Final Ethnography
True Blood Fandom
English 1302
Ms. Anne Phifer
12/8/2014
I thought literacy was a yes or no matter where either one could or could not read. It’s quite a challenge to know what constitutes as literacy. Everyone has their own definition for what it means to be literate. Therefore, I don’t think it’s easy to determine what literacy means and what it means to be literate. I believe that learning to read can expand a reader’s perceptions and expose them to different social mores. This can impact reading choices and improve overall literacy in the future. There are a lot of factors that should be taken into account when determining the level of literacy, such as age, background, and ethnicity. Researching a fandom will help me to view literacy practices. With growing technology, I will be able view first hand ways that people communicate and circulate information within their fandom. Within fandom there are strong incentives for creative expression and active participation. I will be looking for artistic expression, such as fan fiction and fan art. Circulations, such as blogging. I believe these are all forms of literacy.
This traditional concept of literacy has changed a great deal. After reading our texts, I see that cultural and environmental factors are essential when discussing literacy. Szwed makes a point about literacy not being on a single-level, but a variety, a plurality of literacies. His thought was that maybe the roles of individuals and their social groups are important in finding out what is read and written (6). There is a difference in literacy between different ethnic groups, age groups, and gender Literacy scholar, Brian L. Street says to avoid a single model of literacy that ignores literacy acts’ connections to society and instead think of literacy as practices linked to culture and power structures (19). This is a more inclusive perspective of literacy. Literacy functions differently in families, communities and workplaces. For example, I now understand that literacy impacts my ability to participate in society in more ways than one. Literacy all plays a part in how active I am in my community, how I support myself, how good employee of an employee I am.
We need literacy events and literacy practices to understand literacy. Szwed says that ethnography is the only method that can be used to find out what literacy really is and what can be validly measured (13). A literacy event is concrete proof of literacy being practiced. It’s a tool used to examine the forms and functions literacy. So for example, talking to someone about a new best seller, posting a blog on Tumblr, or reading an email are examples of literacy events. Ethnography is the method of study where the goal is to keep literacy within the logic of the everyday lives of people. In the text, we see ways to directly observe literacy. One is through observations of reading and writing activities in natural settings like offices, schools, malls, park, and coffee store. Another is through obtaining reading and writing autobiographies, locate writing activities in the form of letters or local sales or advertising. And finally, observe readers’ reactions to reading materials within public view signs, such as a build board. By using this method of study you are able to provide rich, complete insights into a person’s views and actions. You have to rely heavily on an up close and personal experience and there may be a possibility of participation, not just observing. Another thing to point out about ethnographies are that they are long-term studies. This allows you to experience the regular patterns and routines of the community, as well as see how it responds to new situations. A lot of researchers assume that they are the expert but with ethnographic study, you have to have a mindset that you are trying to learn.
I am choosing to do my fandom over Truebies, fans of the HBO show True Blood. True Blood has over 11 million Facebook followers and over 700,000 on Twitter. When the show was still on the air, there were fan conventions like “Bitten” and even a “Fangs & Fur” cruise. The show recently ended its final season but that doesn’t stop Truebies. These people are still as devoted to the show as ever before. Some would say it’s almost excessive, the love they have for True Blood. There are those who like the books, those who like the show and those who like both. True Blood first gained its popularity because of the vampire-mania, but now it is one of its main representatives. There has been a philosophical analysis written about True Blood, a comic book version was created, the characters of NBC’s The Office dressed up as Bill and Sookie in a Halloween episode, and even Sesame Street did an imitation of the show.
Because the majority of Truebies communicate through fan sites like True-Blood.net, I have chosen online as my platform for research. Fieldworking says that online research requires “patience, attention to detail, selectivity, and analysis” (39). I have to take the time to read and study the information online until I can say that I know what my focus is, what data is appropriate, and how specific information will fit in with the other parts of my research. Within our text I found three questions that I will be using when I do my research online: Do your findings supplement any facts or details about people you’ve already heard about? What evidence do you have that the information is reliable? How is this Web site connected to other sources?
