Hi! I’m a post-grad fandom sociologist currently creating a record and analysis of the first six months of the release and reception of Our Flag Means Death. If you are interested in being a part of this study, please take my survey! https://forms.gle/5XimKZkF5HXwoiTJ8
Hi! I’m a post-grad fandom sociologist currently creating a record and analysis of the first six months of the release and reception of Our Flag Means Death. I’m looking for people to share their experiences with OFMD and in the developing OFMD fandom as it compares to their past media and fandom experiences.
If you are interested in being a part of this study, please take my survey! https://forms.gle/5XimKZkF5HXwoiTJ8
If you would like to participate in more in-depth interviews about your experiences, please fill out the contact information at the end of the survey.
Hi friends! It has been a minute since I posted here! I wanted to post an update on how things have gone since actively using this blog before launching into my new research project, which I’m very excited to be working on!
After I finished my interdisciplinary undergraduate degree, which culminated in presenting my three years of research at the Pop Culture Association’s National Conference, I completed my Masters and spent some time working outside my field. Here are some links to works I published during that time!
Michael Taussig and the Transgressions of Gishwhes
The Intra- and Inter-Subcommunity Dynamics of Fandom
“And the Fourth Wall Came Tumbling Down” - The Impact of Renegotiating Fan-Creator Relationships on Supernatural
I am now returning to ethnographic work as part of my application process towards earning a Ph D in Cultural Studies. I’m looking forward to sharing information about my next project - stay tuned!
Hello all! Just wanted to share that I will be conducting another research project this summer on a topic I'm super interested in and excited to delve into! I’m finishing the semester right now, so won’t be starting to really get the ball rolling on this for about three weeks, but here’s a little teaser about the project:
In this research project, I will be investigating how the introduction of online and in-person sites of interaction have affected the relationship between fans and creators of Supernatural, particularly regarding their beliefs about who among them has the authority to influence the future development of the show. I will be speaking to both creators and fans in order to understand the make-up of each party, their impressions of each other, their opinions regarding the idea of fan influence on the production of the show (specifically regarding the direction of the narrative and fate of the characters), and how they negotiate the changing relationship between fans and creators in light of these factors.
As we all know, Supernatural’s fans and creators are unique for their overt, reciprocal affection for each other, having embraced the ability to interact with each other on sites like Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook, and at conventions. However, they have also seen intense conflict mostly arising out of confusion on either side about the make-up, desires, and intentions of the other party, which leave both sides unsure about how to interpret past and present interactions and approach future interactions. My goals in this project are therefore to explicate the points of dissonance between the parties involved and develop strategies to better negotiate their interactions and foster a more harmonious approach to the future production of the show.
I am going to be speaking to both fans and hopefully some of the creators (writers, cast, crew, etc) about their experiences and perspectives on this topic. I think it’s a really fascinating aspect of this era of media and particularly for the Supernatural fans and creators, so I’m really looking forward to this summer. Please share this post if you’re interested in getting the word out and message me if you’d like be contacted directly with more details later. I will also be posting from here again starting soon with more specific goals and descriptions.
Hey all! I'm still looking for a few participants for the Interpretations of Dean project - please help me spread the word!
You can check out the full description here for full details, but basically, I’m interested in how different interpretations of a single canon element help shape the smaller communities that make up the bigger Supernatural fandom. This project uses interpretations of Dean as an orientation point to explore the way you conceive of the show, interact with the fandom, and perceive canon-affiliated people, so this is a chance to talk about lots of stuff related to Supernatural and your individual fan experience if you get involved!
