Weeks 10 and 11 – Buffy.
1) Q. Wilcox and Lavery
(2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of 'quality TV' - can you apply any
of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there
any other characteristics that you could add to their list?
2) What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans
play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?
3) Hills (2004)
lists a number of defining characteristics of cult TV that contain similarities
to the defining characteristics of pop genres (e.g. fantasy, science fiction)
discussed earlier in the Pop Genres paper. Can you identify these and discuss
why you think that these characteristics are repeatedly viewed as underpinning
popular genres?
What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?
ReplyDeleteBeing a fan of cult TV is not just saying that you like the show, it is rather when the fandom of the show becomes a defining part of ones lifestyle and/or identity. As the term “cult” suggests, it is a group of people with shared interests. In this case, rather than beliefs circulating around religion or faith and the devotion to a person or object, this is a group of people who’s devotion lies within a TV show. “Cult” TV fans can be seen as more of a community so to say. The members of this community may have members that in no way, shape of form have anything in common with each other, only simply that they hold the common appreciation of a show and its characters.
Similar to soap operas, cult television runs on seasons. Also similarly, there is a tendency to leave each season on an intense cliff hanger before having a break in anticipation for the following season. Having a cliff hanger supports fan practises and participation in cult TV communities, as fans collectively speculate over the plot and continue discussing even when the show is at a break. Fans of cult TV often produce commentaries or fan-fictions which give the fans their own opportunities to create the story they want with the characters and setting that they already like, this is often then shared in the community for others to also enjoy.
Hills (2004) asks the question if cult TV has been “co-opted by producers trying to target fans as a niche audience” would this mean that cult TV is a “commercial niche product” rather than a “fan-led redefinition of TV shows”. He examines that multiple shows that fall under the umbrella of “cult TV” (including Buffy the Vampire Slayer) are just producer attempts to gain an audience that already exists, rather than what seems to be a fan built “cult following”. Hills explains how cult TV with a cult following is achievable with a clear method, to emphasise how producers have the power to build such a cult like following to a television show.
New media such as the internet has made it easier for cult TV fans to connect, and more so on a global scale. Some would argue that the internet has made participation in fan culture more mainstream, which can be justified to be because of how easy and accessible information is on the internet. Even within building a larger fandom, the internet has played a role by as well as making information and access to fan culture more accessible, it has also made viewing the programme much easier. With the internet, anyone is able to use youtube, on demand websites or illegal streaming to access episodes and series all at once, as opposed to waiting each week to watch an episode on the television. So in saying this, with the world of cult TV information at anyones fingertips online, the ability to notice trends in fandom is so much easier for producers which therefore could aid in the construction of future cult television.
PART ONE:
ReplyDelete1) Q. Wilcox and Lavery (2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of 'quality TV' - can you apply any of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there any other characteristics that you could add to their list?
Grey’s Anatomy - created and produced by Shonda Rhimes.
Quality TV usually has a quality pedigree: Shonda Rhimes, an American screenwriter and producer created the TV show Grey’s Anatomy which ared in 2005. Rhimes came from a fairly comfortable background, growing up with both parents and 5 siblings, but it was her time spent volunteering at a hospital in her high school years that sparked her interest to write Grey’s Anatomy (2005) . She then began to watch real-life surgeries on TV which further helped develop the plot line for Grey’s. Thus, her genuine interest for the profession is translated on screen. She then began to revel in her screenwriting, going on to write multiple other TV shows such as Scandal (2012), Private Practice (2007) and How to get away with Murder (2014). She then became the “first African-American woman to create and executive produce a Top 10 network series” (2016)
Black History Month: Shonda Rhimes, Show Creator and Executive Producer. (2016, February 23). Retrieved October 09, 2017, from http://www.blackenterprise.com/career/black-history-month-shonda-rhimes-show-creator-and-executive-producer/
“Quality shows must often undergo a noble struggle against profit-mongering networking and non-appreciative networks” (Wilcox and Lavery. 2002). Right at the get-go Grey’s Anatomy became popular amongst the American public. It began airing on Sunday evenings but due to it’s high demand it was moved to Thursday evenings. The show’s ratings began to steadily rise from its beginning in 2005 to 2006, and saw a drop in 2007 (Nielsen, 2017). Since then, there has been increase in the show’ ratings, with it winning multiple awards such as two Golden Globes, an Emmy, amongst others. However there has not been significant downfall in ratings, the show did see some negativity towards it in seasons 4 and 5.
