What makes a cult classic?
Jul. 12th, 2004 08:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
saifaiBeen getting into a discussion on a board I moderate about what makes a cult classic. There'd been a list of the top 25 cult classics. That begged the question of why some shows didn't make it, like Battlestar Gallactica. I wonder though, how many folks confuse a popular show with a cult classic. What makes a cult?
I'd initially put it down to the fan essentials: fan fiction and memorabilia. That of course lead to the argument that, "Well then why don't we slash the President with his aide and get election buttons for West Wing?" Actually, I believe the exact words had to do with writing Josh/Toby slash (raised eyebrow at knowing the term), collecting the entire series of Simpsons on DVD, and handing out "Bartlet is President" sign and buttons.
How this is relevant I don't know, but then again I don't watch the show either. I suppose it was a thought that required a clarification. I put my next thoughts on the subject as such, "Think about it. Cult following. There's a cult of people following around adoring the show. It's not just about the fan fiction and memorabilia. But we're not talking about just a popular show. Charmed was a popular show, but they didn't quite have the cult following that Buffy the Vampire Slayer did. These are the shows that end up being revisted in conventions. The ones that fans contribute big bucks to see them keep going. The ones that fans can't help but write fan fiction about. There's a difference between a cult classic and a popular show. And it has nothing to do with ratings and/or how many people watch the show."
Am I wrong though? What is it that seperates a cult classic from a popular show?
And yeah, using Charmed was a bad example. They don't exactly have the best ratings either, but whatever.
I'd initially put it down to the fan essentials: fan fiction and memorabilia. That of course lead to the argument that, "Well then why don't we slash the President with his aide and get election buttons for West Wing?" Actually, I believe the exact words had to do with writing Josh/Toby slash (raised eyebrow at knowing the term), collecting the entire series of Simpsons on DVD, and handing out "Bartlet is President" sign and buttons.
How this is relevant I don't know, but then again I don't watch the show either. I suppose it was a thought that required a clarification. I put my next thoughts on the subject as such, "Think about it. Cult following. There's a cult of people following around adoring the show. It's not just about the fan fiction and memorabilia. But we're not talking about just a popular show. Charmed was a popular show, but they didn't quite have the cult following that Buffy the Vampire Slayer did. These are the shows that end up being revisted in conventions. The ones that fans contribute big bucks to see them keep going. The ones that fans can't help but write fan fiction about. There's a difference between a cult classic and a popular show. And it has nothing to do with ratings and/or how many people watch the show."
Am I wrong though? What is it that seperates a cult classic from a popular show?
And yeah, using Charmed was a bad example. They don't exactly have the best ratings either, but whatever.