I want to incorporate positive, negative, and ambiguous interpretations of Dean into this project so please get in touch if you want your interpretation to be represented. Here is a very small (and in no way exclusive) selection of types of fans I am looking for: Wincest shippers, Destiel shippers, multishippers, non-shippers, Sam and Dean fans/Brothers Only fans, Team Free Will fans, Dean-is-straight fans, Dean-is-not-straight fans, Sam girls, Cas girls, Dean girls, fans for whom Dean is their favorite character, fans for whom Dean is their least favorite character, and so on. If that’s you, let’s chat! I am especially looking for people who identify primarily as wincest shippers, Dean girls (regardless of shipping preferences), and Cas girls, though everyone is welcome to participate!
If you are already involved in the project, or cannot participate but are interested in the idea of this project, please reblog this or the main post, or send it directly to people you know who fit the criteria that you think would be interested
Hey all! I’m conducting a new research project this summer and am looking for interested participants!
This project builds on an earlier study I did, which focused on the general appeal of engaging in fandom for individual fans. I’m now interested in looking at the...
Like Dean? Love Dean? Wanna punch him in the face?
Then come talk to me! I’m doing a big project on interpretations of Dean and I want EVERYONE to be represented!
You can check out the full description here for full details, but basically, I’m interested in how different interpretations of a single canon element help shape the smaller communities that make up the bigger Supernatural fandom. This project uses interpretations of Dean as an orientation point to explore the way you conceive of the show, interact with the fandom, and perceive canon-affiliated people, so this is a chance to talk about lots of stuff related to Supernatural and your individual fan experience if you get involved!
I want to incorporate positive, negative, and ambiguous interpretations of Dean into this project so please get in touch if you want your interpretation to be represented. Here is a very small (and in no way exclusive) selection of types of fans I am looking for: Wincest shippers, Destiel shippers, multishippers, non-shippers, Sam and Dean fans/Brothers Only fans, Team Free Will fans, Dean-is-straight fans, Dean-is-not-straight fans, Sam girls, Cas girls, Dean girls, fans for whom Dean is their favorite character, fans for whom Dean is their least favorite character, and so on. If that’s you, let’s chat!
If you’re interested or have any questions at all, check out the project's full description and then please email me at [email protected], message me here (if you choose this option, please follow this blog and I will follow you back so that messaging will be enabled) and/or tell me you’re interested in an ask and I’ll send a message to your ask box that you can reply to : )
If you know of people who you think would be interested and/or have different interpretations than you, I would appreciate it if you passed word of this project on to them specifically.
Signal Boosting: Fandom Research Project on Interpretations of Dean Winchester
Hey all! I’m conducting a new research project this summer and am looking for interested participants!
This project builds on an earlier study I did, which focused on the general appeal of engaging in fandom for individual fans. I’m now interested in looking at the make-up of the fandom space itself, specifically as it exists as a conglomeration of intersecting sub-communities. I am particularly curious about how individual fans’ interpretations of a single element of a canon text contribute to the creation of these groups and the dynamics within and between these sub-communities. In practical application, this means that this summer I’m looking for people who are interesting in talking about their interpretations of Dean Winchester and how those interpretations have factored into their fan experience in the Supernatural fandom.
You can check out the full description here for full details
This project will not be focusing on Dean alone, but rather using interpretations of him as an orientation point to explore the way you conceive of the show, interact with the fandom, and perceive canon-affiliated people.
Additionally, this project will not be looking at Dean in only one way. I would like positive, negative, and ambiguous interpretations of Dean to be incorporated into this project, so please check out the official description if that is interesting to you.
To speak plainly, here is a very small (and in no way exclusive) selection of types of fans I am looking for: Wincest shippers, Destiel shippers, multishippers, non-shippers, Sam and Dean fans/Brothers Only fans, Team Free Will fans, Dean-is-straight fans, Dean-is-not-straight fans, Sam girls, Cas girls, Dean girls, fans for whom Dean is their favorite character, fans for whom Dean is their least favorite character, and so on.
If you’re interested or have any questions at all, check out the project's full description and then please email me at [email protected], message me here (if you choose this option, please follow this blog and I will follow you back so that messaging will be enabled) and/or tell me you’re interested in an ask and I’ll send a message to your ask box that you can reply to.
