Henry Jenkins - fandom blog tasks

 Factsheet #107 - Fandom

Read Media Factsheet #107 on Fandom. Use our Media Factsheet archive on the M: drive Media Shared (M:\Resources\A Level\Media Factsheets) or log into your Greenford Google account to access the link. Read the whole of Factsheet and answer the following questions:

1) What is the definition of a fan?

A person with an extreme and uncritical enthusiasm or zeal - shortened to fan.

2) What the different types of fan identified in the factsheet?

Hardcore/true fan, newbie and and an anti-fan.

3) What makes a ‘fandom’?

Fandoms are subcultures within which fans experience and share a sense of camaraderie with each other and engage in particular practices of their given fandom.

4) What is Bordieu’s argument regarding the ‘cultural capital’ of fandom?

 Bourdieu defined cultural capital as familiarity with the legitimate culture within a society.

5) What examples of fandom are provided on pages 2 and 3 of the factsheet?

Fandom of Sherlock Holmes (a fictional detective) and Liverpool football club.

6) Why is imaginative extension and text creation a vital part of digital fandom?

It allows for audiences to express there creativity and it allows for personal communications.

Henry Jenkins - degree-level reading

Read the final chapter of ‘Fandom’ – written by Henry Jenkins (note: link may be blocked in school - try this Google Drive link if you need it.) This will give you an excellent introduction to the level of reading required for seminars and essays at university as well as degree-level insight into our current work on fandom and participatory culture. Answer the following questions:

1) There is an important quote on the first page: “It’s not an audience, it’s a community”. What does this mean?

That the audiences have relationships as they converse and often relate to each other which allows for them to feel as if they are a part of a community.

2) Jenkins quotes Clay Shirky in the second page of the chapter. Pick out a single sentence of the extended quote that you think is particularly relevant to our work on participatory culture and the ‘end of audience’ (clue – look towards the end!)

In the age of the internet, no one is a passive consumer anymore because everyone is a media

outlet.

3) What are the different names Jenkins discusses for these active consumers that are replacing the traditional audience?

Prosumers that spread, react to and discuss media produce.

4) On the third page of the chapter, what does Wired editor Chris Anderson suggest regarding the economic argument in favour of fan communities?

That fans have adapted to becoming promoters and curators of the media which may also be beneficial for media outlets also as engagement causes increased revenue.

5) What examples does Jenkins provide to argue that fan culture has gone mainstream?

Contemporary creative economy—sports, soap operas, the literary canon.

6) Look at the quote from Andrew Blau in which he discusses the importance of grassroots creativity. Pick out a sentence from the longer quote and decide whether you agree that audiences will ‘reshape the media landscape from the bottom up’.

" The media landscape will be reshaped by the bottom-up energy of media

created by amateurs and hobbyists as a matter of course."

I agree as audiences now have control of the success of media produce.

7) What does Jenkins suggest the new ideal consumer is?

Active consumers that discuss and engage in the products.

8) Why is fandom 'the future'?

Because they lead the way to success for media outlets.

9) What does it mean when Jenkins says we shouldn’t celebrate ‘a process that commodifies fan cultural production’?

He is trying to indicate that fans respect should be maintained and valued and they shouldn't be used for just success for media outlets.

10) Read through to the end of the chapter. What do you think the future of fandom is? Are we all fans now? Is fandom mainstream or are real fan communities still an example of a niche media audience?

I believe fans are adapting and become more active as well as establishing itself as mainstream.