Creación de significado online: recoger las voces de los y las fans de series televisivas

Television series fans often share their opinions on - more or less institutionalized - online spaces. These spaces and practices allow us to access a set of discourses and interactions that, although they have not been induced in a research context, provide a large amount of information about the readings and the appropriation of meaning of fans and detractors. Using fan discussions about Girls (HBO/Canal Plus, 2012-2017) in six different Spanish blogs (FormulaTV, Vertele, Jenesaipop, Blogelpaís, Foro Vandal and Foro Vogue), we explore the methodological usefulness of online fora in reception studies, problematizing the model developed by Hall (1973). Girls is a satire evolving around the daily lives of four young New York urbanites, displaying post-feminist representation patterns, as well as critical and feminist ones (Bell 2013, Daalmans 2013, Fuller and Driscoll 2015, Weitz 2016). In line with the narrative richness of the series, the contents created on online fora indicate a remarkable complexity of the readings expressed by viewers. In our study we show that by working with the material collected from online environments, the different types of readings come to light and it can be determined to what kind of representations each type of reading is associated, as well as the strategies established to approach or move away from the series’ presuppositions, according to viewers' own experiences and values. In addition, the discussions allow exploring both the connection established by fans and detractors between their daily experiences and the experiences of the characters in the series, and their critique of popular culture. However, we are aware that it is impossible to delve into these meanings without combining the analysis of the online fora with in-depth interviews or discussion groups. This type of methodologies, then, rather than gaining deep knowledge about a collective or a specific segment of the population and their motives, help us to understand the meanings constructed about a product or cultural manifestation by the (active) audience. In this work we therefore address the advantages and limitations, both methodological and ethical, of this type of data collection and analysis. Quienes siguen series televisivas, en ocasiones, comparten sus opiniones a través de espacios online más o menos institucionalizados. Estas prácticas nos permiten acceder a un conjunto de discursos e interacciones que, si bien no han sido inducidos en un contexto de investigación, proporcionan una gran cantidad de información sobre las lecturas y las apropiaciones que hacen fans y detractores de estos productos mediáticos. A partir de los comentarios expresados sobre Girls (HBO/Canal Plus, 2012-2017) en seis blogs diferentes (FormulaTV, Vertele, Jenesaipop, Blogelpaís, Foro Vandal y Foro Vogue), se explora la utilidad metodológica de los foros online en los estudios de recepción, problematizando el modelo desarrollado por Hall (1973). Girls ironiza sobre el día a día de cuatro jóvenes urbanitas neoyorquinas valiéndose para ello de marcos posfeministas, marcos contestatarios con el posfeminismo y marcos feministas (Bell 2013, Daalmans 2013, Fuller y Driscoll 2015, Weitz 2016). En línea con la riqueza narrativa de la serie, el contenido elaborado en estos entornos indica una notable complejidad de las lecturas expresadas en ellos. En nuestro estudio hemos puesto de manifiesto que, trabajando sobre el material recopilado en estos entornos online, afloran los diferentes tipos de lectura realizados y puede determinarse a qué clase de representaciones se asocia cada tipo de lectura, así como las estrategias establecidas para acercarse y alejarse de los presupuestos de la serie según las experiencias y los valores propios. Además, las interpretaciones vertidas permiten explorar tanto la vinculación que establecen fans y detractores entre sus experiencias cotidianas y las vivencias de los personajes de la serie como sus críticas a la cultura popular. Sin embargo, es imposible profundizar en estos significados sin combinar el análisis de los foros online con entrevistas en profundidad o grupos de discusión. Este tipo de metodologías, pues, más que para conocer a un colectivo o a las personas concretas y sus motivos, sirven para comprender los significados construidos acerca de un producto o manifestación cultural por parte de la audiencia activa.nPor ello, en este trabajo se abordan las ventajas y limitaciones, tanto metodológicas como éticas, de este tipo de recogida y análisis de datos.Television series fans often share their opinions on - more or less institutionalized - online spaces. These spaces and practices allow us to access a set of discourses and interactions that, although they have not been induced in a research context, provide a large amount of information about the readings and the appropriation of meaning of fans and detractors. Using fan discussions about Girls (HBO/Canal Plus, 2012-2017) in six different Spanish blogs (FormulaTV, Vertele, Jenesaipop, Blogelpaís, Foro Vandal and Foro Vogue), we explore the methodological usefulness of online fora in reception studies, problematizing the model developed by Hall (1973). Girls is a satire evolving around the daily lives of four young New York urbanites, displaying post-feminist representation patterns, as well as critical and feminist ones (Bell 2013, Daalmans 2013, Fuller and Driscoll 2015, Weitz 2016). In line with the narrative richness of the series, the contents created on online fora indicate a remarkable complexity of the readings expressed by viewers. In our study we show that by working with the material collected from online environments, the different types of readings come to light and it can be determined to what kind of representations each type of reading is associated, as well as the strategies established to approach or move away from the series’ presuppositions, according to viewers' own experiences and values. In addition, the discussions allow exploring both the connection established by fans and detractors between their daily experiences and the experiences of the characters in the series, and their critique of popular culture. However, we are aware that it is impossible to delve into these meanings without combining the analysis of the online fora with in-depth interviews or discussion groups. This type of methodologies, then, rather than gaining deep knowledge about a collective or a specific segment of the population and their motives, help us to understand the meanings constructed about a product or cultural manifestation by the (active) audience. In this work we therefore address the advantages and limitations, both methodological and ethical, of this type of data collection and analysis