Comments on: On the Structure of Genre TV, Part 2 http://se4n.org/2007/03/14/on-the-structure-of-genre-tv-part-2/ The website and blog of Sean C. Duncan. Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:02:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: sean http://se4n.org/2007/03/14/on-the-structure-of-genre-tv-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-10 sean Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:25:26 +0000 http://se4n.org/2007/03/14/on-the-structure-of-genre-tv-part-2/#comment-10 Oh, I think that's a fantastic comment -- the immediacy of Internet forums for discussing this kind of stuff certainly seems important. Plus, the physical form of mimeographed zines in the 1970s are quite different the ephemeral nature of message boards (or at least potentially impermanent nature). So, this begs a question: Controlling for the medium type (say, just Internet message boards), I'd argue that there'd be a different set of theorizing vs. fiction online for TV shows that followed more episodic structures than shows like Lost and Heroes. Which seems to have some intuitive validity to it -- shows with more "space" for fan fiction and less of an overarching puzzle nature (<i>Buffy</i> or the new <i>Doctor Who</i>, for example) would presumably have more fanfic and less fan theorizing. I suppose I still see a trade-off based on the narrative structure. Oh, I think that’s a fantastic comment — the immediacy of Internet forums for discussing this kind of stuff certainly seems important. Plus, the physical form of mimeographed zines in the 1970s are quite different the ephemeral nature of message boards (or at least potentially impermanent nature).

So, this begs a question: Controlling for the medium type (say, just Internet message boards), I’d argue that there’d be a different set of theorizing vs. fiction online for TV shows that followed more episodic structures than shows like Lost and Heroes. Which seems to have some intuitive validity to it — shows with more “space” for fan fiction and less of an overarching puzzle nature (Buffy or the new Doctor Who, for example) would presumably have more fanfic and less fan theorizing.

I suppose I still see a trade-off based on the narrative structure.

]]> By: matt http://se4n.org/2007/03/14/on-the-structure-of-genre-tv-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-9 matt Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:10:48 +0000 http://se4n.org/2007/03/14/on-the-structure-of-genre-tv-part-2/#comment-9 How much of this is a timescale difference as well? I feel like fanfic is being produced on a smaller scale today than in the past - though this is pure conjecture on my part. While I agree that the structure of the shows probably plays a role in the way fans approach it in their attempts to take some possession of the material, I feel like the technology might be playing some role here too - the rise of easily accessible message boards and forums (though BBSs and the like were around, the were nowhere near as accessible to say, a 40 year old housewife as modern forums) may influence the way the show's community approachs it. Of course, this is all pure conjecture and nothing more. How much of this is a timescale difference as well? I feel like fanfic is being produced on a smaller scale today than in the past – though this is pure conjecture on my part. While I agree that the structure of the shows probably plays a role in the way fans approach it in their attempts to take some possession of the material, I feel like the technology might be playing some role here too – the rise of easily accessible message boards and forums (though BBSs and the like were around, the were nowhere near as accessible to say, a 40 year old housewife as modern forums) may influence the way the show’s community approachs it.

Of course, this is all pure conjecture and nothing more.

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