When I first thought about what I would try to find about fandom for this week, a couple things popped into my mind. First, I thought about the Harry Potter series and how big it has gotten. When you go see a new movie, half the people are dressed up as characters. Then, I thought about Avatar, because we were discussing in class how many people wish it was real, and it makes them depressed to know it’s not. Then I remembered something that was more recent than Harry Potter or even Avatar, which is the Twilight phenomenon.
I feel like this series took off so fast, and became something more than just a book or just a movie. This turned into a true phenomenon that swept the globe, and I started to wonder why this happened. Personally, I find the series too fluffy, and I enjoy Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse series (what True Blood is based off of) way more than Twilight because it offers more to the reader: romance, violence, mystery, and science fiction. Why, then, did the Twilight series take off in whirlwind more so than True Blood? When I started the reading for this week, I began to get an idea of why this was. Chapter 29 of the McQuail’s Reader is centered on this notion of the “ideal romance.” Much of what was described can be linked directly to Twilight, as well as what I have heard others say they like about the series. Often the reader/viewer is female, and has gone through some event in her life that she can relate back to the series in some way. This drives the need to keep watching/reading to see where the heroine in the book ends up, which is usually in love at the end, and they begin to want to live vicariously through the character and their dramatized, but ultimately successful, love story. McQuail’s Reader goes as far to say “…the romance functions always as a utopian wish-fulfillment fantasy through which women try to imagine themselves as they often are not in day-to-day existence, that is, as happy and content (319).”
This was also discussed in chapter 32 of McQuail, which tries to explain the phenomenon of fandom. What stuck out to me was the idea that fandom was actually a “…psychological compensation, an attempt to make up for all that modern life lacks (347).” This not only plays into the idea that women are putting themselves into the romance because they have suffered heartache or are having romance trouble in their own lives, but also what was mentioned before about the movie Avatar, and that excessive fans of it wish that all of that actually existed. I then went on to read about romance novel research in Mass Communication Theory, and it was interesting to see what they had found out. In traditional romance novels, there is the patriarchal element that shows society as male-dominated, where they are strong and heroic, and it is accepted as the natural order of things. What was surprising about the research was that the women participating preferred male characters who fulfilled this traditional role but also had feminine traits, such as gentleness. Does this remind you of anything? Edward Cullen in the Twilight series is a vampire, and it is often mentioned how dangerous he is and how much damage he could do physically. However, this being a love story, he is head over heels for Bella and it is said it takes a lot of strength to be as gentle as he is. He has that strong heroic quality but when he is with Bella he is as thoughtful and gentle as can be, and that’s what I think fans love so much.
I found an article in the LA Times that was shocking but not very surprising. A 31 year old woman became so infatuated with the Twilight series that it almost destroyed her marriage. She not only became obsessed with the story, re-reading chapters all the time, but with the relationships of the actors themselves. I think that it makes the fandom worse when the real life actors are seemingly acting out the story of their characters as it makes it harder for people to separate reality and fantasy. This woman would stay up all night chatting about the book, the movies, and the juicy gossip surrounding all of it with other die-hard fans. This practically took over her life, and her husband started to not only be concerned of what it was doing to her mentally, but also that he was about to be forgotten completely. What made her realize what she was doing to her life was when her husband finally said he felt she loved Twilight more than him. She realized she was destroying her real life relationship with someone who truly loved her, she might be a fan of the serious but she did not need to live vicariously through it. Others are not so lucky and are stuck in the whirlwind fixation. What are your thoughts on the fandom portrayed in the article? When do you think fandom becomes a serious issue? Is excessive fandom always a problem, or are there beneficial social aspects?
Article:
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/27/entertainment/la-ca-twilight-addiction-20100627
Fandom can be a serious problem if people get carried away. In the McQuail reading, it stated that “The obsessed loner is the image of the isolated, alienated mass man. He or she is cut off from family, friends, and community. His or her life becomes increasingly dominated by an irrational fixation on a celebrity figure.” From the article Michelle found, the woman in the article clearly has these symptoms from her Twilight obsession. She isolates herself from her friends and family, and seems to only want to make connections with other fans online. It is unfortunate that the woman in the article was faced with losing her marriage as a result of her fandom, and I bet she’s not the only person in the world who has ruined relationships because of a fixation on something from the media. I remember reading articles or hearing stories on E! News about fans wanting to get plastic surgery to look like a specific celebrity. They thought that their boyfriends would love them more, or that they would be considered beautiful if they did it. It’s scary how influential the media can be, and how far people are willing to take their status of being a loyal fan. I believe that when fandom starts to ruin relationships in your life or encourages you to take drastic measures to alter yourself, that is when it has gone too far.
