Stranger Things Fandom, Merchandise and Marketing

 

Stranger Things 2 Super Bowl 2017 Add

The beginning of the season 2 trailer is a homage to the 80's with a classic 80's TV advert. This creates nostalgia for the older audience and authenticity for the younger audience which brings in a wider audience.

The trailer transitions from the advert to Stranger Things with fuzz like from an old TV to create more nostalgia for the audience. This can create a suspension of disbelief in the viewer and gets them hyped for the new series.

The advert contains the well known Stranger things neon red font as it is recognisable branding which creates synergy. Netflix wants to create momentum with the series by using Neale's theory of repetition and difference with the number "2" which inspires fandom. 

The end of the trailer celebrates the success that Stranger Things season 1 had with the "Only On Netflix" flipping upside down to show how invested they are and it brands the LFTVD as their own. This also creates synergy as it is recognisable and associated with Stranger Things. Netflix relies on the show to gain popularity, more revenue and make it a headline streaming service. 

Stranger Things Season 1 Trailer 1

The trailer opens with a shot of an old radio, dating the time that the show is set. Then the trailer cuts to a shot of the typical 80's family of the Wheeler's with a clean house and relaxed family. This brings nostalgia of the 80's to audiences who were alive then which attracts a wider audience and increases 

                                                                                    the shows popularity.

We are also introduced to the character of Joyce who is the opposite of the Wheeler family, panicking and dressed scruffy, we do not see a partner of Joyce so we assume that he's gone and she can barely provide for her family. 

We are shows shots of a dark, misty forest and Will, a young boy, running from an unknown predator. These are horror conventions which attracts fans of the horror genre and increases the popularity of the show. 

In the middle of the trailer it cuts to this shot with the S and T in neon red font in the background with "Netflix presents" in the middle. This shows they want you to know it is their show so it attracts more people to Netflix and earns them more money.

We are introduced to Eleven who immediately contrasts the conventions of a girl, with short hair.

She barely speaks during the trailer and is never given a name, just called "the girl" with a shot of 011 printed on her wrist. 

The final shot shows the "Stranger Things" writing in red neon, this is repeated across all Stranger Things trailers and is now connected with the show.