Event Title

Dying to Know: Viewers of Paranormal Reality Television Negotiating Topics of Death and the Afterlife Online

Presenter Information

Diane Dobry, Independent Scholar

Location

Panel 24: Kearney 310

Start Date

27-10-2012 1:15 PM

End Date

27-10-2012 2:45 PM

Description

The topic of death in America is discouraged in common social interactions, and outside of religious organizations and hospitals, popular culture is a primary resource that offers the opportunity to look at death, the afterlife and similar mysteries from a number of different perspectives. Paranormal reality television (PRTV) programs not only offer consideration of these ideas, they bring the added notion of negotiating their "reality" to the viewing experience. Online discussions related to these programs offer insight into such negotiations, discussions, opportunities and efforts to find like-minded others interested in expressing a diversity of ideas, personal experiences and beliefs with others at an anonymous level. They also open up possibilities for new ways that popular culture can and does expand to facilitate these interactions.

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Oct 27th, 1:15 PM Oct 27th, 2:45 PM

Dying to Know: Viewers of Paranormal Reality Television Negotiating Topics of Death and the Afterlife Online

Panel 24: Kearney 310

The topic of death in America is discouraged in common social interactions, and outside of religious organizations and hospitals, popular culture is a primary resource that offers the opportunity to look at death, the afterlife and similar mysteries from a number of different perspectives. Paranormal reality television (PRTV) programs not only offer consideration of these ideas, they bring the added notion of negotiating their "reality" to the viewing experience. Online discussions related to these programs offer insight into such negotiations, discussions, opportunities and efforts to find like-minded others interested in expressing a diversity of ideas, personal experiences and beliefs with others at an anonymous level. They also open up possibilities for new ways that popular culture can and does expand to facilitate these interactions.