What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?

What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?

Hills (2004) suggests in his three definitions that fans do play an important part in the construction of cult t.v. Out of the three definitions he of Cult Television he admits that fans constructing cult TV is the most “plausible and persuasive” he does not seem to agree with it personally.

Hills (2004) describes four ways in which fans construct cult TV.

Firstly, he described how fans organise TV programmes into an intertexual network. This point focuses on media fandom and looks into how shows link into a wider network of popular materials. These include comics, books, and other programmes creating a wider network in which fans have access to.

Secondly, he describes how cult TV fans are generally self-couscous of using the word “cult” when describing these networks.  

Thirdly, he points out that fans organised themselves into “appreciation societies” which are developed to honour a programme as well as provide a medium in which fans can discuss and appreciate their programme of choose with like-minded people. These groups look deeply into programmes and create commentaries and episode guides which may provide details into parts of the show they have missed. Appreciation societies are a stereotype heavily played out by the media. The media often publicise conventions held by these associations to help attract long-time fans as well as new people who may be interested.

The final factor in which fans construct cult TV is the market in which they create for their favourite shows. They create props, toys, costumes and other memorabilia which help to “mass merchandise” the programmes. This is especially effective for programmes which have stopped running e.g Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Fans definitely help create cult TV. They provide an invaluable resource into the shows and are crucial in maintaining the popularity in cult TV.

References

Hills, M. (2004). Defining Cult TV; Texts,

Inter-texts and Fan Audiences, The

Television Studies Reader, in R. C. Allen

& A. Hill. London and New York: