7 Week Project Check-In + Updates

I'm halfway though the semester! Here are my reflections on the project so far.

How do you feel your research progress is meeting the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the semester? What research milestone(s) are you especially proud of so far?

 I think that my research has been going well so far. This is the first time I’ve researched a topic that doesn’t already have established criticism or analysis around it, so it has been challenging but also very rewarding. It’s definitely a different approach trying to build a theoretical framework and make new connections to build theory, but I think I’ve made a lot of progress so far and I’m excited to keep going. I want to publish an article on this topic once I’m satisfied with my analysis, and I’m looking forward to that process too. When it comes to the archival side of my research, I’ve made a lot of progress and am feeling more and more confident with my understanding and knowledge of the topic, in terms of the size and scope of the trend and its major players. I’m preparing to begin the bulk of the archival materials gathering soon. So far I’m proud that I’ve been able to synthesize some new ways of thinking about my topic, because I didn’t go into that process with a lot of confidence. I think that theoretically I definitely have enough for my project and paper already, but I will definitely continue to write and research so that I can work towards publishing something!

How is your project vision/previsualization process meeting the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the semester? What production milestone(s) are you especially proud of so far?

 I think that I’m starting to get somewhere in terms of my project vision, but it’s still feeling pretty abstract to me at this point. It’s difficult to know the kind of content that I’ll get through interviews and submissions so I’m not sure how much I’m able to work on structuring the project beforehand. I think that gathering archival footage will definitely help with the production planning side, because I’ll have a better idea of what I’m working with. I believe that the story will come together later. Visually, I have a strong idea of what I’m doing because of how distinct the aesthetics and style are within my topic. However, I am still struggling with the branding because I want to get it right. I know that I need to decide soon so that I can build out my website and start posting and accepting submissions. That will be the next step for me. So far, I’m proud of the plan I have for combining submissions, interviews and archival footage. But I also know that I have a long way to go in this area.

How would you articulate how what you are doing in terms of project development and academic research will produce a final project that addresses this expectation?

 I definitely think that I have a strong theoretical basis for my topic already. My research goal so far has been to understand the horror host as a figure, to understand their shows, and to understand horror hosting fans and their behaviors. I think that I’ve made a lot of progress with the first part, through incorporating pre-existing literature as well as through my archival research. Like I said, I think that I will have enough to write an article about that specific part of the topic by the end of my project, because I’m confident with the ways I’ve been able to combine theories and perspectives so far. With the second two parts, I'm less advanced but starting to get somewhere. Both of those areas require a lot of research, between watching the shows, interviewing, and analyzing fan responses. However, I think the literature I’ve reviewed and incorporated so far has given me a strong basis for understanding fan activity and what appeals to fans, so I’ll have good support once I get further into the archival materials. 

What are you most looking forward to in the second half of our semester together, as you continue to develop your research-informed creative production project?

I’m most looking forward to the process of actually making things, not just in the project itself but also through the website I’m planning and the connections I hope to make this semester. I want to do some side projects like making a horror hosting map and timeline, connecting with other enthusiasts and potentially collaborating, and making social media content. I think that this will keep me engaged with the production and also give me a lot of extra material to work with that will further enrich my understanding. I’m a bit nervous about the production process, but I’m also confident in my committee and I know I have the support and resources to make the project a success.