Will You Accept This Rose?

Every summer, for those of us in the knowledge community surrounding the ABC show The Bachelorette, is a summer of love. We convene bi-weekly in front of our televisions or our computers to watch one extremely lucky bachelorette - Ali - go one dream dates with scores of handsome men and search for “the one”. Jenkins defines knowledge communities as forming out of a shared intellectual interest, and what is more relatable to every human than the search for love? The viewers of the show stretch across a wide demographic, even though most of us are women our ages range from early teens to seventies. We may not have much in common outside of the show, but the common interest in watching and therefore vicariously finding love through magical dates brings us all together.

I think most of the appeal of The Bachelorette lies in the shared interest of those of us in the knowledge community. My friends and I use this shared interest to get together and watch the show, commenting on everything from where the dates are, what the men say, how they act etc. Even if we can’t be together in person we use text messaging to discuss events as they unfold. We’ve formed our own interior participant group and this links us closer in society since we are able to make references (to Kasey’s comical and repetitive use of the phrase “guard and protect your heart”) and talk about events that exterior participants know nothing about.

Jenkins mentions that, “none of us can know everything, but each of us knows something,” a perfect idea to bring up in reference to the knowledge community of The Bachelorette. Every week rumors abound of who won’t be getting a rose, predictions from fans on forums, blogs, in tabloids and even among my small group of friends. Just like Jenkins’ example of spoilers in the show Survivor there are people connected to the contestants of the show who leak information about past flames (even going as far as calling Ali on the phone to tell her of a contestant’s existing fiancé) and attempt to uncover who will be the last man standing. In this sense Jenkins’ idea of collective intelligence - the combination of knowledge from all community members – can be “disorderly, undisciplined and unruly”. Tabloids constantly print malicious gossip about The Bachelorette (Ali’s secret past with Roberto when they both live in separate states? Unlikely) and contestants from supposedly informed and credible sources, and even fans of the show who firmly believe “their guy” is the one for Ali use technologies as outlets for their frustration when he isn’t chosen.

The Bachelorette takes full advantage of convergence culture using multiple outlets for fans to congregate and discuss the events of the show. There is a show forum on ABC’s website, magazine and television interviews, the cast members have personal Facebook sites etc. There’s even a blog on ABC’s website called He Said/She Said where fans candidly discuss their views on Ali’s decisions.

As part of the knowledge community surrounding The Bachelorette we communally share in experiencing the show – and this season was especially easy to become absorbed in with Roberto and Chris to watch. I find myself often thinking of ways to make the date less awkward, wondering who the bachelorette will give a rose to at the end of the show (definitely NOT Kasey), or analyzing body language to see if I can discover any hint of a connection and often debating Ali’s poor decision to give the final rose to Roberto – Go Chris!Completely Gratuitous