Fourth Wave Feminism in Science Fiction and Fantasy Volume 2: Essays on Intersectionality and Power on Television, 2013-2019

Television is entering a unique era, in which women and minorities no longer serve under white captains but take the lead--and all the other roles as well. In a brilliant new universe where the intersectional values of fourth wave feminism are becoming more widespread, fantasy and science fiction are leading the charge. Shows from Star Wars to Doctor Who are rewriting their traditional storylines to include more well-rounded and racially diverse female characters. Steven Universe, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Orphan Black and Sense8 highlight queer characters and experiences. Dystopias like Marvel's Jessica Jones and The Handmaid's Tale show the female perspective entirely, guiding viewers from trauma to self-determination. In fantasy and horror, Wynonna Earp, Game of Thrones, Supergirl, Vikings, American Horror Story, Black Mirror, and The Walking Dead reveal how much the story changes with a spectrum of women reclaiming the text from white, straight, young, cisgender men. These new shows are intersectional, digital, global, critical, and political, with fan responses changing the content and cutting-edge platforms like Netflix and Hulu shaking up the format. After briefly tracing how previous waves of the feminist movement figured in television of all genres.
To explore the new wave of feminism in television science fiction and fantasy, scholars of media and popular culture cover fighting authority, warriors in a respectful world, intersectionality, and girl-centric kids. Among their topics are power and resistance in Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, exploring the heroines of History Channel's Vikings, reclaiming power from the toxic male: support and recovery in Marvel's Jessica Jones, the problematic white women in Black Mirror's Crocodile, and Rose Arisen: how the children's animated show Steven Universe invented the "reverse fridge." Annotation ©2020 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)