True Blood is obviously known for having sex appeal, which some say is the show’s main selling point and why there is such a huge adult following. Most Truebies started out with reading the nine Sookie Stackhouse novels. To gather more information and get a better understanding of this fandom I will be researching three types of fandom activity online, fan fiction, fan art and fan mixes. I will also be using social media sites like Twitter and Tumblr. Our text also gives us some more valuable questions to use when analyzing data. I need to look at my preconceived notions and make note if they change after doing my research. At the end of my research I need to ask myself: What intrigued me? What disturbed me? I now know that in order to understand literacy you must look at cultural and environmental factors. John Szwed’s thought on literacy was that the roles of individuals and their social groups are important in finding out what is read and written. Truebies as a group understand one another and share a common interest. Therefore, someone like me, who has never read the book or seen the series, has to have an open mind. Literacy varies based on different ethnic groups and age groups.
True Blood has a fully developed fictional world, which invites fan participation. True Blood is set in an alternate reality where vampires have “come out of the coffin”, there are endless possibilities for new storylines, and character development. This world has its own traditions, beliefs, politics, geography, pop culture, etc. Since there is so much to be written, the creators need fans to help fill in the story. This is a form of literacy that I plan to study. Truebies become consumed with the texts and spend a lot of time interpreting the characters and plots of a show. True Blood uses elements from different genres such as Southern Gothic, Fantasy, Horror and Romance. Episodes will be filled with metaphors to illustrate real world issues and examples of the various genres. There’s something for everyone. Even though the world of the show is unrealistic, there are metaphors that are used to make the show relevant to our own. This is important because it creates discussions between viewers, giving the show some intellectual weight, along with elements of fantasy.
Throughout my research, I was able to visit online social communities for fans of True Blood to display their fan art. I wanted to share some a few of my favorite Truebie fan art.
Creator: Jeffrey Scott Campbell. Source: "http://www.comicartcommunity.com/gallery/details.php?image_id=44195"
This drawing is a combination of all 6 original covers to True Blood: Tainted Love comic book series. Tainted Love is the second True Blood mini-series IDW Publishing. This series is about a batch of Tru Blood that has gone bad. The focus is on Jessica, who has gone feral after drinking a spiked Tru Blood beverage. Eric and Sookie are out to find the culprit behind the bad batch. While Bill, Hoyt, Jason and Sam try to keep his progeny from killing humans. Tainted Love stays true to the spirit of the show. Readers get a glimpse into Jessica's past leading up to the moment she was turned. I have to say that this art is phenomenal J. Scott Campbell did an amazing job.
Creator: Deerane Source: http://deerane.deviantart.com/art/True-blood-Sookie-169776640
Sookie Stackhouse, the sweet hearted, brave and sometimes naive young woman. She's a waitress at Merlotte's Bar and Grill in Bon Temps. Sookie is a telepath, she can hear the thoughts of everyone within her vicinity. When I saw this drawing, I thought this was a closer portrayal of the "book" Sookie. She's a natural blonde with blue eyes and she has this sun kissed skin tone. She's curvy, has a large bosom. I really enjoy this piece of fan art because it's the way I picture Sookie in my head. Sookie is brave, honest and lives by a moral code and has a strong sense of justice. She's this sweet down-south country girl with a kind heart who would help someone in need. And although she's kind, she also speaks her mind she can be blunt and sarcastic. People see her as odd because of her telepathic abilities but she does her best not to let that bother her. She finds Bill fascinating right from the start because she cannot hear his thoughts and she is able to relax, enjoy the silence in her head, and feel safe. Because she is somewhat of an outcast herself, she displays more of a progressive attitude towards vampires. She understands Bill’s alienation as she is not fully tolerated by the townspeople herself.
Creator: Melikhan Source: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/true-blood/images/23598499/title/fan-art-fanart
This image was edited by Melikhan, the original image was a poster from Season 4. The poster stated "You Know You're Hooked". Fans were anxiously awaiting the season premiere. There was even a hashtag for Twitter at the bottom of the poster, #tbwithdrawal. People were hooked. True Blood focuses on important issues such as criminality, addictions, alcoholism, and pathological families. The show has an insistent way of keeping your attention week after week. The balance between real life and comedy, suspense, lust, love, gore and supernatural characters keep you "sucked in". Not to mention True Blood is different from any other vampire series or movie out there. True Blood is definitely sexual, aggressive and brutal entertainment, for adult viewers. It’s a melting pot of colorful and multi-layered characters, nobody is just good or just bad. Nobody is simply innocent or simply guilty. The dialogue and imagery are just as important as the violence and sex. The viewer can't help but to be drawn into the fantasy, you embrace the characters.
