Further on FNL and Fanfic
February 4th, 2008 by nlang1Bob gave me a heads up on a response thatwas made on the Convergence Culture Consortium about the NY Times article I posted regarding the issue of fan fiction and a critically acclaimed but ratings incompetent shows like NBC’s Friday Night Lights.
I have to admit that I strongly agree with pretty much everything she says in her response to the article and frankly it brings to light a lot of the same questions I asked myself when I decided to take this course and when I began my fanifesto (although I left FNL off for reasons I am not completely sure of).
I consider myself a serious fan of the show but my fandom is not manifested in any sort of creative manner. I think about the show a lot, I check their ratings information on Zap2it as soon as possible after a new episode airs and it always kills me when their share or ratings are down even a point. Furthermore, I post on forums about the show, read and watch interviews with cast members and keep myself entirely up to date on the actor’s and actresses careers (most notably Zach Gilford who was coincidentally my trip guide on an outdoors trip I took to New Zealand two summers ago).
Li argues that Heffernan’s article ultimately made the mistake of assuming fans of the show are not actively involved in participatory fan cultures like those associated with Heroes or Star Trek because it is simply too good. Part of me actually sort of agrees with this assumption but I say this only on a personal level.
Let me put it this way. I got to know Zach Gilford pretty well on the trip I took with him but as soon as I started watching the show, I completely detached the character of Matt Saracen from Zach Gilford the actor that I knew. That really excited me. I rarely get excited over television narrative because I always end up eventually getting really disappointed due to absurdity of a show’s narrative as it continues (Prison Break, 24) or end up getting attached to a show that’s end comes too soon (Tom Goes to the Mayor, Arrested Development). Friday Night Lights has always genuinely kept my interest and I find myself constantly pleased with the direction the narrative takes and frankly I have no interest in thinking of alternative plot possibilities or messing with the careful balance of the show I have in my mind.
The show is personally too good for me to actively enjoy on any level other than constantly singing its praises, interacting with other fans regarding the show’s future, etc. Maybe when the show is inevitably cancelled I will participate in other manners but for the time being I am too invested in the show’s characters and lives to try to do anything but continue to support it with my viewership which I think is incredibly important to a show with as devoted (albeit, small) fanbase as FNL has.
With that being said, entry number two for The Smash Williams Chronicles is up on Azizisbored.com and its pretty golden too. Buddy Garrity makes an appearance.
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You point out a really interesting distinction between the actor and the character that they play, but to play devil’s advocate, do you think that these two entities are entirely separate? Oftentimes actors are cast into important roles on television, films, and even music videos, to attract those fans (who are often typified) to a particular flick, or show, or band. The cult following of Christopher Walken, for example is often exploited for ticket and record sales (think Balls of Fury and Fatboy Slim’s video, Weapon of Choice). So when looking at examples like these, how much do you think we can separate the character from its human vessel?