Additionally, please follow this blog (and I will follow you back) if you are interested in updates on this project or in being involved in future projects, and consider reblogging this post to spread the word. If you know of people you think would be interested and/or have different interpretations than you, I would appreciate it if you passed word of this project on to them specifically.
Hey all! I’m conducting a new research project this summer and am looking for interested participants!
This project builds on an earlier study I did, which focused on the general appeal of engaging in fandom for individual fans. I’m now interested in looking at the make-up of the fandom space itself, specifically as it exists as a conglomeration of intersecting sub-communities. I am particularly curious about how individual fans’ interpretations of a single element of a canon text contribute to the creation of these groups and the dynamics within and between these sub-communities. In practical application, this means that this summer I’m looking for people who are interesting in talking about their interpretations of Dean Winchester and how those interpretations have factored into their fan experience in the Supernatural fandom.
I am interested in talking to people about really everything that could be considered under this umbrella of “interpretation.” I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on Dean’s behavior, personality, childhood, adult life, self-conception, you name it. This will not be talking about Dean in a vacuum either, as I think that would be, first of all, impossible, and second of all, quite undesirable. We will also talk about Dean as you see him in relationships with other characters of the show (platonically, familially, and romantically), your thoughts on his connections to the themes and stories of the show as a whole, how you conceive of his role in the narrative, etc. Thus, though the project is focusing on interpretations of Dean, this is merely to provide a point of orientation with which to direct the project. We will cover a wide array of discussion points and spend time talking about many aspects of the show.
On that note, I also want to contextualize your interpretation as fully as possible. This would mean talking about the factors that contributed to the development of these interpretations of Dean, ranging from personal and individual experiences and ideas, to influences from other fans and the fandom space, to comments from canon-affiliated people like writers, actors, producers, etc. I’m interested in the effect these factors have had on your interpretation over time, what that experience has been like for you, and how that has impacted your fandom experience overall.
Additionally, as stated previously, the ultimate goal of this project is to understand how these interpretations and all they entail have contributed to your experiences interacting with other fans, both positively and negatively. Thus, we would also be talking about the kinds of content and fans you seek out or avoid, your impressions of where the Supernatural fandom is cohesive and where it is divided, how you feel about your own and other people’s interpretations as they relate to these populations, and many other related topics.
Essentially, my goal is to get as comprehensive a picture of your experience as possible, because I believe that this will allow me to see connections and draw conclusions that would not be possible with less information
What Participation Entails
I am looking for about 20 participants who fit the following parameters:
- Self-identify as women between the ages of 18 and 30
- Live within 5 hours of Seattle, Washington (Canada included) and would be willing to meet in person
OR
- Have easy and reliable access to Skype (preferably) or another form of video-chat technology (like FaceTime)
- Are available for a series (probably 2 to 3) of 1-2 hour semi-structured interviews over the month of July, and possible follow-ups in August or September
- Are comfortable with the information obtained being shared at my University’s AHSS Summer Symposium and published on the affiliated online forum (all participants will be able to choose a pseudonym, will sign a consent form before participating, will be able to withdraw this consent at any time, and will be able to ask that specific information not be included as they wish)
Preliminary Information
Since I am limited in the number of participants I can have these in-depth conversations with, I would like to make sure that I find participants who have diverse experiences to get as comprehensive an understanding of the space as I can. As such, I ask that if you are interested in participating, please contact me (info how to do so below) with this information -
1. Age and time zone/city/state/country (Share what you’re comfortable with here)
2. If you would be interacting through Skype or would be available to meet in person
3. When and for what you first engaged in fannish behavior in your life
4. How long you’ve been in the Supernatural fandom and what drew you to the show
5. General perspective on Dean (whether you like or dislike him, favorite/least favorite aspects, brief explanation of how you view his most important relationships in the show [as you define them])
6. How you engage in fandom (individual use or interacting with other fans, reblogging or creating original content, what kind of content you seek out the most [fic, meta, art, vids, cons, etc], what topics you spend most of your time on)
7. Most interesting positive and negative aspects of the Supernatural fandom you’ve observed or experienced
8. Any questions you have about the project or any topics you specifically want to talk about in the interviews
- so that I can put together a participant pool that incorporates many different perspectives, interests, and experiences.
