re just ‘mashing faces’ there’s no intimacy or realness whatsoever.
References:
Wilcox, V. R., Lavery D. (2002). Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Quality Television. Taken from weeks 9-10 course reader.
Lawson. R. (2014, October 16). Is how to get away with murder the most progressive show on television? [Web blog post]
Hi Vanessa,
DeleteI agree that a show like Game Of Thrones can be classed as 'quality tv' as it conforms to the Wilcox and Lavery statements. One thing I have noticed is that the shows most people view as 'quality tv' are shows that have a large cast of well developed support characters that can drive storylines themselves.
2) What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?
ReplyDeleteCult TV is composed of text itself, inter-text and audience. According to Hills (2004), “a group of texts, often hailing from the genres of science fiction, fantasy and horror” (p.509). However, it is evident that fans are the most important factor to construct cult TV.
Fans are essential part to build their own intertextual network, which sustains the popularity of cult TV, even if TV is over. If a show wants to be a substantial influencer to people’s lives, intense fandom should be needed.
The intertextual network is the place where cult TV fans discuss and share their opinions one other freely. Those fans described themselves with using the word “cult”, and that word defined those kind of intertextual networks as well. Thanks to development of technology, it is easy to create a network widely through the social medias, and communicate with various people without considering the difference of race, nationality, and culture.
“Fans arguably create cult status in a number of ways” (Hills, 2004, p.518) and fans of cult TV help indeed developing and producing the “cult”.
I’d like to say that if there were no audience, the TV show wouldn’t stay longer and be fade away no matter how good story it has.
Reference
Hills, M. (2004) Defining Cult TV; Texts, Inter-Texts, and Fan Audiences, The Television Studies Reader. In R.C. Allen and A Hill. London and New York. Routledge.
Wilcox and Lavery (2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of 'quality TV' - can you apply any of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there any other characteristics that you could add to their list?
ReplyDeleteWilcox and Lavery identified in their 2002 book “Fighting the Forces: What's at Stake in Buffy the Vampire Slayer” 9 characteristics that they believe make a television show “quality television”. The 9 statements that they made are as followed:
1. “Quality TV usually has a quality pedigree.”
2. “Desirable demographics notwithstanding, quality shows must often undergo a noble struggle against profit mongering networks and non-appreciative audiences.
3. “Quality TV tends to have a large ensemble cast.”
4. “Quality TV has a memory.”
5. “Quality TV creates a new genre by mixing old ones.”
6. “Quality TV tends to be literary and writer-based.”
7. “Quality TV is self-conscious.”
8. “The subject matter of quality TV tends toward the controversial.
9. “Quality TV aspires toward ‘realism’.”
One of my favourite television series is a British cult tv show called ‘Peep Show’. All 9 of the statements by Wilcox and Lavery apply to this show in many ways.
1. The show is well respected by many in the British comedy industry
2. While never reaching huge rating and faced getting faced with a potential cancelation after season 3, peep shows DVD sales and strong fan base allowed it to keep going and has achieved cult status in television.
3. Peep Show has a large cast of characters that help drive the storylines. Many of the supporting characters are well developed and as important to the show as the lead.
4. The show is filmed chronologically so all the events that happened are remembered and play a part in the characters future decisions.
5. Peep Show is unique in the way it is filmed by being shot entirely from POV (point of view)
6. Peep Show is a very well written show with many dark jokes and dark subjects
7. Peep Show is self conscious in the way that the characters are constantly talking to the audience (as a voice inside their head).
8. Many of the themes in Peep Show are controversial such as drug use, questioning sexuality, racism and touching on many taboo subjects and situations.
9. Peep Show is set to be as realistic as possible and the premise of the show is to be about people’s everyday life from the perspective of average people.
References:
Wilcox, R., & Lavery, D. (2002). Fighting the forces: What's at stake in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.