Rating History: Grey's Anatomy. (n.d.). Retrieved October 09, 2017, from http://nielsen-ratings.wikia.com/wiki/Rating_History:_Grey%27s_Anatomy
3. “Quality TV tends to have a large ensemble cast.” (Wilcox and Lavery. 2002) which is highly apparent in Grey’s Anatomy (2005). In season 1, there were only 9 series regulars, which jumped up to 13 in season 6, and then “in its twelfth season, the show had a large ensemble of sixteen actors, including four from the original cast” (Wikipedia, 2017). Due to the tv show being aired for so many years, it is a necessity for characters to leave and for new ones to be introduced.
Grey's Anatomy. (2017, October 09). Retrieved October 09, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey%27s_Anatomy
4. “Quality TV has a memory.”.
5. “Quality TV creates a new genre by mixing old ones” (Wilcox and Lavery. 2002). Grey’s Anatomy (2005) is a mix of drama, romance, and a bit of comedy mixed in. Due to it being quite a heavy tv show in the way that there is immense drama throughout, the romance and comedy aspects lighten the mood, as seen with witty banter amongst the surgeons on a regular basis.
PART TWO:
Delete6. “Quality TV tends to be literary and writer-based” (Wilcox and Lavery. 2002). Rhimes' interest in medicine is prominently seen in Grey’s Anatomy (2005) with her attention to detail and her well thought out storylines. When writing episodes, Rhimes refers to qualified medical professionals to ensure that she is depicting the surgeries as realistically as she can, which is vital when the show is set in a hospital.
7. “Quality TV is self-conscious.”.
8. “The subject matter of quality TV tends toward the controversial.” (Wilcox and Lavery. 2002). The most controversial aspect of Grey’s Anatomy (2005) is in fact who dies and who doesn’t. There have been multiple instances of characters’ deaths that spark controversy amongst fans, for example the deaths of Lexie Grey, George O’Malley, Mark Sloane, and of course, Derek Shepherd. Over the course of the show fans are well acquainted with each character and begin to form a connection to them, and then they get killed off. However, some are different circumstances - T. R Knight who played George left the show on his own terms, however the contract of Patrick Dempsey who played Derek was cut short a season early. Of course those mentioned who died would have been someone’s favourite character, which causes controversy about Rhimes’ writing, but it is not always up to the writer who stays and who goes...
9. “Quality TV aspired board ‘realism’ (Wilcox and Lavery. 2002). Rhimes has very cleverly incorporated certain elements of society to keep in tune with making Grey’s Anatomy (2005) seem as realistic as possible. Elements such as same-sex relationships (Arizona Robbins and Callie Torres), interracial relationships (Preston Burke and Christina Yang, April Kepner and Jackson Avery) and even explores particular choices such as abortion, as seen with Christina Yang.
It must be noted that these factors are not highlighted nor are they brought to the centre of attention, they are treated as a part of normal life which is effective of Rhimes to include in her storylines.
Wilcox, R. V., & Lavery, D. (Eds.). (2002). Fighting the forces: What's at stake in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
2) What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?
ReplyDeleteCult TV’s success is based significantly off people’s thoughts and reactions. The power is handed over to the public ultimately, as the establishment of fandoms or ‘fan groups’ are what gives the show ratings and reviews, which heightens its success. According to Hills, “cult status arises, ultimately, through an audience’s passion for a TV show” (Hills, 2004) which is seen with multiple TV shows, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer. With Buffy, there are multiple platforms that fans can express their love for the show, for example with fan fictions, edited videos, merchandise, etc. For Buffy in particular, when the show first aired in 1997, technology was certainly not used how it is today, so fans would show their support by purchasing DVD’s, box sets, and physical merchandise from the TV show. However, as society has changed and technology has evolved drastically since then, the media provides bigger and better ways for the fandoms to stay ‘alive’ through press conferences being aired at Comic-Con, the ability for behind the scenes footage to be posted on youtube, to virtual simulations of the TV show. As Hill states, “the web increases the possibility of small-scale organised fandoms emerging around a wider variety of TV shows” (Hills, 2004) which is apparent with large fandoms supporting various cult tv shows from the likes of Doctor Who, Buffy, and more modernly Parks and Recreation and Game of Thrones. The internet allows fandoms to promote themselves, and thus the tv show will gain more of a fanbase, increasing its overall success.