The sites I chose to work with are going to help me get a better understanding of my fandom. I gathered stories that reveal the nature of this fandom and how that ties into what literacy is. My fandom is over Truebies, fans of the True Blood TV series. Although the show is now off the air, Truebies still reminisce about their favorite episodes, seasons and characters. From the research I found, I learned about Truebies and their passion for the show. I looked at the extremes and normality of this fandom. I was interested to find out how a fan perceives another fan. Others that may not be a fan tend to perceive those that are fans differently, I wanted to be able to gather research in a non-bias way. The obsession is real and as I’ve started to watch past seasons, I’m starting to understand. I’ve decided to reference both The Modern Language Association and The American Folklore Society’s Code of Ethics to assist me with my research.
I did not only collect my research online, I also watched the show. I didn’t think it was fair for me to study this fandom without at least seeing the show myself. I wasn’t expecting to become a fan, I just wanted to get a better understanding of what the talk was all about. I mostly did my research over the weekend in my spare time which was mostly at night. I enjoyed Tumblr a lot more than any of my other sites because it’s the most creative. So the first thing I do is I login to Tumblr and watch True Blood on Netflix. I gain access simply. I don’t have to login to everything, just Twitter and Tumblr. The search terms I used were “True Blood”, “Truebies”. Sometimes if I wanted to find out people’s reactions to a specific scene or season, I’d put something like “True Blood Season3” or “SookieandBill”. I have been using mainly social media right now to just get a better understand of what Truebies talk about, what they do. Again, since the show is now over, there aren’t very many recent posts so for the most part I have to look at posts from a few years ago up until August of this year.
I will be observing the online communities as an onlooker. I have so far watched a few seasons of True Blood and I do enjoy the show but I wouldn’t say that I have reached the level of fandom. Even though I enjoy the show thus far, I want to make sure that I keep my opinions bias-free. I am an outsider. I didn’t start out a fan of True Blood. I chose this fandom because I had heard so much about Truebies and the show that I wanted to learn more about it. As an outsider, I observed these online communities to understand what it means to be Truebie. As an outsider, I was able to see how this show unites different people from all walks of life and how they all are so passionate about the show. Although I’m not an insider, I still find it very neat some of the fan art that I’ve seen people do. I feel maybe towards the end of my research that may change and I may actually be an insider. To make sure that the information I’m providing is presented ethically, I will make sure that I cite each of my sources correctly. I will also make sure that the information that I use online is from a reliable source.
