What is it?
Fans enjoy media texts so much that they create content based upon the text and form communities around it, which has been made even more possible due to the internet. This is like the 'prosumer' term – a producer and consumer of content.
A fan is someone who strongly identifies with a media product, character etc, often form groups “fandoms” and are often portrayed as geeks, ‘other’ in the media. Fans can use a media property as part of their identity.
Fan fiction is a form of textual poaching
Fandoms are summarized:
Semiotic productivity - the meanings made from the source texts by the fan
Enunciative Productivity - Sharing meanings and ways of talking about the text - ‘fanspeak’ and wearing clothing, hair styling or make-up in a particular way.
Textual Productivity (textual poaching) - fan made texts as sense of ownership of source text
Dressing up as characters is considered enunciative productivity
Traditionally fans were only a part of the exhibition of media texts. Consumers had financial capital that would determine the success of a media product. Nowadays, thanks to the introduction of many forms of new media, fans are able to participate in the production and distribution.
Production: Fans give content creators ideas through participation (comment section, twitter), fans can create their own content (fan fiction, fan art, review videos on YT). Video and sound editing software has made this very affordable. In some cases, a fan base can influence major studios to make changes in their product (Sonic redesign, Release of the DC Snyder cut)
Distribution: Many media organisations have social media pages, and when they post something there is always a 'Share' button present. Fans can share the content with other people. Influencers, as well as people making videos or posts online will promote the content. Fans creating memes is also another way that content can be shared.
Remember the term PROSUMER!
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