Chapter Two - About 'LOST'

‘LOST’ is set in a digetic world, a tropical island described to be positioned not far from Fiji, in which a plane crashes, and a significant group of survivors from the plane crash embark on a series of atypical adventures, including polar bears and secret hatches belonging to a mysterious scientific group and eccentric island inhabitants.

Since its broadcasting, the fan culture surrounding the TV series has become as big as other cult TV series such as Star Trek, Doctor Who, Buffy and many more. The fan culture includes audience viewers’ part taking in fan related activities such as fan art, fiction, forums, videos, etc.

Each episode is constructed in the same style. Discovered mysteries that need to be solved, and if that particular episode answers one of these mysteries, it raises more questions in doing so. It’s a continuous cycle of clues, resolutions and yet more unsolved mysteries, which have been the main reasons for fan loyalty and the reason for those viewers who don’t have time for ‘LOST’.

On first assumptions with ‘LOST’ and its audience, it can be identified that ‘LOST’ attracts a mass audience due to the age range and demographics involved. Both male and female audiences are dedicated to following the show. Not only that, the audience range is worldwide, with the show being aired in at least six countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. The series is also accessible on the internet, whether legal or illegal, via downloads or streaming that is available to other countries. The range in other foreign country access is most evident in the activities on fan forums, particularly European.

Upon audience research, the age range is confirmed by young audiences under the age of 18 and that to the age of at least 60 watch the show. Due to the genre being vastly varied that the show could do with a new brand of genre name, it is difficult to pin-point a particular genre attraction, unless looking specifically from series four onwards, where the genre trends to more of a sci-fi field. This also opens a debate of the target audience either being broad or narrow.

(referencing from “The Cult TV Book”)

It is said that Lindolof and Abrams designed the show ‘LOST’ to be “everything procedural crime dramas aren’t”. However, what can be argued about this claim is that procedural crime genre usually involves several unrelated crimes in a single story, and ‘LOST’, although not crime based, always has several on-going mysteries throughout the show, which is a similar narrative to that of procedural crime. Although in procedural crime fiction, it’s not as common for these several quests to take several seasons to solve, like ‘LOST’ does, meaning to suggest that Roberta Pearson’s chapter in “The Cult TV Book” stating “networks are gambling that many viewers prefer storylines wrapped up in an hour or less to the intense” could be true due to evidence of ‘LOST’s audience having decreased as the seasons have progressed. Pearson says that “‘LOST’ has managed to sustain its initial buoyant ratings from the high of 20 million in the first season to a low of 12.8 million in February 2007.” This could also answer the question of whether ‘LOST’ is intended for a narrow or broad audience to be that, whether intended or not, ‘LOST’ is for more of a narrow audience.

There are many elements within “LOST” that attracts such a significant fan base, these elements have been identified as the narrative alone accompanied along with the mythology, mystery, suspense, characters and the flashforward’s/flashbacks. The production of the show has also arisen fans’ further interest in the show, and looking at behind the scenes.

“LOST” is full of cultural mythology references that have caused fans to research further in vain hope that it could give them clues to the plot lines that span the entire series. This often leads to further theorizing of the outcome of the finale of “LOST” as well as discussions and theories.

From the questionnaire posted on several “LOST” fan based forums, specifically in accordance to asking “LOST” audiences their part-take in fan culture activities for “LOST”, listed are at least twenty-five different types of fan activities that fans part take in. These include:

• Discussions; theorizing, debates, analyzing episodes
• Collecting memorabilia
• Researching
• Submitting blog posts
• Reaction videos
• Attending conventions e.g. comic-con
• Forums
• Polls
• Podcasts; listening too and hosting
• Forums; creating, running or contributing
• Live Chat Streams; as episodes are broadcasted
• “LOST” parties
• Fancy Dress
• ARGs (Alternate Reality Games) & similar games
• Watching re-cap specials
• Tattoos
• Visiting filming locations
• Gatherings
• “LOST” marathons
• Creating/Running fan pages
• Collecting DVDs
• Fan Videos
• Writing/publishing “LOST” related books
• Fan Chat
• Loyalty; incorporating “LOST” with everyday life
• Music; “LOST” related bands, e.g. “The Oceanic 6”

In the “LOST” fan forums, majority of the activity upon them are discussion topics on episodes, where fans discuss their thoughts on the episode, comparing it to others, analyse what the themes in the particular episode and theorise the significance in conjunction with the overall plot. These theories are also debated, especially in discussion with particular characters of the mythology references used in each episode.

