#strangeescapes

When it comes to social media it’s mostly about the fans. Franchises, networking sites, and people in general depend of the fans and consumers to upload, download, and comment on their sites for survival. The term used in the reading to define the way these sites organize at the most basic level is “grassroots” and this means the “fans”. Fans are the most active ingredient in social media, and the community culture on which it thrives. I understand that participation on these sites, and in these communities, is voluntary, but it is also necessary. Social media is a place where fans can connect with their idols, heroes, and just people they wouldn’t normally be able to connect with. It also allows them to participate and be active in an environment that may be out of their element. Take for instance the paranormal and paranormal investigator. How often do you really run into someone who hunts ghosts for a living? Rarely, if at all. I happen to love the paranormal, even though it scares the crap out of me sometimes. I have never once met a person who bases their career or lifestyle around ghost hunting.

Above is a picture of Amy Bruni (who I follow on multiple feeds) and her partner Adam Berry. They are at a location called The Stanley Hotel. The Stanley Hotel is famous for being a paranormal hotspot because it is the location that the movie The Shining is based on from the author of the novel by Stephen King. They are talking to an audience of fans who are there to investigate this location with them. How cool is that? I can’t wait to go on one of their tours and investigate a famous “haunted” location. This is partially because I am interested in the paranormal, but also because I would love the opportunity to meet these investigators in a more “behind-the-scenes” setting. If it weren’t for the fact that I follow her feeds and fans excitement about Strange Escapes, I would have never thought that this type of experience was available to the fans. 

In this photo we see Nick Groff, another famous paranormal investigator from the series Paranormal Lockdown signing autographs for his fans. It is important to build these relationships and connections with fans because, according to Henry Jenkins, 2 characteristics of participatory culture come from these types of interaction. First it allows the fans in the community to believe that their contribution matters to him. It is showing them that he appreciates them. The other characteristic this photo implies is that they are socially “connected”. Not just a name on his Facebook page, but a face behind the name. 

Ghost Hunting In the spirit of Halloween, my favorite holiday, I would like to talk about ghost hunting. I love all things horror and the paranormal. There is nothing better than being scared, not for your life, but the type of scared that gives you goose bump flesh, and butterflies in your stomach. There is an anticipation about the afterlife for almost everyone I believe, regardless of religion, race, age, gender, and social class. It is the unknown about life after death that is so intriguing. I have always loved watching television shows about the paranormal, and horror movies are my one and only. There is even a National Ghost Hunting Day, which is September 30 in Louisiana (of course) where ghost hunters from all over gather to hunt in one of the most allegedly haunted areas in the United States. Although I have never experienced anything paranormal in my own home, I do like the idea of believing in ghosts. I have always wanted to go on a ghost hunt and have even had conversations with my boyfriend about traveling through the United States, staying in “haunted” bed and breakfasts, hotels, and going to the local haunted areas. Sounds weird, even a little deranged maybe, but it’s something that has always fascinated me.

What I am interested in is delving into is the fan culture, or community culture, in the paranormal world of social media. There are the obvious “famous” paranormal investigators, who produce television shows that intrigue more people by being on reality television circuit. Then on the other hand; there are the not so popular communities of fans who are really just invested in the idea of is there is something greater happening after we pass on? What are the differences in these two types of communities, do they interact in a more powerful and in depth, or honest form when the world hasn’t been made aware of the passion of paranormal research by television? Is there more sentiment in communities that are smaller, and not surrounded by the popularity of it all?

I have decided to follow 4 different accounts that all have multiple forums on social media. Amy Bruni, Strange Escapes, Nick Groff, and The Shadowlands. Amy Bruni is a television personality in the paranormal society who is the producer of the show called “Kindred Spirits”. Amy is a public figure in Boston, Massachusetts known for her work in the paranormal. Amy has accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with over 200,000 followers. Strange Escapes is where fans of the paranormal can find haunted places  to investigate, and find answers to the question “I wish I could do that”. This is a smaller forum and community of people with 2,500 people on Twitter and Instagram, and about 20,0000 followers on Facebook. This is a arena where fans and investigators can join together for an adventure in the land of the unknown. Nick Groff is also a paranormal investigator, and executive producer of a television show called “Paranormal Lockdown”, as well as a show called “Ghosts of Shepherdstown”. As a child he fell out of a tree and had a near death experience, and 2 years later at the age of 10, he saw his first real ghost. Ever since these traumatic events occurred in his childhood, he has been deeply affected by the paranormal world. I am following Nick on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, where he is followed by around 600,000 people.His accounts are the most popular of 4 I will be following. The last account I will discuss is called The Shadowlands. The Shadowlands claims to be the original society and culture site, being around for 23 years now, This account is followed by fans who are interested in the paranormal and are geared toward a community of open-minded people who are not famous, or have television shows. They only have a desire to know more about what is “out there”.  The Shadowlands have a much smaller community of only around 2000 followers, and here in these forums I believe i can find a more intimate relationship between the ghost hunting culture and it’s fans.