Post-Object Fandom: Television, Identity and Self-narrative

Description

Fandom is generally viewed as an integral part of everyday life which impacts upon how we form emotional bonds with ourselves and others in a modern, mediated world. Whilst it is inevitable for television series to draw to a close, the reactions of fans have rarely been considered. Williams explores this everyday occurrence through close analysis of television fans to examine how they respond to, discuss, and work through their feelings when shows finish airing. Through a range of case studies, including The West Wing (NBC, 2000-2006), Lost (ABC 2004 -2010), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Doctor Who (BBC 1963-1989; 2005-), The X-Files (FOX, 1993-2002), Firefly (FOX, 2002) and Sex and the City (HBO, 1998-2004), Williams considers how fans prepare for the final episodes of shows, how they talk about this experience with fellow fans, and how, through re-viewing, discussion and other fan practices, they seek to maintain their fandom after the show's cessation. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgements 1. Introduction: The Beginning of the End Revaluing dormant texts Multi-site fan studies Fandom, identity and post-object fandom Methods What’s next? 2. Ontological Security, Self-Identity and Post-Object Fandom Fandom and ‘pure relationships’ Self-identity, self-narrative and fandom Ontological security and television viewers Self-identity, ontological security and threat Transitions and endings in fandom Television finales, endings and fandom The end of the fandom? Conclusion 3. Departures, Deaths and Replacements: When Characters Leave ‘I just hope they do her justice’: The contested departure of Angel’s Cordelia Chase ‘I can’t believe he has died’: John Spencer and The West Wing’s Leo McGarry ‘I don’t want to go’: Doctor Who, character and regeneration Conclusion 4. ‘The Constant in my Life’: The Reiteration Discourse ‘This is the night TV died’: Saying goodbye to The West Wing Coping with losing Lost Conclusion 5. ‘Turning off the Life Support’: The Rejection Discourse Fan negativity and anti-fandom ‘Putting the show out of its misery’: The West Wing The failure of answers: Genre, gender and professionalism at the end of LOST Conclusion 6. Moving On? The Renegotiation Discourse ‘My interest will probably wane’: The West Wing Following the actors and producers Conclusion 7. ‘Living in DVD-Land’: Post-Object Fandom, Re-Watching and Digital Media ‘Not with a bang but a whimper’: DVDs, commodification and fan disappointment ‘Living forever in DVD-land’: Watching and using DVDs Reruns, becoming-a-fan and recreating first viewings ‘Others are watching with me’: Reruns, imagined others and fan community Streaming a series Conclusion 8. Continuing the Show: Interim Fandom, Resurrections and Fan-Created Texts Textual resurrections: Cinema Textual resurrections: Small-screen revivals Post-object fandom and fanworks Falling through the rift: Torchwood and interim fandom Conclusion 9. Conclusion: Immortal Fandom Bibliography Index