Cult TV/Buffy

- 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?

Definition one:

Hills (2004), suggests that cult TV can be defined through textual analysis. He also suggests that “cult TV cacn be self-consciously designed by media producers” and adds that cult TV hails from other genres such as fantasy, horror and science fiction.

Definition two:

Cult TV is able to be defined through analyzing secondary texts (Hills, 2004).

“secondary texts such as criticism or publicity, work to promote the circulation of selected meanings of the primary text… Secondary texts play a significant role in influencing ehich of televisions meanings may be activated in any one reading” (Fiske, 1991).

Hills (2004) goes on to elaborate on Fiske’s definition by explaining that newspaper coverage and other journalistic writing such as fan magazines, that describe certain programs as cults, activate the meanings and associations of ‘cult’ for audiences by attaching this term to various programs.

Definition three:

Cult TV can be defined by analyzing the practices and activities of fans (Hills, 2004).

This definition makes us consider what dedicated fans of cult TV do to show their ‘fandom’. Hills (2004) explains that this definition provokes a question; ‘what activities do fans of cult TV engage in?’. In regards to Buffy the Vampire Slayer the availability of fan magazines, newspaper coverage and fan forums, such as ‘Buffy-Boards’, allow the ‘cult’ factor to attach itself to the program.

Why do you think these characteristics are viewed as underpinning popular genres?

Personally, I think that in order to become a popular genre something has to have likability, a large audience and something that captures the audience’s attention. Shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer are able to achieve this due to being able to achieve those factors.

People are very fascinated, and almost obsessed, with fictional worlds/things that are unknown to humans. As time goes on, story lines are becoming more and more creative and extravagant. Whether it be supernatural horror or conspiracy theory based science fiction – people are always on the hunt for the next movie, TV series or book to challenge their imagination. Popular genres such as science fiction and fantasy are able to do this, often by posing the question ‘what if?’

One of the most important things, though, is relatability. In a lot of popular genres, such as science fiction and fantasy, we aren’t able to relate to the world in which the characters live. We are, however, able to relate or identify with some aspect of the story. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer the character of Buffy is a fairly universal character, allowing her to be an easy character to relate to. Same goes for other major characters such as Willow. I believe this is an important aspect to the reason that the TV series has such a big following. The audience is able to relate, and engage, with the characters even though they have never experienced the world of vampires. This relatability inspires the audience to follow Buffy through her journey as tey now have a sense of attachment to the character. This exact idea of relatability flows through all popular genres, as in order to become a popular genre it needs to have a large audience/following.

References:

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.