Research
A fan theory is when a fan of a media product (mostly a non-fiction product) creates stories about the characters, narrative or setting so help fill in plot holes or just as side notes. Often the theories are disproved or rejected by the creator however it's a way for a fan culture to communicate.
Friends:
2) Phoebe is actually a genius.
This theory suggest that Phoebe is incredibly smart but has no ambition to peruse a good career and instead has friends that she torments for her own amusement. An example of this is when Phoebe tells Ross she doesn't believe in evolution, Ross then continues to spend the whole episode trying to convince until she even makes Ross doubt his own beliefs she ends the argument with "That was fun, who's hungry?" Phoebe's past has always been a little unexplained and despite having no real education she still knows two other languages.
3) The whole series is Phoebe's dream.
The theory states that Phoebe is still homeless and is watching the rest of the friends group from outside Central Perk. In this theory she makes up lives and stories for all of the friends and pretends she is a part of the group because she's lonely. Which would explain why Phoebe seems slightly excluded from the group in the first few series she doesn't live near the others or with any of them. Also it's never really revealed how Phoebe met anyone other than Rachel we only know that she used to live with Monica.
4) Monica only developed OCD after losing weight.
When the audience are shown flashback when Monica is overweight there is no indication that she has any of the obsessive characteristics that are obvious in the series also the same can be said about the Monica in the alternative episode. The theory states that she gained the disorder as a result of the medication she was given at fat camp.
5) Mr Heckles was murdered.
Just before the characters death in series 2 he complains to Monica and Rachel about the noise they are making then states he needs to return to his dinner party. The theory states that Mr Heckles was telling the truth and one of his guests killed him, the bangs heard before he dies is the struggle of his murder and he was holding the broom to defend himself.
Stranger Things:
1) The Upside Down is actually the future.
In the show the characters believe that the Upside Down is a parallel universe however they know very little about this other universe. Some fans believe the Upside Down is a future in which the Mind Flayer has taken over the world this explains why there is no other apparent life and also why the setting of this other world is a little town in America.
2) Dr. Brenner is the American.
Although he is believed to be dead the audience never actually see a body or have any confirmation of his death. It's possible he went to Russia because he knew they were conducting similar research as himself or that he was lost in the Upside Down and found his way to the portal in Russia.
3) Hoppers daughter is alive and is the American.
The theory states that Hoppers daughter death was faked by Hawkins lab because she possessed powers similar to Eleven's. After her faked death she was made to do similar experiments as we see Eleven do and whilst exploring the Upside Down she got lost reappearing in Russia.
4) Eleven turns evil is the season 4 villain.
When asked about spoilers for season the writing team gave the lyrics of a Florence and the machines song. It tells the story of someone coping with the loss of someone to darkness, and as a result, falling into the darkness themselves. Fans have come to think this means Eleven spiralling after the loss of Hopper, and being taken in by a dark side.
5) Will created the Upside Down.
This theory suggests Will subconsciously created the Upside Down because he has powers like Eleven however instead of telepathy he can bring his imagination to life and accidentally created the Upside Down. This would explain how Will managed to survive in the Upside down for so long and why he was targeted in the first season. Also it explains why the Upside Down and Will appear connected throughout the series for example why does the Mind Flayer appears when Will is stressed and Will can still feel it's presence even after he is no longer possessed by it.
The theory states that Hoppers daughter death was faked by Hawkins lab because she possessed powers similar to Eleven's. After her faked death she was made to do similar experiments as we see Eleven do and whilst exploring the Upside Down she got lost reappearing in Russia.
4) Eleven turns evil is the season 4 villain.
When asked about spoilers for season the writing team gave the lyrics of a Florence and the machines song. It tells the story of someone coping with the loss of someone to darkness, and as a result, falling into the darkness themselves. Fans have come to think this means Eleven spiralling after the loss of Hopper, and being taken in by a dark side.
5) Will created the Upside Down.
This theory suggests Will subconsciously created the Upside Down because he has powers like Eleven however instead of telepathy he can bring his imagination to life and accidentally created the Upside Down. This would explain how Will managed to survive in the Upside down for so long and why he was targeted in the first season. Also it explains why the Upside Down and Will appear connected throughout the series for example why does the Mind Flayer appears when Will is stressed and Will can still feel it's presence even after he is no longer possessed by it.
Conclusion:
After researching both of the shows I'm going to base my podcast on Stranger Things fan theories I found more interesting and feel as they are easy talking points and prompts. Also I found that most of the theories about Friends can easily be disproved and I don't feel as though I would have a lot to say about each. For example "Mr Heckles was murdered" can be disproved because he was constantly lying throughout his time on the show. Whereas I feel that the Stranger Things theories are easier to discuss as the series is not over yet meaning none of these theories have solid answers.
