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- Title
Bull in a china shop: Alternate reality games and transgressive fan play in social media franchises.
- Authors
Bakioğlu, Burcu S.
- Abstract
In this article I examine the role of fan ARGs in Lonelygirl15 (LG15), a video blog that became one of the first social media franchises of YouTube. Eager to explore the narrative possibilities of Internet technologies, its creators set out to provide community-based storytelling that embodied the general spirit of coauthorship. To ensure viral distribution, the videos were shot to evoke the maximum amount of curiosity, teasing their viewers with a seemingly simple plot laden with clues that promised a deeper mystery. While fan creativity was encouraged, the concerns over creating a commercially viable story led to careful management of fan activities and strict definition of the boundaries of the LG15 canon. Intrigued by the mysterious beginnings of the show, some fans created ARG spin-offs to deliver a more engaging experience than the show initially offered. I argue that early fan ARGs became tactics through which fans engaged in transgressive play and negotiated a more meaningful role within the franchise.
- Subjects
ALTERNATE reality games; VIDEO blogs; TECHNOLOGY; YOUTUBE (Web resource); LG15/TELEGRAPH Avenue Productions (Company)
- Publication
Transformative Works & Cultures, 2014, Vol 17, p1
- ISSN
1941-2258
- Publication type
Article