The Hungary Games: How Marathoning Can Be Diplomacy

I think it is safe to say that media marathoning has a way of creating community and connection amongst different people.  It can unite readers and writers and create consensus on the best shows.  It can give old friends even more things to talk about.  It can make a foreign student feel welcome and understood…

The Most Interesting Media Marathoner

  Spring break has finally arrived (phew!), and I’m now working on the introduction to the media marathoning project. The current iteration of the introduction incorporates how content-delivery technologies have fueled changes in viewer/reader behaviors and media content. The essential argument is that our ability to stream and download has encouraged more immersive viewing/reading experiences…

I Tried to Steal CNET’s Thunder

Avid Media Marathoning blog reader (and behind-the-scenes contributor), Josh Perks, just sent me a CNET article that echoes last week’s “Beware the DVR” post. Writer Chris Matyszczyk provides further support that the time-shifting technologies are really time-eating technologies. He also seems to know the list of commonly marathoned texts quite well, referencing “quality TV” staples…

Beware the DVR

It’s again that time in the academic year where professors, staff, and students all feel that they are behind in their work. (In the restaurant world, we would be “in the weeds.”) I am not only behind on grading, conference paper writing, and lesson prep, but I am also behind on watching TV. I am…

Breaking Up With a Show

The winter television hiatus might also have you questioning whether or not you’ll return to a show. My students discussed their media breakups last semester and came up with a comprehensive list of what makes them want to leave a show. These are reasons a television show/viewer relationship may go stale: 1. No Carrot to…

Real and Fantasy Collide

  After denuding a brussels sprout stalk, I banged it on the counter and barked at Josh, “You shall not pass!” when he tried to enter the kitchen. I was inspired to make this post after I realized how often Josh and I quote from our favorite marathoned texts. Marathoned texts do show up in…

On a Downton Train

In a previous post I mentioned that Josh and I marathoned Downton Abbey. Although viewing Downton Abbey began for work-related purposes (taking notes on a commonly marathoned text), it quickly evolved into a pure, addiction-driven marathon. I think I was hooked at about the second episode when Matthew, the surprise new heir to the estate,…

Social Networking: Fan to Fan and Fan to Producer

Post by Sarah Marshall: In our class discussions, we talk a lot about waiting anxiety, fan activity, and producer to fan relationships. For fans of television shows, waiting for the next season of their beloved series and be agitating. It can sometimes take more than a year for a new season to be released. During…