Background research:
The show first aired on Netflix on the 15th July 2016 as a Netflix original created by the Duffer Brothers. The Brothers had only ever had two other projects (hidden and Wayward Pines) before Netflix picked up their show. Netflix actually owes some of it's recent success to the show before the third series aired a survey was taken which revealed 13% of former subscribers are planning to resubscribe just to watch the third series. Its obvious that this show has a huge fan base as it was viewed by 40.7 million households within the first four days of the release of the third series. The shows success pushed the streaming service to produce more original content to help beat their competitors. With the shows 3rd seasons leaving so many unanswered questions the fan base have made their own theories.
The show first aired on Netflix on the 15th July 2016 as a Netflix original created by the Duffer Brothers. The Brothers had only ever had two other projects (hidden and Wayward Pines) before Netflix picked up their show. Netflix actually owes some of it's recent success to the show before the third series aired a survey was taken which revealed 13% of former subscribers are planning to resubscribe just to watch the third series. Its obvious that this show has a huge fan base as it was viewed by 40.7 million households within the first four days of the release of the third series. The shows success pushed the streaming service to produce more original content to help beat their competitors. With the shows 3rd seasons leaving so many unanswered questions the fan base have made their own theories.
Target Audience:
Within my research I found that age demographic for the T.V show Stranger Things is 18-49 years this will correlate with my podcasts target audience. Although it is possible to listen to the podcast if you don't watch the show I feel as if the podcast would't be as enjoyable or even make sense. This is why it is important to consider the shows demographic within my research. On a website giving information about podcast views in America I found a survey that says 36% of men listen to podcasts monthly compared to only 29% of women. Which suggests to me that I should aim my podcast more towards males. Also on the website I discovered only 17% of people aged 55 and over listen to podcasts which makes it clear I don't need to try to attract that age demographic. This fits well with the information I got about the viewers of Stranger Things both age demographics fit well together. My age demographic has a wide variation however I feel as though this doesn't matter very much.
Video research:
I tried doing some research on YouTube but couldn't find any videos I wanted the majority of videos was on equipment they recommended and how to use it. Whereas I had learnt this in lesson and was looking for videos on tips for achieving the best sound with elements outside of the technology.
Podcast:
Clash of the titles episode 26
This is a podcast comparing two different films with one thing in common.
To start the introduction music is very intense creating an excited atmosphere. Also I noticed the hosts often bounce off of what each other say but never speak over each other making the conservation confusing. They include small sound effects such as tick noises and buzzes however they don't let the effects over shadow their voices. The host's voices have a joyous tones and they seem to alter pitch and volume throughout. In the podcast they compare two films but provide a lot of background information on both films to give their audience a better understanding.
Friends with Friends
The One With Rose Matafeo
The podcast starts without even mentioning the theme of the podcast and instead is the hosts laughing and chatting. This podcast is made up of two hosts and one guest. The theme song is interruption of the friends theme song then they introduced the podcast which by this point is three minutes through the episode. For a first time listener this seemed odd and made it hard to follow along with the show so far. As they introduce the podcast the theme song slowly fades out which is really good similar to how I picture my podcast. Then the guest talks about her connection to the show was actually heartwarming. The podcast didn't have a good structured it often seemed as if they good of course and then some good points were left undeveloped. Overall this podcast has helped me to understand why having a script is important and also that an introduction early on is crucial.
YouTube:
Top 10 Insane Fan Theories About The Simpsons.
The video starts by doing a short synopsis of the long running T.V show then explains what the video is about. Throughout, the background is clips from the show so the viewer has something to watch which is relevant to the topic. While each theory is mentioned there is a faint music track running behind the narrator's voice. To set up each theory the narrator states the theory in it's simplest description then whilst a graphic appears along the bottom of the screen also stating the theory.
For example:
The narrator then explains where the theory first appeared giving credit to it's creator. The narrator will then explain in detail about the theory and why it might be possible. The video's climax is when the best fan theory is revealed which add's a bit more suspense to the video rather than it just being about fan theories.
This video helped me understand the best way to set up a fan theory to make it more interesting and also helped to show me why deciding on an overall best theory might make my podcast more enjoyable.
Survey Research:
The majority of the people who took the survey are aged under 24 which tells me that my results came from a younger generation.
The majority of people who took my survey were female.
When asked 33.33% said they listen to podcast and 44.44% said they only sometimes listen to podcast's which probably means they only listen when interested in a subject. Because my podcast is the only one available which has the intention of discussing Stranger things Fan Theories it's unique and will probably draw in people who don't always listen to podcasts.
