Cult television

Cult television, like cult figures, cult film and cult radio, attracts a band of aficionados devoted to a specific television program or unreal universe.

Related Topics:
Television - Cult figure - Cult film - Cult radio

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What exactly makes something "cult" is widely debated. Some popular and strongly interconnected definitions are:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1. A genre, covering all programs that play with widely held beliefs and perceptions. This covers most programs in genres like science fiction, fantasy, horror and some forms of comedy (especially most forms of British comedy). Most adult animation programs (like much anime) are included. Such programs are generally much more popular with men than women. Those with autistic spectrum, geek or religious personality traits tend to be particularly attracted to them. See psychographics.

Related Topics:
Genre - Science fiction - Fantasy - Horror - Comedy - British comedy - Adult animation - Anime - Autistic spectrum - Geek - Religious - Psychographics

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2. Any program that has a strong loyal audience that thinks a lot about the show, especially the world in which it is set. Such programs generally have a much higher than average level of intensity. Most such shows are of the "cult" genre. This interest and support by fans is seen by some as being similar to religions and cults, hence the term. The most loyal fans often have autistic spectrum, geek or religious personality traits.

Related Topics:
Autistic spectrum - Geek - Religious

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

3. Any program that has achieved a moderate level of popularity, but not a large one. This is what is usually meant when a program is said to have "reached cult status." Even if a group of people agree on this definition of "cult status", arguments on a show's status of this type are common as the "moderate" band has two highly subjective borders.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

4. Any unpopular or obscure program. This definition encompasses the third one, but also includes shows with only a small level of popularity. This definition is also used by those conferring "cult status". It is easier to reach consensus on than the other because only one subjective boundary is involved.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Obscurity often makes programs more popular with intense fans. Many shows that some people found strongly compelling were not hits in their original runs, and quite a few well-loved shows had only a season (or less) worth of material.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~