(And on that note, please do not feel that I am looking for a “certain” type of fan – I truly am looking for very varied experiences to get a comprehensive look at the population, so if you’re interested at all, let me know! Likewise, I want as many interpretations of Dean as I can incorporate into the study, so I’m looking for people for whom he is their favorite character, people for whom he is secondary to another character, people for whom he only matters as he relates to another character people who approach him favorably and unfavorably, people who favor some ships for him over others or no ships at all – if there’s a perspective out there, I want to hear about it, basically. So get in touch if you’re interested!)
If I cannot include you in this primary pool and you are still interested in being part of the project, or you do not want to participate in this primary format, you still have a chance to participate, as I can offer 5-10 additional people a survey covering many of the topics I will be interviewing the primary participants about. You are welcome to answer in written format or record yourself talking about the topics (I like transcribing stuff, so don’t hesitate to use this option if that is easier for you), whichever is an easier way for you to organize your thoughts. Please contact me by June 21st if you would like to participate. I will let all interested parties know by June 22nd what participation option I can offer them.
In Sum
I’m doing research this summer and want to talk to you about your interpretation of Dean and explore how that relates to pretty much every aspect of your fandom experience.
I’m looking for 20 self-identified women between 18 and 30 to have about 2-3 semi-structured 1-2 hour in-person or Skype interviews with over July and to keep in contact with over August and September.
If you’re interested and can comply with the parameters listed, contact me with the preliminary information above by June 21st
I will let people know by June 22nd if I can offer them the interview or survey participation option
Contact Information
If you’re interested or have any questions at all, please email me at [email protected], message me here (if you choose this option, please follow this blog and I will follow you back so that messaging will be enabled) and/or tell me you’re interested in an ask and I’ll send a message to your ask box that you can reply to. Additionally, please follow this blog (and I will follow you back) if you are interested in updates on this project or in being involved in future projects, and consider reblogging this post to spread the word. Thanks very much!
I’m still looking for people in the greater Seattle/pacific northwest area who would be willing to meet in person! Get in touch if this is something you’re interested in!
So happy to have people interested in the project! Please note that I’ve gotten about all the applicants I need right now, but please follow this blog if you’re interested in hearing about other related projects in the future.
[EDIT: I've currently heard from about as many people as I'll be able to interview for this project. However, if you live in the general Seattle/Pacific NW area, I'd really like some respondents I can meet in person. Thanks so much everyone for the interest in this project. I do plan to make fandom studies my career, so please follow this blog if you'd like to be considered for studies I do in the future or if you're interested in hearing about my conclusions from this project. Thanks everyone!]
Hey! I’m doing a project on fandom and want your input!
Topic: The appeal of fandom to young women (between 18 and 30) and the impact of fandom involvement on the development of personal identity and self-perception.
For the purposes of this project, some definitions:
Fan: Someone who engages with a canon media source beyond the initial act of reception [reading, watching, etc. one time]
Fandom: 1) The name for a group of fans and 2) the space in which they put forth and share in fandom participation
Fandom Participation: Receiving, circulating, and/or creating and sharing content like cosplay, RPs, fan fiction, fan art, fan vids, meta, speculation, and humor related to the canon media source.
I am a fandom person myself, and am very interested in how people use the fandom space. As an insider to the area, I hope to be able to bring insight to study of the space that outsiders cannot, and provide information for fellow participants.
Being part of this project would entail 2 – 4 in-person conversations about how you participate in fandom and what you get out of it. It’ll be fun, I promise : )