Out of the people I asked 77% watched Stranger Things which is helpful for my research as their answers now have relation to the show I want to talk about.
55% of people said they don't enjoy fan theories although this is a slight majority from my previous research I have still discovered that there is a market for people who enjoy fan theories. So although this isn't the answer I expected it hasn't swayed me from my topic.
77% of the survey takers said they enjoyed learning additional information about shows and films which has helped back up my earlier research and my plan to open the podcast with background information about the show.
Only 11% said they didn't enjoy listening to other peoples opinions which is really good because this is the basis of my podcast. This is important to highlight that my viewers would be interested in hearing the opinions of other stranger things fans.
Overall my survey helped to support ideas I already had and also proved I have a potential audience for my podcast.
Testing sound for rooms:
Overall it's obvious I need to use mono wave when recording because with out it just sounded bizarre and unconnected. I also think the best room to record in is the living room because it let the least amount of traffic noise in and also had no echo.
Research:
I tried doing some research on YouTube but couldn't find any videos I wanted the majority of videos was on equipment they recommended and how to use it. Whereas I had learnt this in lesson and was looking for videos on tips for achieving the best sound with elements outside of the technology.
Podcast:
Clash of the titles episode 26
This is a podcast comparing two different films with one thing in common.
To start the introduction music is very intense creating an excited atmosphere. Also I noticed the hosts often bounce off of what each other say but never speak over each other making the conservation confusing. They include small sound effects such as tick noises and buzzes however they don't let the effects over shadow their voices. The host's voices have a joyous tones and they seem to alter pitch and volume throughout. In the podcast they compare two films but provide a lot of background information on both films to give their audience a better understanding.
Friends with Friends
The One With Rose Matafeo
The podcast starts without even mentioning the theme of the podcast and instead is the hosts laughing and chatting. This podcast is made up of two hosts and one guest. The theme song is interruption of the friends theme song then they introduced the podcast which by this point is three minutes through the episode. For a first time listener this seemed odd and made it hard to follow along with the show so far. As they introduce the podcast the theme song slowly fades out which is really good similar to how I picture my podcast. Then the guest talks about her connection to the show was actually heartwarming. The podcast didn't have a good structured it often seemed as if they good of course and then some good points were left undeveloped. Overall this podcast has helped me to understand why having a script is important and also that an introduction early on is crucial.
YouTube:
Top 10 Insane Fan Theories About The Simpsons.
The video starts by doing a short synopsis of the long running T.V show then explains what the video is about. Throughout, the background is clips from the show so the viewer has something to watch which is relevant to the topic. While each theory is mentioned there is a faint music track running behind the narrator's voice. To set up each theory the narrator states the theory in it's simplest description then whilst a graphic appears along the bottom of the screen also stating the theory.
For example:
The narrator then explains where the theory first appeared giving credit to it's creator. The narrator will then explain in detail about the theory and why it might be possible. The video's climax is when the best fan theory is revealed which add's a bit more suspense to the video rather than it just being about fan theories.
This video helped me understand the best way to set up a fan theory to make it more interesting and also helped to show me why deciding on an overall best theory might make my podcast more enjoyable.
Survey Research:
The majority of the people who took the survey are aged under 24 which tells me that my results came from a younger generation.
The majority of people who took my survey were female.
When asked 33.33% said they listen to podcast and 44.44% said they only sometimes listen to podcast's which probably means they only listen when interested in a subject. Because my podcast is the only one available which has the intention of discussing Stranger things Fan Theories it's unique and will probably draw in people who don't always listen to podcasts.
Out of the people I asked 77% watched Stranger Things which is helpful for my research as their answers now have relation to the show I want to talk about.
55% of people said they don't enjoy fan theories although this is a slight majority from my previous research I have still discovered that there is a market for people who enjoy fan theories. So although this isn't the answer I expected it hasn't swayed me from my topic.
77% of the survey takers said they enjoyed learning additional information about shows and films which has helped back up my earlier research and my plan to open the podcast with background information about the show.
Only 11% said they didn't enjoy listening to other peoples opinions which is really good because this is the basis of my podcast. This is important to highlight that my viewers would be interested in hearing the opinions of other stranger things fans.
Overall my survey helped to support ideas I already had and also proved I have a potential audience for my podcast.
Testing sound for rooms:
Overall it's obvious I need to use mono wave when recording because with out it just sounded bizarre and unconnected. I also think the best room to record in is the living room because it let the least amount of traffic noise in and also had no echo.
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