Narratives, Nerdfighters, and New Media
by Jennifer Burek Pierce
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Pub Date Nov 15 2020 | Archive Date Nov 15 2020
University of Iowa Press | University Of Iowa Press
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Description
For decades, we’ve been warned that video killed the radio star, and, more recently, that social media has replaced reading. Nerdfighteria, a first-of-its-kind online literary community with nearly three million members, challenges these assumptions. It is the brainchild of brothers Hank and John Green, who provide literary themed programming on their website and YouTube channel, including video clips from John, a best-selling author most famous for his young adult book, The Fault in Our Stars. These clips not only give fans personal insights into his works and the writing process writ large, they also provide unique access to the author, inspiring fans to create their own fan art and make connections with one another.
In the twenty-first century, reading and watching videos are related activities that allow people to engage with authors and other readers. Whether they turn to The Fault in Our Stars or titles by lesser-known authors, Nerdfighters are readers. Incorporating thousands of testimonials about what they read and why, Jennifer Burek Pierce not only sheds light on this particular online community, she also reveals what it tells us about the changing nature of reading in the digital age. In Nerdfighteria, we find a community who shows us that being online doesn’t mean disinterest in books.
Advance Praise
“Devotees of the work of the Brothers Green—John and Hank—will be delighted by Burek Pierce’s deep dive into the world of Nerdfighteria. A model of academic integrity, this book is of such compelling interest that it will find a general readership alongside an enthusiastic academic one. Nerdfighters will rejoice.”—Michael Cart, YA literature expert
“New media have not replaced books, but they have radically transformed the way we read them. Jennifer Burek Pierce offers a deeply researched analysis of a revolution in progress. She can help you understand how the current generation engages with literature.”—Jonathan Rose, author, The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes
“Burek Pierce does a masterful job of providing the reader with a clear description of the online community of John and Hank Green’s Nerdfighters. She also provides a clear and engaging picture of her own experience in that world, as a scholarly researcher and a genuine fan and observer-participant Nerdfighter herself. The text weaves these insider / outsider perspectives into a clear and very engaging portrait of the multifaceted community of Nerdfighters.”—Christine Jenkins, coauthor, The Heart Has Its Reasons: Young Adult Literature with Gay / Lesbian / Queer Content, 1969–2004
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781609387181 |
| PRICE | $39.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 210 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Educator 702564
This is definitely a very niche book. That being said, if you have an interest in the convergence of the internet, radio, and books (or if you're a Nerdfighter), you'll enjoy this read. It took me a while to get into the writing style - a bit circuitous at times - but I really enjoyed how the book explored the influence of Nerdfighteria as well as what can be inferred about readers.
Mikayla T, Reviewer
This is an awesome thesis and book for any Nerdfighter. I loved the analysis and it gave me a new perspective on a fandom and community I hold so dear.
Martin L, Media/Journalist
Diving into Jennifer Pierce's research on Nerdfighteria, I didn't know anything about the topic. Rather, I was drawn to the book based on the other terms of its title - narratives and new media. So, I am far from being the best person to say whether this work is innovative or "correct" even (whatever that might mean.)
What I can tell you, though, is that Pierce's book is incredibly informative and interesting. It's technical and academic, sure, but not to a degree that makes the uninitiated in the topic run away in horror. Rather, it strikes a great balance between introducing its topic and delving deep into it.
I'm not sure if I'll ever get into the community or check the VlogBrothers's videos, but I'm very glad I was able to learn about them.
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