How has Fandom shaped Spectatorship?

Fandom has shaped spectatorship in several ways. It is no longer seen as exclusively for men, but also incorporates varying ages and gender. A reason for this being that it is now excepted and integrated into mainstream society, helped through movies such as Lord of the Rings; which acted as a transition from Fandom being considered sad or obsessive, to an element of mainstream society. Specifically in relation to shaping spectatorship, having a Fandom allows the audience to get on board with the franchise and buy into all the other elements such as services like forums or merchandise. The audience can feel a part of the films and relate with favourite characters and express their views; becoming something that has its very own community of followers or dedicated fans. In having a Fandom for a series of films however, the segment of the audience that remains dedicated to the franchise and immerse themselves in the films, can often be enthusiastic to the point where they are uncritical.