The Audience

The people experiencing a creator's work, let it be reading, watching, or listening. Probably the most vital part of media. Without it, a work would not mean anything as no one is aware of its existence except its creator.

Role
The audience's role goes beyond just being aware of something. It also builds communities, online or in real life, in the name of a work of fiction. These communities are referred to as fandoms. In a fandom, fans may discuss their (least) favorite aspects of their media, such as their favorite episode of a TV show or the characters they wish were removed, as well as many other things. When the canonical stories of the media aren't enough for the audience, it might write some of its own stories, called fan fiction, or fanfic for short.