For True Blood's last hurrah, HBO created the tagline, #TrueToTheEnd. #TrueToTheEnd was a message thanking the show's fans for loyally seeing the story through to its conclusion. Since I was unable to get personal interviews for my research, I decided to turn to social media. I was very interested to know how others felt about True Blood. Fans of the show have their favorite characters and when it comes to that character being killed off, fans can get quite testy. One blogger who was a fan of Tara wrote, “All I know is that if this really is Tara’s end, then True Blood has become absolute filth and trash and does not deserve any kind of praise or recognition now or ever again. Her character, as well as the flawless Rutina Wesley who portrays her, deserves MILES MORE than being killed by some random nobody-vampire OFF screen, with no mourning either. The writers better have something up their sleeves, because this is horrendous and I have never been more appalled at a show in my life” (Intoasylum). Tara did “die” in the Season 7 premiere, there wasn’t a direct shot of her death. This blogger really cared about Tara. She was easy to connect with on the show, which made losing her much more difficult for fans to deal with. True Blood's final moments felt like attempts to appease the fans. Either relationships were quickly destroyed or resolved between characters to offer a sense of closure. Another blogger wrote, “you’re watching True Blood Season 7?? Prepare for everyone you love to die. Seriously, every episode I go in with my glass of wine just waiting for the next person to get picked off. At this point it’s only downhill from here. My only wish is: PLEASE don’t take Eric. *slightly shoves Bill forward* - sacrifices must be made Truebies ;)” (Morgsnier). Fans spent much of the series wondering who Sookie would end up with Bill or Eric Northman, but in reality it was neither. She ends up with some mystery a faceless bearded man whose back faces the camera the entire time, and in flashforwards it’s revealed that she’s very pregnant. Fans weren’t having it. Brittany tweeted, “I watched for years to see who Sookie ends up with and it's not bill nor Eric wtf #TrueBlood”. Of course, not all fans were disappointed. Some felt the finale wrapped up the show perfectly, while others were sad it was all over. Melia Wallace wrote, “Thank you, True Blood. “For giving me a reason to be excited every Summer. For giving me a supernatural show that was so absurd, and beautiful. For giving me characters that were complex, ridiculous, human, monsters. For exploring topics such as equal rights, discrimination, addiction, faith/spirituality, war, sexuality, identity, family.” Chelsea Pearcy tweeted, “More than just another supernatural show! Life-changing & unforgettable! Thanks @TrueBloodHBO #TrueToTheEnd #TB4ever”.
I’ve never gave too much thought to what literacy truly is. For me it simply meant that you had the ability to read and write. The readings from our textbook have allowed me to open up to what all literacy is. John F. Szwed gives a good idea to how I used to look at literacy, viewed as a yes-and-no matter, easily determined: either one reads and writes or one doesn’t (5). If literacy were simply the ability to read and write, Julie Lindquist and David Seitz pose the questions “read and write what? And for whom? And where” (19). Before I wouldn’t have thought that much about the definition but when you pose certain questions you realize just focusing on reading and writing is too narrow. Although literacy is quite complicated, I do believe it should have a broader meaning. Starting out I did not have a good understanding of what literacy was but now I do. I would have to say that now I don’t believe that literacy can be defined. I do agree with some scholars that literacy and culture go hand in hand. There is more to literacy that meets the eye. It is far too complex but depending on the circumstance, we can view literacy differently based on someone’s cultural background and environment.
I learned that literacy allows fan to get directly involved. In the past, literacy has always been referred to as the ability to read and write. Nowadays, we can get information through media technologies and being able to read many types of media has become an essential skill. I think that this form of literacy is how fans connect with their fandom. This form of literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media. Truebies use television, Internet, magazines, books and other forms of media to establish literacy. I now know that literacy can help a person understand how media messages shape our culture and society. Evaluate media messages based on our own experiences, beliefs, and values and create our own media messages.
Fandom has allowed for people to speak more openly about the things that interest them. A fan can refer to many different forms and degrees of involvement. Fandom is seen as a strong and passionate admiration that is connected to a popular cultural. Some people assume that an extreme aspect of fandom is the way fans are overly involved with the object of their interest. People that aren’t fans of True Blood may view Truebies as strange and dangerously out of touch with reality. Fandom is considered “meaning-making”. I believe that Truebies use True Blood, as a part of how they construct their identities. From the shows’ stories views and values, fans can see a reflection of their own life experiences. This is the process of how people give meaning to what they see. This fandom also has a strong community aspect. Internet fan forums are the places where Truebies meet and discuss the show. There are a lot of different sites that are dedicated to True Blood. There are both national and international fan sites that interconnect. Fan sites include discussion forums. Facebook and Twitter are also used by fans as well. True Blood has its own Facebook page, and Truebies form groups and keep in touch. On Twitter, they can follow the actors and chat amongst themselves about the show. And of course, fans also write blogs. True Blood is without a doubt one of the most successful shows made by HBO. From a great script to a fantastic cast and the dynamics of the plot and episodes which you simply cannot stop watching. True Blood has become a popular culture icon.
Works Cited
Adkins, Tabetha. Ethnographic Inquiries In Writing. FountainHead, 2010. 117-122. Print.
