Digital Capitalism and the Economics of Fandom: The Case of “Hellraiser” Horror Franchise
https://doi.org/10.58186/2782-3660-2023-3-4-77-99
Abstract
In the contemporary era, often referred to as the “era of franchises,” horror genre projects hold a distinct and significant position. Each year, both major and independent studios announce new films, along with reboots, spin-offs, and remakes of iconic film series. Notably, in 2022, the “Hellraiser” franchise, based on Clive Barker’s 1986 novel, was relaunched on the Hulu platform. The 1987 film adaptation achieved box office success and garnered positive audience reviews, eventually earning recognition as a cult film. Over time, scholars have predominantly examined the franchise through the lenses of film studies, cultural studies, and philosophy, focusing on Barker’s images’ popularity within subcultural audiences. This article aims to demonstrate how the experience of interaction between fandom and its object of interest is transformed by digital capitalism and how fandom becomes entangled with the manifestations of digital capitalism. The analysis will delve into the phenomenon of free labor and explore concepts such as surveillance and communicative capitalism, providing a critical examination of horror franchising.
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Review
For citations:
Shpot V. Digital Capitalism and the Economics of Fandom: The Case of “Hellraiser” Horror Franchise. Versus. 2023;3(4):77-99. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.58186/2782-3660-2023-3-4-77-99
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