From Fiction to Reality: The Composite Epitextual Structure of K-pop Demon Hunters

Key Points

• The study aims to investigate how fan reactions within and outside the narrative structure of K-pop Demon Hunters shape emotional engagement and content interpretation.
• Analyzed fan reactions using paratext theory to differentiate between in-narrative and real-world responses.
• Applied affect theory to interpret emotional transference mechanisms between these layers.
• Examined feedback loops connecting fictional and real-world emotional engagement.
• Emotional responses elicited in fiction transformed into active participation and consumption in reality, leading to a feedback loop.
• The process strengthened the meaning network of the work and contributed to the discourse within the fandom.
• The study presents a conceptual framework termed 'composite epitextual structure' to outline these dynamics.