(Intoasylum). “All I know is that if this really is Tara’s end, then True Blood has become absolute filth and trash and does not deserve any kind of praise or recognition now or ever again. Her character, as well as the flawless Rutina Wesley who portrays her, deserves MILES MORE than being killed by some random nobody-vampire OFF screen, with no mourning either. The writers better have something up their sleeves, because this is horrendous and I have never been more appalled at a show in my life.” 22 June 2014 11:12 p.m. Blog.
(Morgsnier). “you’re watching True Blood Season 7?? Prepare for everyone you love to die. Seriously, every episode I go in with my glass of wine just waiting for the next person to get picked off. At this point it’s only downhill from here. My only wish is: PLEASE don’t take Eric. *slightly shoves Bill forward* - sacrifices must be made Truebies ;)” 6 July 2014, 10:24 p.m. Blog.
Pearcy, Chelsea (imagine_THAT182). “More than just another supernatural show! Life-changing & unforgettable! Thanks @TrueBloodHBO #TrueToTheEnd #TB4ever.” 30 August 2014, Tweet.
Sunstein, Bonnie, and Elizabeth Chiseri-Strater. FieldWorking Reading and Writing Research. 4th ed. Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000. 39-87. Print.
Wallace, Melia (Distinguished-gentlewoman). “Thank you, True Blood.” “For giving me a reason to be excited every Summer. For giving me a supernatural show that was so absurd, and beautiful. For giving me characters that were complex, ridiculous, human, monsters. For exploring topics such as equal rights, discrimination, addiction, faith/spirituality, war, sexuality, identity, family.” 24 August 2014, 4:07 p.m. Tweet.
Annotated Bibliography
La Ferla, Ruth. "A Trend with Teeth From Film to Fashion, Vampires Hold Their Own." (2009). Bangkok Post. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
In this article, La Ferla talks about how vampires have become the newest pop culture contagion. This phenomenon is spreading via TV, movies and books. A few examples; True Blood, Let the Right One In and Twilight. Julie Plec, executive producer of The Vampire Diaries says “The vampire is the new James Dean.” Vampires are mysterious sultry and sexy, it’s no surprise why they’ve become such a pandemic. The second season of True Blood, brought in over 3 million viewers, making it HBO’s most-watched show since the Sopranos finale in 2007. Not only are vampires taking over the entertainment world but also the fashion world too. With “leather and lace” clothing, the night crawlers are in the pages of fashion magazines. Fashion designer, Rick Owens says the reason for the vampire attraction is because, ‘‘we’re all fascinated with corruption, the more glamorous the better’’.
Leavenworth, Maria Lindgren. "“What Are You?” Fear, Desire, and Disgust in the Southern Vampire Mysteries and True Blood." Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
The vampire as a fictional character has a long history. Vampires are a combination of both debonair and terrifying, and arouse our emotions of fear and desire. Nowadays, vampire narratives are more based on romance as opposed to a traditional horror. This article gives examples of how the vampire narratives have changed over the years. Vampires are no longer based on the Dracula figure, they are more modeled after early 19th-century Romantic characters created by John Polidori. The focus of romance and love is between human and vampire rather than between vampire and vampire. An example of this is in Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire Mysteries series, and Alan Ball’s True Blood series. Death is no longer considered just “death”, instead the contemporary, romantic vampire fantasy represents “death as transformation”. In True Blood, Sookie, and us as the reader/viewer know that fearful reactions accompanied by the contact between humans and vampire brings about frightening possibilities.
Weinstock, Jeffrey Andrew. "Vampires, Vampires, Everywhere!" 90.3 (2010). Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
Vampires are everywhere! Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock writes about how vampires have gone global. This article also talks about sex, as always being the vampire’s narrative. Vampires are both dangerous and dangerously attractive. From the sexy vampire Selene in the Underworld films, and the suave sophistication of Bela Lugosi's Dracula to the masculine perfection of Edward Cullen in Twilight. The power and danger of sex have enlivened the vampire cinema. Undeniably, vampires are the sexiest of monsters. Vampires provide fantasies of tabooed sexual roles. We rarely see vampires as heterosexual, monogamous, respectful partners. Rather, they are undisciplined perverse seducers who bring the thrill of "forbidden sexuality."
