Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Cult TV

What role does Hills (2004) suggest the fans play in the construction of cult TV? How is new media central to this?

In Matt Hills text ‘Defining Cult TV’ he discusses a term that is used in TV industries and by audiences and only recently has received little scholarly attention: Cult TV. (Hills, 2004.)

Hills refers to the definition of Cult TV as best thought of as a group of texts, often branching off the genres of science fiction, fantasy and horror. Because of this definition Hills believes it may lead to further questions such as ‘why are certain types of TV programmes more likely to become cults?’

Hills wrote that Buffy the vampire slayer itself was described as a cult programme, it then was discussed in the UK cult TV guide in 2002.

In Hills third definition he suggests that cult TV can be defined through an analysis of fan practices and also depends on fans activities. Dedicated fans of cult TV tend to express and indicate their fandom, causing the cult status to arise through the audience’s passion for a TV shows like Buffy the vampire slayer. Because of this definition it argues cult TV into a position that Hills called a ‘grassroots phenomenon,’ (the active leadership of a party or organization.) Assuming that the argument was created by fans rather than media producers. “A view like this celebrates fan audiences power, claiming that cult TV can neither be made nor promoted as such by the media industry, but instead hinges vitally on audience take-up and devotion.” (Hills, M.)       

“Fans of cult TV create a market for memorabilia, merchandise and props that relates to their much loved TV shows.” (Hills, M.)  I believe the role that fans play in the construction of cult TV and how new media is central to this - Hills suggests that because most of activities such as, appreciation societies, fan conventions, fan fictions and even creating episode guides. Majority of these fan actions are acted out both online and in real life. It gives fans a chance to gather in virtual spaces as well as gathering at hotel function rooms where they discuss their interpretations, episode guides and fictions about their desired cult TV show.  Hills says himself “ I would not like to exaggerate the impact of the internet on the formation of new cult shows, by making it easier for fans to contact their like-minded devotees, the web increases the possibility of small-scale organised emerging around a wider variety of TV shows.” Because of these various activities, the fans have contributed largely to the hype and construction of cult TV because of their devotion to it.  

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.