On the Michael Emerson Fan Board in particular, there is a diverse collection of fan activity when it comes to creativity. Fan art, fiction, videos, clubs, polls, etc. Despite the forum being Michael Emerson fan base, the bigger activity on it relates to ‘LOST’, as the actor, Michael Emerson, portrays one of the more important characters in ‘LOST’, Benjamin Linus. One sub category on the forum is labelled ‘fan crazy’ in which forum members post fan fiction pieces, some of them individual fiction and others group fiction role play.

Fan fiction is where fans write alternative reality with the plot line of a particular show, and either includes themselves or creating new characters and incorporating them into the narrative.

So why is it that fans choose to gather in forums and discuss the show and particular episodes? “‘Cult’ shows like ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, ‘The X-Files’ and ‘LOST’ are most likely to have a large fan base and therefore more Internet sites created about them. They are also shows you want to learn more about them”

“These days it’s not enough to watch an hour of television and wait a week for the next hour. A large part of the fun is sharing reactions and ideas.”

Themed bands are a recent phenomenon that has taken place over the past few years. “Harry Potter” and “Doctor Who” have well established “Wizard Rock” and “Timelord Rock” bands. The idea of them is to write and sing songs based on favourite films, books, TV shows. Timelord Rock was created by a popular youtube vlogger, Alex Day, and created the first “troc” band “Chameleon Circuit”. He and friends that make up the band members have recorded and published music videos of their Doctor Who themed band, and now their fans and listeners are able to buy their album and merchandise from the DFTBA website as well as itunes.

Last year, a “LOST” related band was formed, named “The Oceanic Six” who sing songs about “LOST” and have already released an album and merchandise. They also post their music videos on youtube. According to their myspace and youtube page, they claim that their influence is “electromagnetism” and their hobbies include “surviving”, these, of course, are references to “LOST”.

Similar to “LOST” themed bands who create music videos are “fan vidders”, fans who make videos, usually alongside a soundtrack and edit clips from the show to fit the mood or lyrics of a particular song. It has become a popular aspect of fandom, particularly for “LOST” where there’s even a video website dedicated to “LOST” fan videos called “Lost Video Island” where fans submit their work, and people vote for the best of a particular category, as well as choosing who to win awards.

Fan videos have increased in popularity over the past few years, and even the creators of “LOST” have shown particular interest in this fan activity, and even promote it, even with the questionable legal aspect of copyright. An example is “xsoppysofax”, a well known fan vidder, who has been creating and submitting her work for a little over two years, has recently become more in the lime light when Jorge Gracia, an actor in “LOST” promoted one of xsoppysofax’s fan videos which was then closely followed by twitter recommendations by the co-producers of “LOST” Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindleof and editor Mark Goldman. She has also been mentioned on various websites.

©Copyright 2009 by Zoe Kendell-Taylor

Reminder to Self

Further research not involving reading that I need to do;

• Contact and gain interview with a "LOST" related band
• Interview forum/fan page author/admin
• Interview popular fan video creator
• Interview an attendee of a "LOST" convention

Chapter One - Fan Culture

In this chapter, we will be researching and looking at fan culture, how it is defined and its place in society as well as what are the aspects that build up a fan culture base.

TV cult fandom has existed way before ‘LOST’ was first broadcasted, other cult TV fandom include a vast range of narratives from ‘Star Trek’ to ‘Buff the Vampire Slayer’ to ‘Doctor Who’ to ‘Faulty Towers’. What defines a cult fan, and what aspect of a TV show turns it into a ‘cult’?

