Conclusion
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The previous blog posts have outlined how important nostalgia and popular culture references are within films such as Guardians of the Galaxy, and what a key role fans and audiences are for the film and the different media surrounding it.
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Gunn’s use of intertextuality to produce a sense of nostalgia and an emotional connection to the film, works well with the style and genre of the text. Informing the audience that this is part of the same universe as previous Marvel films, but has a lighter and less serious tone; also “recycling” scenes from old movies to show the audience the inspiration for certain parts of the film. For example, using similar scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark works on the audiences pre-existing knowledge and relationship to the text, and builds on that with a new storyline.
Similarly, with Awesome Mix Vol. 1, the use of songs from the 70’s/80s, which are also available to buy on vinyl and cassette, provides a doorway to the past for audiences. With items such as the Sony Walkman featured, older audiences can relive the 80’s through the character of Quill, and works as a novelty for younger audiences.
Other films in the Marvel Universe use a lot of intertextuality, but Guardians uses it more effectively, and creates more depth to the characters, and makes them more relatable for audiences of all demographics. Nostalgia is an important part to the success of the film because audiences are romanticising the past, so they are buying a way back to when they were younger.
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The more content that is included within the film, means active audiences have more to interact with, they create their culture around the text, so they can share and collaborate with other fans both online and at events. Guardians of the Galaxy proves that comic book films can attract a wider audience if they successfully accommodate a wider audience, therefore creating more fans. For franchises as big as Marvel, the fans are one of the most crucial parts that determine the success of the films. As long as the films provide enough entertainment and content for fans, they will continue to create and participate in the films world to extend the film and the company’s success.