Speculation on Spoilers: LOST Fandom, Narrative Consumption & Rethinking Textuality

Loading...

Flash Player 9 (or above) is needed to view presentations.
We have detected that you do not have it on your computer. To install it, go here.

0 comments

Post a comment

    Post a comment
    Embed Video
    Edit your comment Cancel

    Favorites, Groups & Events

    Speculation on Spoilers: LOST Fandom, Narrative Consumption & Rethinking Textuality - Presentation Transcript

    1. Speculation on Spoilers: Lost Fandom, Narrative Consumption, & Rethinking Textuality Jonathan Gray & Jason Mittell forthcoming in http://participations.org
    2. Key question: Why do fans read spoilers?
    3. Key question: Why do fans read spoilers? Conducted online qualitative survey in May 2006 Solicited on fan boards & email list 179 completed surveys - 150 “spoiler fans”
    4. Extra-Textual Pleasures
    5. Extra-Textual Pleasures • Spoiler fans consume spoilers as a game in and of itself, a contest between fans and producers
    6. Extra-Textual Pleasures • Spoiler fans consume spoilers as a game in and of itself, a contest between fans and producers • Not substantiated by survey
    7. Extra-Textual Pleasures
    8. Extra-Textual Pleasures • Spoiler fans are anti-fans, resisting the pleasures of the text in an oppositional manner
    9. Extra-Textual Pleasures • Spoiler fans are anti-fans, resisting the pleasures of the text in an oppositional manner • Not substantiated by survey
    10. Extra-Textual Pleasures
    11. Extra-Textual Pleasures • Spoiler fans seek the communal relations of the spoiler-circulating community
    12. Extra-Textual Pleasures • Spoiler fans seek the communal relations of the spoiler-circulating community • Relevant, but not primary motive
    13. Extra-Textual Pleasures
    14. Extra-Textual Pleasures • Spoiler fans regard the spoilers themselves as enjoyable texts to be studied and parsed
    15. Extra-Textual Pleasures • Spoiler fans regard the spoilers themselves as enjoyable texts to be studied and parsed • Looking for “foilers” is pleasurable, extending paratexts beyond weekly episode
    16. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story
    17. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story • Spoiler fans seek pleasure & comfort of the known, enabling enjoyment of familiar text on first viewing
    18. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story • Spoiler fans seek pleasure & comfort of the known, enabling enjoyment of familiar text on first viewing • Tempered by regret; rereading aesthetic
    19. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story
    20. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story • Spoiler fans see plot revelations & suspense as minor pleasures, obscuring more enjoyable textual qualities such as narrative mechanics, romance, & production values
    21. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story • Spoiler fans see plot revelations & suspense as minor pleasures, obscuring more enjoyable textual qualities such as narrative mechanics, romance, & production values • Suspense & mystery still central; operational aesthetic
    22. Reasons to Primary Reason to Pleasures of Spoiler Fans (n=150) Watch Watch I want to discover the answers to the island's mysteries 91% 28% I enjoy the suspenseful plot 90% 24% The show surprises me 77% 1% The show is unlike anything else on the air 75% 9% I find it exciting 71% 3% I enjoy the innovative way the show tells its story 68% 9% I am interested in the philosophical issues raised by the show 60% 5% I like to discuss the show on websites or with people I know 59% 1% I find some of the actors attractive 54% 0% I want to solve the show's puzzles before they are answered 51% 3% I am impressed by the show's production values 43% 1% I am invested in the relationships that exist or that could form 38% 4% between characters The show makes me laugh 37% 0% It's a ritual that I watch with friends or family 33% 5% It reminds me of playing a game 31% 1% I find the show to be a good distraction from my own life 31% 1% I want to see the characters escape the island 22% 1% I want to be able to relate to other people I know who watch it 21% 0% I find it scary 18% 0% The show makes me cry 13% 0% The show reminds me of other programs I enjoy 10% 0% It teaches me something useful about the world 9% 0% Other (please specify) 2% 3%
    23. Most significant pleasures (more than 2/3 responding) • I want to discover the answers to the island's mysteries • I enjoy the suspenseful plot • The show surprises me • The show is unlike anything else on the air • I find it exciting • I enjoy the innovative way the show tells its story
    24. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story
    25. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story • Spoiler fans view Lost’s narrative practices differently from traditional stories, using spoilers to participate in a puzzle-solving quest
    26. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story • Spoiler fans view Lost’s narrative practices differently from traditional stories, using spoilers to participate in a puzzle-solving quest • Spoilers as additional clues to be discovered within game logic; adding to & extending mysteries
    27. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story
    28. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story • Spoiler fans take control of their emotional responses and pleasures of anticipation, experiencing suspense on viewers’ not creators’ terms
    29. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story • Spoiler fans take control of their emotional responses and pleasures of anticipation, experiencing suspense on viewers’ not creators’ terms • Heighten suspense & anticipation; reduced surprise & curiosity; strategy for managing serial form
    30. Pleasures of the Spoiled Story • Spoiler fans take control of their emotional responses and pleasures of anticipation, experiencing suspense on viewers’ not creators’ terms • Heighten suspense & anticipation; reduced surprise & curiosity; strategy for managing serial form • Continued on http://justtv.wordpress.com

    + Jason MittellJason Mittell, 3 years ago

    custom

    1625 views, 0 favs, 1 embeds more stats

    Presentation for MIT5 Conference, paper written by more

    More info about this document

    CC Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike LicenseCC Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike LicenseCC Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License

    Go to text version

    • Total Views 1625
      • 1623 on SlideShare
      • 2 from embeds
    • Comments 0
    • Favorites 0
    • Downloads 54
    Most viewed embeds
    • 2 views on http://justtv.wordpress.com

    more

    All embeds
    • 2 views on http://justtv.wordpress.com

    less

    Flagged as inappropriate Flag as inappropriate
    Flag as inappropriate

    Select your reason for flagging this presentation as inappropriate. If needed, use the feedback form to let us know more details.

    Cancel
    File a copyright complaint
    Having problems? Go to our helpdesk?

    Categories