In relation to television, it is considered that what makes a show a cult television show is the strong loyalty provided by the audience whom think a lot about the show, particularly the world in which it is set. Looking at the history of cult television, the common genre of the cult shows tend to be found in science fiction, fantasy fiction, horror and sitcoms.

The fandom that surrounds a defining cult show is accumulated by the audience involvement with the show other than just watching it, taking part in fan culture activities such as show discussions, theorizing, fan fiction, taking part in conventions and communities etc.

Another trend in a cult TV show is normally the attraction of a narrow audience. Due to an obscure narrative, usually attracting a small level of popularity and critically acclaimed.

It is thought that there are two types of fans, the obsessive individual fan and the hysterical crowd. This is how Joli Jenson describes types of fandom when exploring why and how these two types predominate.

“Fandom is seen as an excessive, bordering on deranged, behaviour.” Joli Jenson states in “The Adoring Audience: Fan Culture and Popular Media”. So it will be researched, debated and concluded in this chapter about fandom and fan culture that will lead to answering one of the questions in this study, are ‘LOST’ fans excessive in their fandom?

An online article by Ishita Sood, posted on the 9^th January is a prime example of what many may conclude excessive fandom in relation to ‘LOST’. The headline being “’LOST’ fans win against Obama; State of Union speech postponed”. The article is about how Obama reached an agreement with the executive producers of ‘LOST’ to postpone the State of Union speech that was scheduled on the same night of the ‘LOST’ premier for the final season. According to the article “Obama knew about the conflict which was caused due to the speech.”

Robert Gibbs, the White House spokesman was quoted “I don’t foresee a scenario in which millions of people that hope to finally get some conclusion in ‘LOST’ are pre-empted by the president. I assume it’s a big deal at ABC.” Which could be interpreted as a hint of Obama’s loyalty to the popular cult show, as well as potentially revealing him as a fan of ‘LOST’ too?

Fans were also quoted in the article, two of them suggesting that the most loyal and questionable ‘excessive’. One fan was quoted “Americans against the State of Union Address on the same night as ‘LOST’. I have been waiting all freaking year. I can’t wait for ‘LOST’ another day!! The State of the Union Address can wait!” (Comment here)

Another fan was quoted “I want to know about the state of The Island, not the state of the union, Barrack Obama, I will never forgive you.” (Comment here)

This article could lead to agree with the opinion that media influence is the cause and blame for ‘fan obsession’. Conflicting commenter’s on the article posted by anonymous individuals, in which one wrote “I am so embarrassed to be an American right now because of all the shallow-minded imbeciles out there thinking that a freakin’ TV episode is more important than what the President of the United States has to say on the current condition of the Union. And the scariest thing is, is that those simplistic peons vote!” This could be seen as evidence of Jenson’s statement that “fandom is seen as psychological symptom of a presumed social dysfunction.” Jenson believes that society views fandom is characterized as involvement of social and psychological pathology. She includes comparisons with those of the music genre and football hooliganism, identifying stereotypes that have led fans to being viewed by society in a negative light.

“Fandom is largely reduced to mental and discursive activity occurring without passion, without feeling, without an experience of (perhaps involuntary) self-transformation.” quoted from “Fan Cultures by Matt Hills, the objective in this research is debating whether Hills’s reconsideration of “fan discourse as a justification for fan passions and attachments” in relation to a fan being defined alone and simply just for having ‘fan knowledge’.

“Today, a cult audience is praised by the media and the cult series has gone mainstream – “LOST” is a prime example, with millions of viewers worldwide puzzling over the series enigmas. Its mysteries and meaning. It’s easy to see that the media moguls want watching their shows, the more viewers, the merrier, and the more lucrative a series franchise becomes.”

According to Matt Hills in his book “The Cult TV Book”, fandom and societies perception of being a fan has certainly changed. Of course, this can be mainly identified by the ever fast advances in technology and communication. Before the internet became a commons source for fandom activities, fans weren’t as easily connected or acquainted with one another. Meeting fellow and equally dedicated fans often would only occur at conventions, and of course, this cost money too, and with meeting fellow fans on the internet to discuss their favourite TV shows etc, is of course, a little cheaper then forking our hundreds of pounds on attending a convention and buying a costume to wear for it.

