Keeping the Elite Powerless: Fan-Producer Relations in the “Nu Who” (and New YOU) Era

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between fans and producers in an era of technological and cultural change. Focusing on fans' new liberties in the Web 2.0 environment, we study the ways in which fandom—previously conceptualized as a “powerless elite”—copes with increased status and influence. We focus on the case of Doctor Who, a cult series revived by a fan turned producer, and the love–hate relationship between him and the show's fans. Using grounded theory, we analyze discussions in the LiveJournal community doctorwho and chart the strategies used by members to negotiate their new place in the world. In an age marked by a rapid increase in fan power and blurring of the boundaries between producers and consumers, we find Doctor Who fans working intensively to disempower themselves and keep the fan/producer separation in place.