ReplyDeleteIn the Baran and Davis reading, they say that “The most prominent method used to cultivate images is image advertising in which easily recognizable, visually compelling images and presented. Relationships are implied.” I have noticed that when the media shows advertising for specific movies or celebrities, they sometimes show clips of crowds of crazed fans. It makes me wonder if they do it on purpose to show that fans are supposed to act that way, or that it is normal. And it’s interesting how the media portrays the series as The Twilight Phenomenon. With technology expanding and having the internet allow people to gain access to endless websites or blogs, people can constantly satisfy their need to stay updated about a celebrity. Fans have more ways to express their love for a celebrity than ever, and can connect with others who share the same interests. They never have to feel alone or be ashamed about their obsession when it seems so normal.
I completely agree with Michelle’s thoughts on the Twilight fanatics. I read the first Twilight book over three years ago; before all of the hype and hysteria. To be honest, I found the writing to be dull and drawn out to the point of boring. The story was not very stimulating and I found Bella to be extremely irritating. Needless to say, I haven’t picked up the book or the sequels since. I avoided the movie adaptations at all costs, but one day I found myself giving into my curiosity of what all the fuss was about. At the time, it had been on TV nonstop and I had nothing better to do. The verdict: I thoroughly enjoyed the way the movie was made with regard to the lighting and the ambiance that it had, but honestly, the acting was horrific and the dialogue was laughable. And then one day, I stumbled upon the video posted below. It is a little lengthy, but it embodies the complete silliness of Edward and I think it’s hysterical.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZwM3GvaTRM
As for Jensen’s article from the McQuail reader, I believe that the Twilight fanbase has fans that fall under the categories she listed. “Fandom, however, is seen as a risky, even dangerous, compensatory mechanism…there is a thin line between ‘normal’ and excessive fandom. This line is crossed if and when the distinctions between reality and fantasy break down.” It is common knowledge that there are fans that fall under this excessive category whose ages range from tween to middle-aged. I think about the Burger King commercials that aired promoting “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob” cups which showed all types of people fighting between Jacob and Edward.
While reading the material from Baran and Davis, one of the first points made caught my attention and directly relates to the relationship between Edward and Bella. “Men are routinely presented as strong, aggressive, and heroic, whereas women are weak, passive, and dependant. Women must gain their identity through their association with a male character.” I believe that quote embodies both Bella and Edward. Fans of Twilight swoon because they want an Edward to take care of them and save their lives in a dramatic scene. They crave to be protected and fawned over.
To answer Michelle’s closing questions, I believe that Jensen’s description of extreme fans are accurate, but do not apply to all fans. Fandom does not equate derangement or obsession. But there are, however, plenty of fans that fit that description. I once read an article that described the story of how a woman divorced her husband because he spent so much of his time playing Worlds of Warcraft. There is a line between healthy and unhealthy fandom. If something dramatically interferes with your life and consumes the majority of your free time, there is a problem. If a fan has difficulty deciphering the difference between fiction and reality, it has gone too far. To a certain point, there can be positive aspects to fandom; for example, bonding, making friends, being social, and enjoying something that makes you happy. But again, there is a line between healthy and going too far.
When it comes to reading works of fiction, I think one of the main uses people find for reading them is this notion of ‘escaping reality.’ If you add in supernatural aspects and fantasy, it just takes this notion that much further. This is why I think Twilight has become such a success and is gratifying for so many people-especially women like you mentioned. In terms of fans, I think the Twilight series is the perfect example of the elements of fandom described in the reading this week.