Since the improvements in technology has become widely accessible for the public, fans are able to share their passion for cult TV shows such as ‘LOST’ through the medium of fan sites, forums, videos, blogs, podcasts, avatars etc. The main avenue to this fan culture through fan sites and forums, where fans discuss their favourite TV show as well as contributing with theories and other forms of fan activity such as fan fiction, art and videos.

Merchandise is still a strong and successful pull in consumer consumption of fan culture. There are many stores and online markets where fans can purchase products that relate to their fandom in which they can proudly display their dedications.

Matt Hill reviews Kurt Lancaster’s discussion of fan consumerism and contrasting fan commodity between good and bad. He quotes Lancaster’s discussion “Forbidden Planet is a ‘clearinghouse’ for science fiction commodities that allow people to enter worlds of fantasy... the objects purchased in this store become a means for branching out into other worlds (by reading and fantasising), the participants of which come together in a setting at this bookstore, online or at a convention.” Authored in 1996.

Hills accuses Lancaster discussion as “a betrayal of an anxiety over the commodity-status of its contents, moving all to rapidly from the (‘bad’) fan-commodity to the (‘good’) fan-commodity. From the quote provided alone, Hill’s statement isn’t comprehensible, as the quote is more a statement discussing the availability of fan-commodity and does not provide personal opinion of rash comparison of ‘bad’ and ‘good’ fan-commodities. (comment. Come back to. Not making sense)

Looking at the history of fandom and cult tv, it is a common aspect that fans produced from a particular cult TV show are often represented as acting in bizarre behaviours’ and are often compared as socially abnormal in society. Many have considered that the ‘Trekkie’ fan to be of an absorbed breed. The recently edited “Cult TV Book” by Stacey Abbot addresses the cult audience and the identity of ‘devoted fans’.

This chapter in this book suggests that society’s views of the behaviour of the ‘obsessive fan’ are hardly different to sport and music fans. The sport fan that will attend every game possible, wear team uniform and colours and the music fan that will do their best to follow their favourite artists on tour. Television fans are described as those who “reschedule activities around airings of their favourite TV series, haunts the internet for interviews or the latest casting news, and knows each episode and storyline by heart.”

Hilary Robson, the author of this particular chapter, comments that “these behaviours may seem obsessive, odd and eccentric to the fan” but contrasts the fact that these harmless acts of fandom can escalate to further dramatic acts, such as Edward Seidel. “In 1979, the 15-year-old jumped to his death from an overpass bridge after learning his favourite television series ‘Battlestar Galatica – had been cancelled.” Of course, these type of incidents are rare, however, it is a prime example of how fandom can be taken that little bit too far, and brings up the question whether fan culture can lead to dangerous, clinical obsession.

In “The Cult TV Book”, Pugh illustrates “some fans, often female, wanted the action to slow down enough to give the characters and relationships time to evolve; they wanted more overt emotion and personal interaction than the scriptwriters were given them. They wanted vulnerability in the characters too, so that they could feel with and for them.” This can be applied to many cult TV shows, but specifically in “LOST”, where forum members have debated which of the characters would make better couples, ‘shipping’ them into battles between ‘Jate’ (Jack and Kate) or ‘Skate’ (Sawyer and Kate).

© Copyright 2009 by Zoe Kendell-Taylor

Introduction Update! Almost complete - but needs plenty of tweeking and editing!

Aiming to write 3,000 words tonight (written 1,329 so far! yay!) Anyway, think I've almost got my introduction bang on. Found my old proposal which I thought I had lost due to misplacing a USB, but managed to get hold of it and weaved it into the new introduction with information I forgot. So here it is. Any constructive criticsm welcome!

“Investigating the ethnography of fan culture in particular reference to the contemporary cult television series ‘LOST’”.