Hills, M. (2004). Defining Cult TV; Texts, Inter-texts and Fan Audiences, The Television Studies Reader, in R. C. Allen & A. Hill. London and New York: Routledge.
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DeleteQuestion 2:
ReplyDeleteFans can be a deciding factor of whether a TV show does well or not. It has been suggested by Hills (2004) that fans of Cult TV play a major role of the construction, fans often talk amongst themselves about what they think is going to happen next and even write endings for seasons that haven’t finished yet giving their own thoughts and views on what might happen. The success of cult TV is highly related to how good the fans think the show is, if the fandom of the show thinks it is doing really well they will often give reviews of sorts back to their friends who may be in other fandoms and then the news will spread, and if all groups of fans group together it can create an insane amount of views and some very good show ratings.
Fandoms often work together in this way and this is often where the media comes into play as well, the media is used by fandoms to be able to connect with each other and spread news. Without having media involved in this part fandoms wouldn’t be able to get as big as quick as they do now days. It makes it much easier for people to spread the word about new episodes of the show and things that are happening currently. As hills states “the web increases the possibility of small scale organized fandoms emerging around a wider variety of TV shows.” This shows that hey are using media to promote their fandoms TV show so they can get more views and make it more popular.
Twitter is recognized as the most used platform for these kinds of things. Twitter is known for its fandoms of all kinds, TV shows and music artists are just the main two. This type of new media is also useful because the actors of the show get to interact with their fans on a daily basis’s not just when they go out to a premier for the show. It is a way to keep in touch with fans and how they’re feeling about the show.
Hills, M. (2004). Defining Cult TV; Texts, Inter-texts and Fan Audiences, The Television Studies Reader, in R. C. Allen & A. Hill. London and New York: Routledge.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1
Television in today’s world has grown into a wide spectrum of various genres competing to be the best show out there. From the animated science fiction show Rick and Morty to dramatic crime thrillers like CSI, each program brings a unique and entertaining flare to the wide spectrum of television. While everyone has an opinion on why their favorite show is the best, Wilcox and Lavery have actually developed nine defining characteristics of a television program that make it a “quality” show (Wilcox & Lavery, 2002). Some of these characteristics include a large ensemble of cast members, controversial subject matter, and an aspiration towards realism (Wilcox & Lavery, 2002).
An example of a quality TV show that fits these descriptions is How to Get Away with Murder. In this thrilling, murder mystery program, Annalise Keating, a prominent defense attorney played by Emmy-award winning Viola Davis, must survive through all of the allegations of murders surrounding her and her group of law school students. The show, along with its central overarching mystery as to whom gets killed and how, does a fantastic job of addressing important societal issues in a direct and uncensored manner.
How to Get Away with Murder fulfills a lot of Wilcox and Lavery’s requirements to be a quality TV show. It first has a large ensemble cast, with famous lead characters like Viola Davis and Alfred Enoch, who played Dean Thomas in the Harry Potter series. The cast has a core group of characters, along with a variety of guest stars appearing in many court cases throughout the seasons.
The show also addresses several controversial issues. One of the main students is gay and continually has a relationship with another main character throughout the entire show. Annalise Keating, using her prominent position as a respected black lawyer, constantly comments in the court room on how unfairly the justice system treats minority groups.
Finally, How to Get Away with Murder speaks profoundly towards realism. While the grisly murders and dramatic cover-ups seem a bit farfetched, the show does an amazing job of showcasing the harsh realities of life. The struggles of African Americans and LGBT+ members are never censored but rather starkly exposed through suicides and jail time. The themes of family love (or lack thereof) and looming consequences from poor decisions help audiences everywhere relate to this wonderfully thrilling and gripping television show.
