Abstract

GORRESE, Gisela  and  JABLONSKI, Bernardo. From the expression of affection to the affection of expression: soap opera fans’ letters. Interações [online]. 2002, vol.7, n.14, pp. 35-58. ISSN 1413-2907.

We analyzed the contents of 70 letters mailed to a leading actor of a recent soap opera. Our research intended to study the strategies used by those fans in their attempt of being unique among others millions fans that send this kind of correspondence. Our investigation - that used as a theorethical frame the contributions from different areas as sociology, mass communication studies, philosophy, beyond social psychology - showed a strong manifestation of the ideal of romantic love and its components of idealization - the conviction that this is the supreme ideal that has to be conquered and lived by each one - emerging in the speech of those fans. The letter works as a possibility to elaborate their feelings and an exercise of their self.

Keywords : Letters; Mass media; Soap operas; Romantic love; Subjectivity.

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