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 September 2004 till present, claiming to conclude its final sixth season in 2010, the final episode airing in May. ‘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. In its own rights, it has become a cult show globally in terms of its fan culture. With this fandom culture with the show, it will be interesting to discover how deep the potential obsession with ‘LOST’ runs in the everyday lives of the fans.

Looking at the most popular ‘LOST’ fan forums, I am going to investigate through a series of questionnaires in relation to the fan culture. These forums include Sky Forums, Michael Emerson Fan Board, The Fuselage, Lost Video Island, The Tail Section and DarkUFO. On each of these forums, I will create a topic in which I will post a questionnaire for dedicated ‘LOST’ fans to answer in relation to the fan culture of ‘LOST’.

There is a strong active relationship with the audience and cult TV show ‘LOST’. The majority of this activity is found on the internet, found on many social forums as well as networks ‘facebook’, ‘myspace’, ‘bebo’ and ‘twitter’.
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.

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.

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.

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.

In researching available books on fan culture, I have found the following that will aid me in my research; “The Cult TV Book”, “Fandom: Identities and Communities in a Mediated World”, “Fan Cultures” and “Television Entertainment”. As well as “LOST Ate My Life” also being suitable for research on ‘LOST’ alone, it will also be beneficial in research on fan culture.

(Aware that I've mentioned some books more then once - hence sketchy completed introduction with need of a lot of tweeking and editing!)

© COPYRIGHT MARCH 2010 BY ZOE KENDELL-TAYLOR

Fan Culture Research

Ok, didn't manage to get to 1,000 words last night, tired eventually cover came me, however, not far off. This is what I've come up with so far. It's very sketchy as I am struggling at the moment to comment on some of the quotations I use. So it's just a rough draft.

“Today, a cult audience is praised by the media and the cult series has gone mainstream – “LOST” is a prime example, with millions of viewers worldwide puzzling over the series enigmas. Its mysteries and meaning. It’s easy to see that the media moguls want watching their shows, the more viewers, the merrier, and the more lucrative a series franchise becomes”

According to Matt Hills in his book “The Cult TV Book”, fandom and societies perception of being a fan has certainly changed. Of course, this can be mainly identified by the ever fast advances in technology and communication. Before the internet became a commons source for fandom activities, fans weren’t as easily connected or acquainted with one another. Meeting fellow and equally dedicated fans often would only occur at conventions, and of course, this cost money too, and with meeting fellow fans on the internet to discuss their favourite TV shows etc, is of course, a little cheaper then forking our hundreds of pounds on attending a convention and buying a costume to wear for it.

Since the improvements in technology has become widely accessible for the public, fans are able to share their passion for cult TV shows such as ‘LOST’ through the medium of fan sites, forums, videos, blogs, podcasts, avatars etc. The main avenue to this fan culture through fan sites and forums, where fans discuss their favourite TV show as well as contributing with theories and other forms of fan activity such as fan fiction, art and videos.

Merchandise is still a strong and successful pull in consumer consumption of fan culture. There are many stores and online markets where fans can purchase products that relate to their fandom in which they can proudly display their dedications.

Matt Hill reviews Kurt Lancaster’s discussion of fan consumerism and contrasting fan commodity between good and bad. He quotes Lancaster’s discussion “Forbidden Planet is a ‘clearinghouse’ for science fiction commodities that allow people to enter worlds of fantasy... the objects purchased in this store become a means for branching out into other worlds (by reading and fantasising), the participants of which come together in a setting at this bookstore, online or at a convention.” Authored in 1996.

Hills accuses Lancaster discussion as “a betrayal of an anxiety over the commodity-status of its contents, moving all to rapidly from the (‘bad’) fan-commodity to the (‘good’) fan-commodity. From the quote provided alone, Hill’s statement isn’t comprehensible, as the quote is more a statement discussing the availability of fan-commodity and does not provide personal opinion of rash comparison of ‘bad’ and ‘good’ fan-commodities. (comment. Come back to. Not making sense)

Looking at the history of fandom and cult tv, it is a common aspect that fans produced from a particular cult TV show are often represented as acting in bizarre behaviours’ and are often compared as socially abnormal in society. Many have considered that the ‘Trekkie’ fan to be of an absorbed breed. The recently edited “Cult TV Book” by Stacey Abbot addresses the cult audience and the identity of ‘devoted fans’.