ReplyDeleteEspecially for females, part of the whole attraction to this series and its’ characters is this almost forbidden attraction, and the idea of a love that conquers all. The relationship between Edward and Bella throughout the series is something that most girls and women wish they could achieve in their everyday lives; something they wish they could make a reality. I think this idea is shown within Janice Radway’s research within the Baran and Davis chapter 9 when she stated that, “..romance reading could be interpreted as a form of passive resistance against male-dominated culture” (248). Fans of the series are in some cases literally escaping from the type of society we live in, and entering into the fictional world of the book. By becoming engrossed in the story, where like you stated Edward has both “masculine and feminine traits” (248), women are, in a way, taking a stand against the norms in our society and embracing the ones created within the stories.
I think the fact that this series has gotten such a huge following of ‘Twihards” just shows how powerful not only certain media can be, but how powerful of a concept fandom really is- and this series has such a range of fandom. There’s not only the people showing up to midnight showings of the movie wearing fangs, but people wearing shirts that say “Team Edward” and “Team Jacob” to show which character for Bella they like better.- which to me are cases where such devotion is okay. I think the article you found is a perfect example of one of the more extreme ways to which fans of the book express their love for the series. I think most of us, and most fans of the series, can be a genuine fan of Stephanie Meyer’s work, and not take it to such an extreme and almost worrisome level like the woman in your article did; I think most of us can make the distinction between reality and fantasy. This is something emulated by Radway in the McQuail reader chapter 29 where its stated that, “In the safe realm of the imaginary, then, the romance reader is allowed to indulge in the expression of very real fears that she is permitted to control simultaneously by overruling them with the voice of her greater knowledge” (315). I think this is the main point when determining if and when fandom becomes the serious issue and it relies on whether we let our greater knowledge overrule the ‘escapism’ aspect of it.
I don't know if it's possible for excessive fandom to be beneficial. It seems like the nature of the term is detrimental; in the McQuail text, Jensen refers to the inadequate fan as "someone who is making up for some inherent lack." She says that certain fans seek to make up for this lack through the use of celebrity and idol worship. Before Jensen defines this term, however, she brings up the idea of deviancy and the lack of self-worth that is possessed by fans, fanatics, and deviants alike. It seems like there is a pretty fine line between all three terms, especially the last two. Are fanatics just deviants that don’t cross that final line into the extreme? Is it even possible to use that extreme for good? My gut reaction is to say that no, it isn’t possible. I don’t think anyone who obsesses over something fictional or unattainable to the point that they let it interfere with their daily life doesn’t possess the ability or willpower to use that force for anything positive.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I guess it’s all in the context. Another part of Jensen’s text that stuck with me was on page 349 when she brings up trout fishermen. A fisherman can let fishing eat up all of his time, money, and energy and can upset his wife to the point of divorce by never being around the house and always fishing. It can be a tragic, upsetting tale, but when looked at from a distance, the idea of a man ruining his life by fishing seems a bit silly. The idea of a woman letting fictional characters in a book series ruin her marriage seems crazier still. However, is one any more valid than the other? One could argue that fishing achieves a tangible goal of catching a fish, but when you boil things down to their purest essence, are not both parties allowing their lives to be dominated by an outside force that fills whatever void they lack in their life?
Perhaps if, instead of a fisherman or a bookworm housewife, the party in question was obsessed with achieving some scientific goal, it would be justifiable. Say, for instance, a scientist is close to finding a cure for cancer. He lets all other priorities fall to the wayside and spends hours locked in his laboratory doing research, coming out only to eat and sleep. His relationship with his wife and kids deteriorates and, for the sake of fitting this with the other examples, let’s say that she divorces him and takes the kids with her. Is his pursuit any nobler than the obsessions mentioned previously? Most people would say yes, but what if that cure never actually comes? What would he have to show for his lost work?
That example is kind of extreme, and I wish I could think of something a bit more moderate and less virtuous of a goal, but I think it serves to illustrate my point fairly enough.
