Fan Phenomena: Supernatural

Description

Supernatural premiered on September 13, 2005, on what was then called the WB Network. Creator Eric Kripke was inspired by Jack Kerouac’s On The Road, putting his heroes, brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, in a big black ’67 Impala and sending them in search of the urban legends that fascinated him. The series attracted a passionate fan base from the start and was described as a “cultural attractor” that tapped into the zeitgeist of the moment, reflecting global fears of terrorism with its themes of fighting unseen evil. The chemistry between the lead actors, Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles, contributed to the show’s initial success, and Supernatural found its niche when it combined demon-hunting adventures with a powerful relationship drama that explored the intense, complicated bond between the brothers. Supernatural is as much a story of familial ties, love, and loyalty as it is of “saving people, hunting things.” Fan Phenomena: Supernatural explores the ongoing fascination and passion for a show that developed a relationship with fans through eight seasons and continues to have an impact on fan culture to the present day. Essays here explore the rich dynamic that has developed between fans and producers, actors, writers, directors, the show creator, and showrunners through online interactions on Twitter and Facebook, face-to-face exchanges at conventions, and representations of fandom within the show's meta-episodes. Contributors also explore gender and sexuality in the show and in fan art; the visual dynamics, cinematography, and symbolism in the episodes as well as the fan videos they inspire; and the culture of influence, learning, and teaching in the series. Review: funny, touching, Supernatural - This book made me just plain happy to be a part of the Supernatural family. While it explains the whys and wherefores of the show's popularity and impact, it doesn't discount or minimize the fans' part in that. The author, (an her writing partner) are famous for recognizing the "Supernatural" is a genre show that has struggled with its identity as well as with its success. Here, Ms. Zubernis conveys some of that thru the word and voices of people associated with the show on both sides of the camera. The commentary by other fans, too, adds to the story of our "family's" formation and growth. I appreciate that Ms. Zubernis gives us a glimpse into why this fandom is the way it is, both good and bad, and how the show is created and further promoted thru the actions of everyone involved, both directly and indirectly. A terrific read with a lot of great photos and links for further reading. Review: ... must-have to add to my collection of these ladies wonderfully insightful and enlightening books - This was a must-have to add to my collection of these ladies wonderfully insightful and enlightening books. The one thing that makes this one stand out more than the others is that some of the actors that are part of the Supernatural show actually wrote chapters. This gives one a first hand viewpoint from some of those actors that we as fans have been drawn to for going on 10 years now. Kathy and Lynn take us that have been there from the beginning to places that we could only ever dream of getting to experience. For those that are just now jumping on board, in the Supernatural series, these books help one grasp all the feels that one goes through and tell them it is okay to feel the way we do about a TV show and the cast and crew affiliated with it.