Consumer fandom

After our discussion in class and reading "Quentin Tarantino's Star Wars? Digital Cinema, Media Convergence, and Participatory Culture" By Henry Jenkins.  I found how connected how the audience and media really is. I always thought fans came out of pure interest when in fact the media giants produce fandom.  It is in essence the ideal marketing strategy.  Fans dress up as their favorite starwars character, or a hunger game competitor, marketing that movie book etc. for free.  The media outlets and produce fans and control them as well.  Leaving something like am important event out of a popular TV show such as lost, brings people to connect via social media sites and forums.  With more visits to websites, the more ad space is sold, which brings in revenue.  This also is a source for the media to find consumer interests.  The was high interest in family guy, so much for the character Cleveland, he ended up getting his own show.  It seems with the high amount of power the media has, the consumers do not mind what is put on TV and shown in theaters.  The push for more audience participation is greater than ever for new feedback. Since consumers lose and gain interest at such a fast pace, being on top of the game is essential, and taking advance of notches, and when interests blows up on a media text is just as important.