When I saw the title of this blog entry, I was immediately interested in what Michelle had to say about Twilight fandom. Why? Because I am a Twilight fan myself. This being said, I am not the obsessed fan as mentioned in the LA Times article. I enjoyed reading the books as well as seeing the movies, but I am not an overly obsessed fan. I am not infatuated with the characters or with the actors, and I will never go see a Twilight movie on opening night, but I enjoyed reading the Twilight Saga over the summer a few years ago. The reason I believe that I enjoy the Twilight Saga is because of what is known as the entertainment theory. According to Baran and Davis, “Entertainment theorists assume that must of us don’t think enough about this content to have very useful insights about it. We’re just doing what feels good-after all, it’s only entertainment,” (Baran and Davis 249). I believe that I read these books, simply because they held my interest. I am aware that the books aren’t the most intellectual books ever written, and the movies aren’t Academy Award-winning films, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters and watching the movies.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the media often portrays Twilight fans as overly obsessed young-girls, but it is important to understand that there are different types of fans, and not everyone may be as obsessive as the media portrays them. The McQuail reader includes Joli Jensen’s research about fandom and it suggests that in some ways, fandom can be detrimental to society. I believe that some people can get carried away in a “fantasy world.” According to Jensen, “One model of the pathological fan is that of the obsessed loner, who (under the influence of the media) has entered into an intense fantasy relationship with a celebrity figure,” (McQuail 344). In this case, I think some people become so infatuated with something, that it is hard to for them to decipher what is real from what is fantasy. Fandom becomes a problem when dangerous acts occur.
I think fandom is good for those who want to feel part of a group, or want something to look forward to (such as waiting for the final Twilight movie to hit theatres). I think that the Twilight movies/book are a good example of what could be considered the “ideal romance,” and for those who want to read about or see a “fantasy world,” but only for a small amount of time (McQuail). I think obsession over anything is never a good thing. It is important that fans are aware that the story line and the characters are not real, and are simply just creations of Stephenie Meyer. Clearly, there are positive and negative aspects in regards to fandom.
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ReplyDeleteIn the McQuail Reader fandom is described as a psychological symptom of a presumed social dysfunction; the two fan types are based in an unacknowledged critique of modernity. Once fans are characterized as deviant, they can be treated as disreputable, even dangerous 'others' (343) I think that a lot of people aren't really sure about how serious of a problem fandom can be, and a lot of people have this problem without even knowing it. The Twilight example that Michelle used was a great example about how you let something like fandom really ruin your life. It's hard to imagine someone feeling so strong for a fiction story that it could actually destroy your marriage and ruin everything you have going for you, but it is actually true.
ReplyDeleteI think that a true identification of fandom is in sports. The world of sports has influenced people so hard that there have been murders over who roots for who. Can you imagine how crazy that is? A couple of years ago a Red Sox fan was stabbed to death by a Yankees fan outside of the Stadium. On Sports Center people can get the wrong idea when for example, a person gets a tattoo of their favorite team and someone tries to trump them by getting a better one. I remember when the Patriots hard their perfect season going, a New England fan actually tattooed the patriots helmet on his own head. I think that the media has a strong effect about what people can do when it comes to fans.
"Caughey describes in a media addicted age, celebrities function as role models for fans who engage in, 'artificial social relations' with them. (McQuail 344) I think that there should be a fine line with liking the way someone acts, and being a fandom fanatic. I personally have never seen the Twilight movies, but I have heard of the buzz over the characters and how many fans with they could become them. I can relate this to what I know about the Avatar movie because of the reports that people were committing suicide because they could not be the characters in the movie and that the entire premise was fake. I do think that there should be a fine line between liking someone and being obsessed with becoming them.
Like Stephanie said, I also believe that fandom can be a good thing, if it is controlled the right way, people become part of a group, and are able to share a common connection with others who feel the same way as they do. But like the McQuail reader says, fandom can be a disorder and that’s when you know things have gone too far.
I think that Twilight is a perfect example of a modern day romance novel, one that has clearly become a phenomenon. In 1986 Radway conducted a content analysis of romance novels and this is what she found: “Many readers used these books as an escape from housework or child rearing… They expressed strong preferences for male characters who combined traditionally masculine and feminine traits, for example, physical strength combined with gentleness” (Baran & Davis p248). The combination of physical strength and gentleness describes Twilight’s Edward Cullen to a T. Some of the other bloggers mentioned how young readers love the idea that it takes so much self control for Edward to be gentle to Bella… when really he wants to suck her blood. If you think about it that’s a really strange predicament. But because readers admire Edward’s unusually and unique blend of masculine & feminine traits, they find it romantic instead of finding it weird.
ReplyDeleteIn Angela’s comment she posted a Youtube video-link that poked fun at the character of Edward… very very funny! It clearly shows how Edward is at times rather awkward (I read the books as well, but this is especially true in the movies). It also shows that he’s definitely not smooth, and is actually pretty bad with words… yet he still manages to be kind of bossy at times. He also has a weird habit of following Bella, to the point of stalking her and watching her sleep. Angela’s video shows how strange the character of Edward really is, and leaves you wondering, why do girls love Edward Cullen so much?!