This chapter in this book suggests that society’s views of the behaviour of the ‘obsessive fan’ are hardly different to sport and music fans. The sport fan that will attend every game possible, wear team uniform and colours and the music fan that will do their best to follow their favourite artists on tour. Television fans are described as those who “reschedules activities around airings of their favourite TV series, haunts the internet for interviews or the latest casting news, and knows each episode and storyline by heart.”

Hilary Robson, the author of this particular chapter, comments that “these behaviours may seem obsessive, odd and eccentric to the fan” but contrasts the fact that these harmless acts of fandom can escalate to further dramatic acts, such as Edward Seidel. “In 1979, the 15-year-old jumped to his death from an overpass bridge after learning his favourite television series ‘Battlestar Galatica – had been cancelled.”

Book being used – Fan Cultures by Matt Hills. The Cult TV Book by Stacey Abbott Fandom: Identities and Communities in a Mediated World by Jonathon Gray; Cornel Sandvoss; C. Lee Harrington and Henry Jenkins

How it's going...

Ok, so making steady, but successful progress. Seems that I get more motivation at night, despite knowing I have a full day and night of working tomorrow from 11am. And it's stupid o'clock to be doing uni work now, but I have this burst of energy full of ideas and motivation. So here I am.

So this is what I am working on right now. Chapter 2 of my dissertation (although may change to be chapter 1) Which is studying fan culture, which will then be applied to how it relates to 'LOST' in my next chapter.

This is on my agenda (in no particular order);

• Use examples of other huge fan cults, such as "Star Trek" and "Doctor Who"
• Research into how fan culture was before availability of the internet
• Research into current and modern forms of fandom e.g. fan sites and forums
• Fan culture theories and scholars
• Differences between "academics" and "The Fan"
• Fan community and Hierarchy research
• Fan culture "fantasy" and "reality"
• Fan culture history
• Fan culture in TV

Only got 226 words written on this chapter so far, but on a role, so lets hope I can reach 1,000 tonight!

Questionnaire Results So Far...

http://dailybooth.com/fearandloathin/3638766

This is my progress so far in writing up dissertation questionnaire results. There are still 14 submissions to add from one forum and four emails. Can't do it til later though, got work, plus need a break from it.

Dissertation Update - Introduction page progress...

Okay, this is what I've done so far. It may not seem like much, as I am only publishing what I feel is ready to be seen. I have a zillion of quotes selected from several books that I am trying to think of comments for... it's way harder then expected. But hopefully now you all can fully understand the nature of this dissertation and what to expect from it:

“Investigating the ethnography of fan culture in particular reference to the contemporary cult television series ‘LOST’”.

The first series of ‘LOST’ was first distributed to TV in September 2004, and is still an ongoing, popular TV series, arriving at its final 6^th series in February 2010. In its own rights, it has become a cult show globally in terms of its fan culture.

‘LOST’ is set in a diegetic world, a tropical island described to be positioned not far from Fiji, in which a plane crashes, and a significant group of survivors from the plane crash embark on a series of atypical adventures, including polar bears, secret hatches belonging to a mysterious scientific group and eccentric island inhabitants.

Since its broadcasting, the fan culture surrounding the TV series has become as big as other cult TV series such as Star Trek, Doctor Who, Buffy and many more. The fan culture includes audience viewers’ part taking in fan related activities such as fan art, fiction, forums, videos, etc.

Looking at the most popular ‘LOST’ fan forums, I am going to investigate through a series of questionnaires in relation to the fan culture. These forums include Sky Forums, Michael Emerson Fan Board, The Fuselage, Lost Video Island, The Tail Section and DarkUFO.

