When social subject is not enough: Specifics of social communication and fan activities in virtual Buffy community

KRÁTKÁ, Jana and Patrik VACEK. When social subject is not enough: Specifics of social communication and fan activities in virtual Buffy community. In 6th International Conference Cyberspace. 2008.

Basic information

• Original name: When social subject is not enough: Specifics of social communication and fan activities in virtual Buffy community
• Name (in English): When social subject is not enough: Specifics of social communication and fan activities in virtual Buffy community
• Authors: KRÁTKÁ, Jana and Patrik VACEK.
• Edition: 6th International Conference Cyberspace, 2008.

Other information

• Original language: Czech
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: 50300 5.3 Education
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• Organization unit: Faculty of Education
• Tags: International impact

Abstract

Internet is a place, where (not only) fans can come along and discuss the show without the fear of being ridiculed with reactions or misunderstanding, and a place, where fans routinely analyze and comment the text in terms of their knowledge of media product style, genre and production. Furthermore, virtual community promotes any presentation of fan activities. Due to the possibility of instant presentation of fans creative efforts through Internet and the fact that somewhere in the world there can be a fan who wants to distribute unique content and at a far different and distant place there is someone else who wants to read it, the system works perfectly. This is possible just because of the virtual world where everyone has almost unlimited access to the means of creative production and cosumption and and the existing networks only support this form of exchange. This article is going to present the case study of Czech virtual fan community of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on both subjects mentioned: fan activities and social specifications of Buffy virtual community. And although Henry Jenkins increasingly doubts the possibility to differentiate fans and spectators, this case study will demostrate the way how to differentiate and define nowadays fan and false fan – who is likely to be believed himself/herself in their fandom; the way in which we have to move our attention from social subject to fan activities.

Abstract (in English)

Internet is a place, where (not only) fans can come along and discuss the show without the fear of being ridiculed with reactions or misunderstanding, and a place, where fans routinely analyze and comment the text in terms of their knowledge of media product style, genre and production. Furthermore, virtual community promotes any presentation of fan activities. Due to the possibility of instant presentation of fans creative efforts through Internet and the fact that somewhere in the world there can be a fan who wants to distribute unique content and at a far different and distant place there is someone else who wants to read it, the system works perfectly. This is possible just because of the virtual world where everyone has almost unlimited access to the means of creative production and cosumption and and the existing networks only support this form of exchange. This article is going to present the case study of Czech virtual fan community of Buffy the Vampire Slayer on both subjects mentioned: fan activities and social specifications of Buffy virtual community. And although Henry Jenkins increasingly doubts the possibility to differentiate fans and spectators, this case study will demostrate the way how to differentiate and define nowadays fan and false fan – who is likely to be believed himself/herself in their fandom; the way in which we have to move our attention from social subject to fan activities.

Links

• GP406/08/P176, research and development project: Name: Vzory pohyblivého obrazu: recepce filmu a audiovizuální kultury u současné české mládeže

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Patterns of Moving Images: Film and Audiovisual Reception Among Contemporary Czech Young People