I think it’s time for a wakeup call! I understand that people want to escape, but the problem with romance novels is that women are reading books that don’t reflect reality. Romance novels like Twilight encourage the reader “to latch on to whatever expressions of thoughtfulness he might display, no matter how few, and to consider them, rather than his more obvious and frequent disinterest, as evidence of his true character” (McQuail 316). So young girls (and women) who read books like Twilight will be falsely led to misread all the signals boys are sending their way. They will hold on to any spec of romance that has occurred, but they will overlook the more obvious signals that maybe this is not your soul mate! And it’s even more unfortunate that the lady in the LA Times article has let Twilight affect her marriage. Looks like women are just “suckers” for romance!
Sidenote: found this funny article about “how you know your fandom has gone too far”: http://blog.emmzzi.com/2009/11/08/fangirls-ways-to-tell-your-admiration-has-gone-too-far.aspx
I think that Michelle brings up a really good question in her lead blog concerning at what point does fandom become a serious issue? I tend to feel that as we see in the LA Times article, this usually occurs when someone else (usually a loved one) is being negatively affected by a person’s fanatic behavior. This woman finally realized what the consequences were to her obsession in the Twilight series when her husband finally confronted her about it. The best way to attempt to get a habitual smoker to quit is for a family member or close personal friend to urge them to stop for their sake if nothing else. I think the same philosophy is the most effective way to try and help an obsessed fan who has allowed a fictional series to completely take over their life.
ReplyDeleteNext we arrive at the second question of whether or not we believe that excessive fandom can possibly provide any positive social benefits? Personally when I hear the term “fan” I don’t immediately imagine a vulnerable loner type who has this obsession to make up for their otherwise terrible lives. I don’t attach that negative connotation to the term. I feel that there is a definite distinction and fine line between the die-hard Yankees fan who passionately roots for his/her team every night and the obsessed fanatic who try and live vicariously through their favorite player and icon, Derek Jeter. Jensen touches upon this distinction as well between fans and aficionados. “Fans are believed to be obsessed with their objects, in love with celebrity figures, willing to die for their team. Affinity, on the other hand, is deemed to involve rational evaluation, and is displayed in more measured ways” (McQuail 350). I believe that there are many benefits to being an aficionado (as Jensen would phrase it) of a sports team or a certain TV series for example. You enjoy the feeling of being in a group and being a part of a certain community that pulls for these players or identifies with the characters, the same way that you do. However I can safely say that there are no benefits to being an excessive fan of anything really.
Chapter 9 of the Baran and Davis text delves into the entertainment theory which closely looks at the many cognitive, affective, and behavioral effects that consuming media can have on a person (255). The truth of the matter is that media studies researchers still do not really know the extent to how much the average person is affected by the media they consume. The extreme excessive fans of phenomenons such as the Twilight series are a good example that for some of us it can have a pretty significant effect.
First off, I am not a fan of Twilight and was always confused as to why the series took off so fast. After reading your blog, I had realized why exactly Twilight rose to the popularity it did. “…the romance functions always as a utopian wish-fulfillment fantasy through which women try to imagine themselves as they often are not in day-to-day existence, that is, as happy and content (319).” The quote you had picked from the McQuail reader clearly answers my question of why the movie is where it is now. The target audience for Twilight is female teens. They look to twilight for an escape where they can witness a love story that fulfills their fantasy. Some viewers also try and imagine themselves in the love story, making them feel loved and this desire fulfilled, increasing viewership and commitment to watching the series.
ReplyDeleteBaran & Davis discusses the technique of targeting in the reading. “Limited-effects research demonstrated how to identify audience segments most vulnerable to specific types of messages. Once these segments are identified, messages can be targeted at them…By identifying the most vulnerable segments and then reaching them with the most efficient channel available, targeting strategies reduce promotional costs while increasing efficiency” (260). The creators of twilight were able to target a certain audience in which they could market their movie to. This happened to be the stereo-typical ‘love-sick’ female teen. The fact that their theme of the movie was able to rope in so many female teens, made the movie very successful by using themes of love that the viewers desire in their own lives.
