IF LIFE IMITATED ART: networked mediation in the participatory culture of queer literature fans as a catalyst for audiovisual adaptations

mediações em rede na cultura participativa dos fãs de literatura queer como estímulo para adaptações audiovisuais

Abstract

This study addresses the information mediation practices promoted through the participatory culture of LGBTQIAPN+ literature fans on digital social networks and the resulting impacts of interactions between readers and content producers on the internet. In this sense, the interaction of the fandom of Red, White and Royal Blue (RWRB), a book by Casey McQuiston adapted for film, stands out. Thus, the general objective of the research is to investigate information mediation practices and the bond established by participatory culture from the perspective of the reading community of the aforementioned work. In line with this, the following specific objectives were articulated: a) to verify how Mediation, Queer Theory, and Participatory Culture are articulated in the context of the relationship between fans, literary works, and audiovisual adaptations, with an emphasis on the LGBTQIAPN+ community; b) to analyse the perception of the creators of the website and social media profile X (formerly Twitter) ‘Vermelho, Branco & Sangue Azul Brasil’ regarding their role in disseminating information about the novel studied; and c) to examine whether the mediating practices carried out by fans of the work influenced its film adaptation. In terms of methodological procedures, this is an applied research study with a qualitative, exploratory-descriptive approach to its objectives and a bibliographic and documentary survey, in addition to the phenomenological method used to guide the study. For the data collection stage, the instruments chosen were structured interviews with the administrators of ‘Vermelho, Branco & Sangue Azul Brasil’ and an online questionnaire for followers of that page on the digital social network X. Data interpretation was carried out according to the assumptions of Content Analysis. The results point to the recognition of fans, that is, from the perspective of the groups of producers and consumers participating in the research, as essential for the popularization of works in the digital sphere. It is concluded that the practices of information mediation carried out by fans, especially those who manage internet pages and disseminate information, have a notable influence on the process of adapting literary productions to audiovisual products. In addition, it is identified that these mediating actions also contribute to the creation and strengthening of inclusive and welcoming digital environments for the LGBTQIAPN+ community, as well as reinforcing the importance and involvement of fans in cultural, political, and social transformations.