Dissertation Question: Studying the popular American TV series ‘LOST’ and investigating its’ references and how fandom incorporates and influences these references in fans’ everyday lives.
The details of this project that is to be recognised is that ‘LOST’ is a popular sci-fi drama series that has been on air since 2004 till present, claiming to finish its final sixth season in 2010. ‘LOST’ has a hugely recognised fan base, amongst many references that has been deeply analysed by the fans in relation to religion, science, philosophy, numeracy, mythology and literacy. With this fandom obsession with the show, it will be interesting to discover how deep the obsession with ‘LOST’ runs in the everyday lives of the fans.
My main aims and objectives in the research include gaining primary data by interviewing direct associates with the TV show ‘LOST’ such as one of the main actors, Michael Emerson as well as creating a questionnaire to submit on ‘LOST’ forums and websites for ‘LOST’ fans to complete, including attending the ‘LOST’ convention and handing out questionnaires to dedicated fans there too. This will provide research data from various sources including primary and secondary, meaning the research is more thorough rather than using information from just one type of source. I will also email the same questionnaire to students through the university email to obtain local results as well as global.
In addition, I will also research literacy references used in ‘LOST’ such as novels that have been referenced to in the past series such as ‘Tale of Two Cities’, ‘Of Mice of Men’ and ‘Watership Down’ to see if this has influenced fans to read these books if they had not already, or re-read if they already have as well as analysing them to see how they relate to ‘LOST’, and why they were chosen as references to ‘LOST’.
Finally, I also plan to research the following well established references in the TV series which include; religion, science, philosophy, mythology, literacy and numeracy and how ‘LOST’ fans use these references in everyday life.
The methods I plan to use have already been mentioned, but to go into further detail about these methods would include one of the biggest factors towards my research is that in the beginning of August, there is a J.J Abrams weekend convention in which ‘LOST’ is included in the convention, and guests include actors from the show, a confirmed guest being Michael Emerson, one of the lead and most important actors on the show in terms of his character in the plot of the series. Having obtained the ‘gold pass’ which allows me extra access at the convention, including meeting the guests of the convention (including Michael Emerson) in which
I will have the opportunity to ask him questions, of course, taking into consideration that I will have to get permission to use what is said in answer to my questions can be used in this project, making sure I keep every word of what is said accurate and exact to what my interviewees answer. By interviewing people directly associated with the TV show, I will obtain primary data which will be valuable in contributing towards my research as well as considering would be valuable information.
Using the online questionnaire and submitting the questionnaire on various ‘LOST’ forums and websites for dedicated fans to fill out will also be a hugely beneficial method of research to use as mainly hard core fans will complete the questionnaire and will provide useful information to answer my question of how ‘LOST’ has become influential in their lives. The questionnaire will be available globally on these fan website, so a wide range of varied responses will be provided.
Relating to the questionnaire to submit on the internet, I will also copy the questionnaire and print to give out to fans who will be attending the ‘LOST’ convention as well as staff of the convention to gain extra input, as obviously, real hard-core fans will be dedicated enough to spend a lot of money to attend the event, so the answers to the questionnaire will be very interesting to study in relevance to ‘LOST’ references and influences.
I will also be submitting the questionnaire to students through the university email to gain local input as well as gaining the global responses as mentioned above in previous paragraphs.
After searching the library, I found there were no current dissertations already written in relevance to ‘LOST’, however, in the keyword search of two hundred and seventy five results, I found that only six of the results were relevant to the contemporary TV show, the majority of them in which would be useful to reference to in my project. These books include: ‘Reading Lost: Perspective on a hit TV Show’, ‘The Myth of Lost: Solving the Mysteries and Understanding of Lost’, ‘Lost Ate My Life: the inside story of a fandom like no other’. ‘What can be Found in Lost’, ‘Unlocking the Meaning of Lost’ and ‘Getting Lost: Survival, baggage and starting over in J.J Abrams’ ‘Lost’’. Looking at the titles alone, I can tell straight away that ‘Reading Lost: Perspective on a hit TV Show’ and ‘Lost Ate My Life: the inside story of a fandom like no other’ will be the most useful literacy texts to study.