There is a strong active relationship with the audience and cult TV show ‘LOST’. The majority of this activity is found on the internet, found on many social forums as well as networks ‘facebook’, ‘myspace’, ‘bebo’ and ‘twitter’.

On first assumptions with ‘LOST’ and its audience, it can be identified that ‘LOST’ attracts a mass audience due to the age range and demographics involved. Both male and female audiences are dedicated to following the show. Not only that, the audience range is worldwide, with the show being aired in at least six countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland and New Zealand. The series is also accessible on the internet, whether legal or illegal, via downloads or streaming that is available to other countries. The range in other foreign country access is most evident in the activities on fan forums, particularly European.

Upon audience research, the age range is confirmed by young audiences under the age of 18 and that to the age of at least 60 watch the show. Due to the genre being vastly varied that the show could do with a new brand of genre name, it is difficult to pin-point a particular genre attraction, unless looking specifically from series four onwards, where the genre trends to more of a sci-fi field.

The 'LOST' Questionnaire!

Hello all,

For those that do not know me, my name is Zoe, a third year media student at the University of Lincoln, and for my Dissertation, I am studying ‘LOST’ and its fan culture. I need your help! If as many of you could please take a few moments of any free time to spare answering my questions, that would be fantastic! There are sixteen questions in total.

First set of questions is to do with the type of audience ‘LOST’ attracts for my audience research:
1. How old are you?
2. Are you male or female?
3. What do you do for a living? Are you employed, unemployed, student, retired etc?
4. Are you an aspirer or a homemaker?
5. Do you think ‘LOST’ is for a narrow audience or broad audience?
6. Where are you from?

And now for the questions on ‘LOST’

1. What is the appeal of 'LOST' to you?

2. How many ‘LOST’ forums are you a member of?

3. Do you part take in any fan culture activities? Such as fan fiction, fan videos, fan art, etc?

4. What would you consider as fan activity apart from the aspects I mentioned?

5. Do you look for spoilers, or avoid them?

6. Is six seasons enough, or would you rather there be more episodes?

7. To what extent does your fandom go?

8. Have you ever attended a ‘LOST’ convention, and if so, how were they conducted, and what did you do at them?

9. Would you go to Hawaii to go on the tour of the ‘LOST’ set, and if so, what would you get most excited about seeing?

10. Do your friends ever get tired of your expressed fandom of ‘LOST’, and would you consider yourself as an ‘Annoying LOST Fan’?

Thank you very much for your help, you can keep up-to-date with the progress of this dissertation if you follow this blog: fal108-themediastudent.blogspot.com

You may email your responses to: thelostdissertation@hotmail.co.uk

Dissertation Update

Right, well, it was over a month ago since I last posted my progress, and to disappointedly be completely honest, I haven't got as far. However, good news is, I have now purchased a number of books that should help with the progress, and after skim reading a number of them, I know they are going to help a lot. I also have a list now to help me cross off what I need to do, which is:

Introduction
About 'LOST'
Research into Fandom
How the research into 'fandom' applies to LOST
LOST Fandom + Research
References
Conclusion
Bibliography

I have started with the simples concerning the research, being audience profiling and research, looking at identifying the target audience etc.

I've also posted a questionnaire onto a number of forums which I've already had replies, and I need to write another one, in hope I'll get more answers and responses from the same people. However, I still need more responses from the previous post. So by emailing a couple of celebrity internet people, I'm hoping they might help me out!

Anyway, I have suddenly got a really strange surge of energy and I am going to see if I can put it into good use and continue with dissertation! (It's reading week you see, and I have got no way near as far as I had planned by now! It's gone too fast!)

"Lost" Dissertation

Hai!

Well, right now, I am trying to get stuck in with my dissertation research and yadda yadda yadda. I tell you, it is a lot more difficult then I originally anticipated! All these funny, 'long' words of media terminology concerning audience profiling and fandom really are putting me in a spin. Difficult to get sense out of anything without having to refer to my media dictionary after every other word. I'm not giving up though!

I'll keep you posted to how it goes!

Fal
xx