Online Italian fandoms of American TV shows
Additional information
Authors
Type
Journal Article
Year
2015
Language
English
Abstract
The Internet has changed media fandom in two main ways: it helps fans connect with each other despite physical distance, leading to the formation of international fan communities; and it helps fans connect with the creators of the TV show, deepening the relationship between TV producers and international fandoms. To assess whether Italian fan communities active online are indeed part of transnational online communities and whether the Internet has actually altered their relationship with the creators of the original text they are devoted to, qualitative analysis and narrative interviews of 26 Italian fans of American TV shows were conducted to explore the fan-producer relationship. Results indicated that the online Italian fans surveyed preferred to stay local, rather than using geography-leveling online tools. Further, the sampled Italian fans' relationships with the show runners were mediated or even absent.
Journal
Transformative Works and Cultures
Volume
19
Month
June
Start page number
19
End page number
23
Keywords
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Fringe, Global, Local, Lost, Show runner, Supernatural, Transnationalism, Fandom