‘Reading Lost: Perspective on a hit TV Show’ contains ‘Today’s technologically savvy ‘forensic fandom’ whose members mobilise i-Pods and cell phones to watch episodes and reveal in the complexities of ‘The Lost Experience’. These and many more issues involving ‘Lost’s’ production, distribution, narrative, and the audiences are addressed by this essential book’. The author of the book, Roberta Pearson, is a ‘professor of Film and Television Studies, and director of the Institute of Film and Television Studies at the University of Nottingham, as well as having authored and co-edited numerous books and articles including co-edited ‘Cult Television’ (2004), several essays on ‘Star Trek’ and is currently editing ‘Companion to Television Genres’. This information obtained from www.amazon.co.uk has helped to identify that this text would be useful in aiding my research to my project, as well as offering other titles that would be worth researching.
‘Lost Ate My Life: the inside story of fandom like no other’ contains the following information according to again, www.amazin.co.uk: ‘Split into two halves, this digest of the show demonstrates, firstly, how it was the first show to combine the artists and patrons of the programme by sponsoring the largest independent discussion forum in history. Secondly, interwoven with the story of the fandom, is the examination of the plot itself. Begging the question, ‘what is it in the formula of Lost that so captures the imagination?’, this is a tour de force look into a truly tour de force show.’ The book is also reviewed as a ‘Well documented and researched, almost lovingly so’ by ‘Sacramento Book Review’, therefore looking like a positive source of a literature reference. All the books I managed to research that are related ‘LOST’ and to my dissertation question I will use in my investigation. I also researched in the library using the keyword ‘fandom’ to see what search results would come about, and the following couple of titles were available that I do plan on purchasing as well as the above mentioned ones related to ‘LOST’ to help aid my dissertation project. The following texts are; ‘Fandom: identities and communities in a mediated world’, ‘Television Fandom and its effect on ‘spin off culture’’ and ‘Tune in, Log on: soaps, fandom and community’.
I also plan to research fan fiction, fan videos, fan reviews and other related media texts that would contribute towards the project in reviewing ‘LOST’ and how the concept of ‘fandom’ effects the lives of either obsesses or dedicated fans as well as fan merchandising.
Looking at the issue of time management, I find that a pretty simple time management plan can be devised to carry out a successful investigation into my project to be thoroughly researched and studied to answer the question of the dissertation to be fully completed before the deadline. By creating a weekly timetable to check off my targets to complete each week.
May 2009
Week 1 – 11th-17th
Research significant and relevant references to ‘LOST’, including key aspects such as religion and science.
Week 2 – 18th-24th
Obtain relevant literature books that I intend to aid me in my research, begin to read and make key notes.
Week 3 – 25th - 31st
Research ‘fandom’ and compile a list of questions to use in a questionnaire to submit on the internet.
June 2009
Week 4 – 1st – 7th
Submit questionnaire on ‘LOST’ fan forums and websites whilst continuing research on references to ‘LOST’.
Week 5 – 8th – 14th
Start reading books referenced to in LOST, note taking relevance in ‘LOST’.
Week 6 – 15th – 21st
Continue reading books referenced to in ‘LOST’, including note taking as well as continuing research to other ‘LOST’ references in the aspect of mythology, numeracy and philosophy.
Week 7 – 22nd – 28th
Continue reading books referenced to in ‘LOST’, including note taking as well as beginning to retrieve data on questionnaires submitted on ‘LOST’ fan forums and websites.
June 2009/July 2009
Week 8 – 29th – 5th
Research more on ‘fandom’ of ‘LOST’, including ‘Fan Fiction’, ‘Fan Role Play’ and ‘Fan Videos’ as well as looking at fan created merchandise and other fan related obsessions and how they relate to the project in terms of references.
Week 9 – 6th – 12th
Apply research obtained from previous week to relate to project.
Week 10 – 13th – 19th
Research audience address, narrative, production of ‘LOST’ and distribution and incorporating its relevance in the project.
Week 11 – 20th- 26th
Compile a list of questions for interviews at the ‘J.J Abrams Convention’ that would be useful in my investigation for my project. Continue reading books referenced to in ‘LOST’ as well as studying data retrieved from questionnaires submitted on ‘LOST’ fan forums and websites.