Fandom is a part of almost everyone’s everyday life. People listen to music of artists they like, people watch their favorite sports teams and people watch shows and movies with their favorite actors. Most people don’t take it much farther than that except for a few posters on their wall but some can take it too far. In the McQuail readings Joli Jensen says that there are two different types of fans which are the obsessed individual and the hysterical crowed. Jensen states that “The obsessed loner is the image of the isolated, alienated mass man. He or she is cut off from family, friends, and community. His or her life becomes increasingly dominated by an irrational fixation on a celebrity figure.”
ReplyDeleteThe woman in the article has a clear issue with fandom. She seems to only really connect with other “Twilight” fans because this movie plays a big part in her life. I think her fandom is very unusual because she was clearly not willing to fix her marriage before easing off the “Twilight” thing. When I think of fans of things I think of people who like to maybe wear their favorite athlete’s jersey around. When I think crazed fan I think of the crazed Beatles fans that are screaming and crying while listening to their music. I believe this is what Baran and Davis are say when they state "(Entertainment theory) seeks to understand what entertaining media content does to us- often without our awareness...Entertainment theorists assume that most of us don't think enough about this content to have very useful insights about it. We're just doing what feels good," (Baran & Davis, 249).
According to Spines’ article, "Any addiction is about escape, and some of these women are using it to fill a void. This is their way of connecting. Instead of watching soap operas all day, they're online following 'Twilight.' And now they can chat and it becomes an opportunity to have a connection with other fans"(3).
ReplyDeleteI see exactly where she’s coming from because I always thought fandom was about obsession born out of escape. According to Jensen, a lot of people think this way, “The fan is consistently characterized (referencing the terms origins) as a potential fanatic. This means that fandom is seen as excessive bordering on strange behavior” (343). Jensen argues that this idea comes from elitists and those seeking to elevate themselves by putting down others. There is some truth to that argument, but there’s also truth to the escape/obsession claim.
Everything is best in moderation. Fandom is no different. There are beneficial social aspects because fans form communities around specific subject matter. They interact about these things, find other common interests, and share information on a variety of topics. That is therefore a successful and beneficial community. People are also able to use mood management by accessing these communities, “The core prediction of mood management theory claims that individuals seek out media content that they inspect to improve their mood” (Baran and Davis 256). When fans find happiness through discussing and sharing what they are fans of everyone wins.
Fandom becomes a serious issue when participating in this smaller community stops you from functioning in society. Your interest has then become dysfunctional. However, that is no different than any workaholic, alcoholic, or other person that becomes consumed by what they find pleasure in.
In sum, there is a difference between consuming media awhile being a fan and being consumed by being a fan.
“Fans are believed to be obsessed with their objects, in love with celebrity figures, willing to die for their team. Affinity, on the other hand, is deemed to involve rational evaluation, and is displayed in more measured ways” (McQuail 350).
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about fandom I immediately relate back to this quote of Jensen deciphering between a fan and someone who is obsessed. In this day and age of the die hard Twilight fans and now the Avatar recreators, it is sometimes hard to tell the difference between a fan and someone who has dedicated their lives to this. I believe that fan's take being a fan to new level because of the internet hype, before when you were the biggest fan of your favorite musical group, you could listen to them on their album and buy tickets to their concert. Now you can listen to them on iTunes, youtube their every move, follow them on Twitter, see them on MTV, E News, and so on. This constant 'fake' availability that fans think they have to whatever they're obsessed with has created a larger than life hype around them.
Twilight has created something bigger than a book that has been adapted to a movie, even in highschool I remember a girl in my art class who drew the cover art from the first Twilight book on everything and did it in every medium. I think the "I will die without you" love story has created a need to find 'your Edward'. I think fandom becomes a serious issues when girls are crying because they'll never find a vampire and because Bella can't decide between Edward and Jacob. I think it becomes a problem when a person cant find the difference between real life and the life they;ve created around this story. I think it is an even bigger problem when people are on the news in hysterics because they cannot be a real life Avatar. I also think that these nut-jobs come out of the woodworks now because it is so easy for them to get attention from YouTube 'fans' and so on. The level of accessibility has drastically changed the game from going to every concert and seeing the midnight show, to living breathing your favorite movie or artist.
