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People love movies and television. It is a fact of the human condition that we enjoy hearing — or watching — great stories, and movies and TV are the best and most accessible way to find them. And we can get pretty obsessed with our stories, too, especially with the Internet now allowing fans all over the world to unite and discuss, say, the newest comic book installment of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” or the best in British sitcoms, or what’s going to happen to Jorja Fox on “CSI.”

In a time when continuity-heavy hits like “Lost,” “Heroes” and super-hero film franchises are all the rage in Hollywood, it’s more of a fan’s world than it ever has been. And as fans become more and more vocal, and find more and more ways to share their opinions, a question is emerging: how much allegiance are fans owed?

In other words, if you’re making a hit television show or long-awaited sequel, do you owe anything to the people who have obsessed, discussed, longed-for and celebrated your work? Or is creativity an artists-only enterprise?

That question is more important than ever this week, as two separate but strangely related things are happening: first, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are releasing their long-gestating new Indiana Jones film. And secondly, Thursday night was the season finale of “Grey’s Anatomy.”

I know, I know, on the outside, “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Indiana Jones” don’t seem to have a heck of a lot in common. But you’d be surprised. The Indiana Jones franchise is, of course, one of the most beloved film series in history, spawning not just one, but several generations’ worth of devoted fans. And they haven’t done too shabby at the box office, either: if “Raiders of the Lost Ark” came out today, it would have grossed 606 million dollars domestically — way more than any Spiderman or pirate movies.

And in its more contemporary, television way, “Grey’s Anatomy” is, if not equally popular, about as popular as an American television show can currently get. Phrases like “McDreamy” and “seriously?!” have trickled down to the few people who’ve never seen an episode of the show, and the off-screen casting, gossip and spoilers are top national stories.

My point is, these two entries into American entertainment history have reached a status where they are more than just a TV show or movie — they’re part of culture. And that only happens when you have lots and lots of viewers, and lots and lots of fans. But when it comes time to have, say, a season finale or a new film installment, do you cater to them or not?

It’s a tough question, and not just creatively. After all, this business of entertainment depends completely on audience reception. Studios and advertising companies make an investment in movies and TV shows, but there’s no guarantee that their investment will be returned.

As Ellen Pompeo, star of “Grey’s Anatomy,” put it to Entertainment Weekly, “If there are no fans, there is no advertising money, and if there’s no advertising money, there is no show. The fans are the show.”

Based on recent press, it’s probably safe to say that Grey’s Anatomy has acknowledged fans’ desires, while Lucas and Spielberg have not. Shonda Rimes, the creator and showrunner for “Grey’s,” has openly admitted that the writing has been influenced by the fans’ negative reactions to plotlines.

On the other hand, Lucas said in an interview, also with Entertainment Weekly, “We’re not gonna have adoring fans sending us e-mails saying how much they loved the movie. We’re going to have a bunch of angry people saying, ‘You’re a bunch of a-holes, you should never have done this.’”

He defends the film by simply saying, “we’re doing it to have fun.”

So, how do we look at this? Is Rimes doing good business or sacrificing art to pander to advertising dollars and whiny demands? Are Lucas and Spielberg artistic moral heroes, or just two old men who have so much money that they entertain themselves by messing about with their greatest achievements?

I have to say, as much as I enjoy forming opinions on, well, everything, I’m not sure how this is all going to play out. Whose plan will backfire? Will anyone’s? Or is there room in the entertainment world for a little bit of bending, and a little bit of creative independence?

Only time will tell. As fans, we’ll have to watch “Grey’s” and “Indiana Jones,” and see what happens. Which, don’t forget, is kind of the whole point.

A Wisconsin native, Melissa Olson has a film degree from the University of Southern California. She now works in Madison for the television program “Discover Wisconsin.” E-mail comments to her at mfo.usc@gmail.com.