July 2009/August 2009
Week 12 – 27th – 2nd
Continue various research into references in ‘LOST’, continue reading and note taking of books referenced to in ‘LOST’ as well as continuing to analyse results provided by focus groups on ‘LOST’ fan forums and websites.
Week 13 – 3rd – 9th
Attend ‘J.J Abrams Convention’ to interview Michael Emerson and hand out questionnaires to other fans and convention staff related to the TV series ‘LOST’.
Week 14 – 10th – 16th
Use data collected from convention to combine into my research and reference to in my study.
Week 15 – 17th – 23rd
Continue any extra research that may be valuable and/or useful in my investigation.
Week 16 – 24th – 30th
Have all research completed bar submitted questionnaire to students through university email, as likelihood of students checking emails during summer term is unlikely.
August 2009/September 2009
Week 17 – 31st – 6th
Entwine all relevant research together so they relate together and are ordered in a smooth fashion as well as double checking the bibliography in which I should have been listing throughout the investigation and research periods. Use the information gathered to apply in detail to the key aspects of the dissertation question.
Week 18 – 7th – 13th
Continue to use information gathered to apply in detail to the key aspects of the dissertation question. Check bibliography is fully up-to-date and correctly formatted.
Week 19 – 14th – 20th
Continue as written above.
Week 20 – 21st – 27th
Notate any problems accord throughout research, investigation and analysis.
September2009/October 2009
Week 21 – 28th – 4th
Any problems encountered from research, references or anything related to the project, seek advice and help from relevant tutor, and apply in my own words to dissertation.
Week 22 – 5th – 11th
Write up detailed evaluation.
Week 23 – 12th – 18th
Write up detailed conclusion.
Week 24 – 19th – 25th
Proof read investigation written up, as well as research carried out correctly referenced and in order with the production file of the presentation.
October 2009/ November 2009
Week 25 – 26th – 1st
Have bibliography completed and properly formatted.
Week 26 – 2nd – 8th
Have dissertation completed, proof read and hand in to tutor to be checked over completely for any necessary changes that may need to be carried out.
Week 27 – 9th – 15th
Go over very carefully entire dissertation, including research gathered and bibliography as well as any other sources of information that may be included such as DVD discs etc, compiling all work into correct order for the project file.
Week 28 – 16th – 22nd
Hand in dissertation project to be ring bound. Once ring bound, check over project that it is still in order.
Week 29 – 23rd – 29th
Hand in final draft (ring bound) dissertation.
There are many ethical aspects that need to be taken into consideration during the production of this project which include the first major point which is obviously not to plagiarise anyone’s work to claim as my own, and to make sure if I do use anyone’s work, then it is properly referenced and listed in the bibliography so that I do not take credit for that work.
Also, in any interviews that I plan on conducted, I will make sure that I have written consent from each interviewee that I may use what they say in my project, as well as in the contractual agreement that I will not modify anything they may say, or quote interviewees on things that they themselves have not said. I will remain professional in all interviews that I conduct, including my work with focus groups, in which every individual person whom I gain research information from in form or interviewee, I will make it plain and clear the content of which I am using, and what the content is being used for, as well as verifying all facts obtained, making sure they remain authentic and are exact to the sources in which they were provided. In addition, I will validate that all references are written properly and as accurate as possible.
Toconclude, I aim to investigate the contemporary TV series ‘LOST’, its’ references and how ‘fandom’ incorporates and influences these references in fans’ everyday lives. After some research, I’ve discovered that no other dissertation or journals are available or has been written in relation to the aspect of ‘fandom’ along with my chosen popular TV series, meaning that this investigation is unique, despite books being available with information with fandom in relation to ‘LOST’, these only touch the surface of fandom by looking at other sources fans turn to to gain extra information on the show that may not have been revealed in individual episodes of the TV series. An example of this is from the book referenced to earlier ‘Reading Lost: Perspective on a Hit TV Show’ in which the book provides information on ‘Today’s technologically savvy ‘forensic fandom’ whose members mobilise i-Pods and cell phones to watch episodes and revel in the complexities of ‘The Lost Experience’. Where there is clearly similarity concerning the concept of fandom, I plan to go into in-depth detail of ‘fandom’ and the lengths fans go to fulfil their obsession with ‘LOST’, being more specific in my investigation and providing various research aspects of references, questionnaires and literature reviews.
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