I don’t do this very often, but I will admit to all of you that I did read most of the Twilight series during my sophomore year. I originally started reading these books for one reason: because all of my friends were reading them. I hate to admit that I succumbed to being such a follower, but the books were receiving so much hype and all my roommates would ever talk about was dreamy Edward Cullen. There came a point in time when my roommates reached such levels of engrossment that I literally had nothing to talk about with them.
ReplyDeleteI jumped on the Twilight bandwagon later than most, but I did jump. But while my roommates were obsessed with the perfect vampire of their dreams, I enjoyed the series for another reason. I never really got too into the books, but I did enjoy the first couple that I read. I liked reading them from a social aspect—I could converse with my roommates about the topic matter and could talk to all of the other obsessed college girls on my floor.
But when I was reading the Baran and Davis chapter, I read a segment on entertainment theory that described my reasons for using the Twilight series perfectly. I read them to match my roommates and friends socially, but I realized that I also read them as a form of mood management. The Baran and Davis chapter states, “...that a predominant motivation for using entertainment media is to moderate or control our moods. It articulates some of our commonsense notions about what we are doing when we seek out entertainment” (256). I became and active reader of these books because they were a perfect escape from the stress of my burdensome sophomore year. I was overloaded with work and had a little “boy stress” in my life and the Twilight series was a perfect escape. Whenever I was overwhelmed, I read a few chapters of the current Twilight book and it really calmed me down and instilled a “feel good” mood within me. The books had “absorption potential” for me. Twlight had “...the ability...to direct our thoughts away from things that induce a negative mood and toward other things that induce positive feelings.” The content was easy to read, engaging and I got a taste of that girly sap that I sometimes crave. It was a great de-stressor for me.
When I hear about level of fandom that Michelle talks about in her blog, I seriously worries me that people could get that obsessed. That is not the first time I have heard about Twilight ruining marriages or relationships. Perhaps women are becoming so engaged in the writing and storyline, that they are mistaking the fantasy of the “perfect man” for reality. One of my roommates always complained that she never had a boyfriend and didn’t have enough friends or enough of a social life. She became so obsessed with Twilight that I seriously thought she was bat shit crazy. She buys every Twilight calendar she can find, rips out the pictures and plasters them all over her wall. She’s read each book probably ten times each and is continuing to read them. I really feel, like she is a “pathological fan” and “has entered into an intense fantasy relationship with a celebrity figure” (344).
This particular roommate recently toned down her level of obsession. The McQuail reader defines “excessive fandom...as a form of psychological compensation, an attempt to make up for all that modern life lacks” (347). This roommate recently got a boyfriend and I can’t help but think that she probably isn’t quite so obsessed with Twilight anymore because she now has a partner. She was using Twilight as her fix—she found her perfect boyfriend in Edward and now she has a true life equivalent. It does seem sad to me that there so many girls like my roommate and the woman from the article that are taking Edward’s perfection to such an extreme. I feel like this is unhealthy level of fandom—women are replacing social reality to a fictional world. I think these people need therapy!
Baran and Davis state "entertainment media is to moderate or control our moods" (256). I feel that people, who might not be completely right in the head, take this to an extreme and seem to develop "relationships" with some media figures in their own minds because of this. These media figures (like the characters in Twilight) make them feel something, usually happy, and it triggers certain emotions. I for one am a huge Trueblood fan. In the post it is mentioned that Trueblood does not seem to be as popular as the Twilight series. I feel that Trueblood can attract a more mature and older audience and that fans aren't as extreme because of this. Twilight I feel attracts more a teenage and tween audience which I think are more prone to have these fantasies and extreme fandom cases occur. "Schickel suggests that celebrities act to fulfill our own dreams of autonomy (the famous appear to have no permanent allegiances) and dreams of intimacy (the famous appear to belong to a celebrity community)" (McQuail 148). "To be a fan, Schickel and others imply, is to attempt to live vicariously, though the perceived lives of the famous" (McQuail 148). I think that younger audiences are more prone to this effect. The Twilight series I feel are are for a younger audience with the actors and characters being younger themselves taking place in school and all. Trueblood is more more adults with the heavy violence, older characters, and sex. I love Trueblood and even enjoy Twilight but the way some of these people act is unhealthy and should seek help.
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