Although Wilcox and Lavery captured many of the characteristics of a quality show, there is one more quality that they should add to their list that somewhat ties into their “controversial issue” quality. A quality TV show should inspire audiences to action. The content of a quality program should encourage people to have honest conversations about issues brought up in the show. A quality show is not just a program for entertainment: it should be so much more than that. It should not only tell a story but also challenge how audiences think and feel about the world around them. This defining characteristic should be Wilcox and Lavery’s tenth quality.
Wilcox, R. & Lavery, D. (2002). Introduction, in R. Wilcox & D. Lavery (eds) Fighting the forces: what’s at stake in Buffy the vampire slayer. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield.
References to the TV show content of How to Get Away with Murder, 2014-2016 seasons 1-3
Wilcox and Lavery (2002) identify 9 defining characteristics of 'quality TV' - can you apply any of these to other television series that you have viewed recently? Are there any other characteristics that you could add to their list?
ReplyDeleteBuffy the Vampire Slayer was a supernatural television show created by Joss Whedon twenty years ago. During the programme's six-year span, it produced a wide fanbase and generated an ample amount of academic dialogue. In said dialogue, scholars and the like expressed their thoughts and opinions on not just Buffy but it's surrounding influences, incorporated themes and their general enjoyment of the show. Wilcox and Lavery (2002) put forth many beliefs about Buffy, but specifically, I would like to focus on their proposition of the show being quality television, how it exemplifies that and other shows that display those characteristics.
In their volume, they posit nine defining elements of 'quality television,' all of which they state Buffy encompasses but I believe many other shows also exhibit these traits. Their first characteristic states that 'quality television usually has a quality pedigree.' In order to understand this statement, it's important to take note what was occupying the silver screen at the time of their essay's release. Shows like Hercules and Everybody Loves Raymond dominated the TV, and for some furthered the gap between cinema and television. In comparison to modern day programming, many shows can be listed as examples of having a 'quality pedigree' but none like Emmy-nominated Top Of The Lake. Top Of The Lake was created, written and directed by New Zealander, Dame Elizabeth Jane Campion who, like Whedon, had a life and upbringing steeped in film. Her mother was an actress and her father was a theatre and opera director. She also studied at London-based Chelsea Art School and graduated from both Sydney College of Arts and Australian Film, Television and Radio School. These are similar to what Wilcox and Lavery said made Buffy 'quality television.'
PT II:
DeleteAnother characteristic they deemed significant was that 'quality shows must often undergo a noble struggle against profit-mongering networks and non-appreciative audiences.' In regards to Buffy, they faced little to no recognition from award ceremonies and also began as a campy, unsuccessful film that transferred to television. Instantly, this reminded me of The Wire, an American crime show based in Baltimore, Maryland. Throughout its course, it was shown a lot of dislike and criticism and was never once acknowledged by the Emmy awards. In contrast, The New York Times posited it as 'literary television' and it was also studied at various ivy-league institutions such as Harvard College and Brown University. To further underpin The Wire's serious neglect from acclaim is former President of the United States, Barack Obama saying it was his favourite television show.
Lastly, an additional characteristic they stated as essential was 'quality television tends to have large ensemble casts.' In the case of Buffy, it maintains roughly around fifteen to twenty main characters at all times but this is nothing in the face of Game of Throne's numbers. Game of Thrones is a fantasy television show created in 2011 and is an adaptation of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire book series. The show itself boasts approximately five hundred cast members per season and is one of the largest ensemble cast shows on television currently.
In summary, it's evident that the traits Wilcox and Lavery put forth are evident within more than just Buffy the Vampire Slayer and while I couldn't personally add more to their list I would agree heavily with their sentiment that quality television tends to be literary and writer-based as that characteristic is heavy in almost all the aforementioned programs and many more that are on television today.
References:
Wilcox, R. & Lavery, D. (2002). Introduction, in R. Wilcox & D. Lavery (eds) Fighting the forces: what’s at stake in Buffy the vampire slayer. Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield.
Muoio, D. & Renfro, K. (2016, April 21). It's crazy how many more characters are in the Game of Thrones books than shows. Business Insider. Retrieved from http://businessinsider.com