Abstract
This project, as an example of public feminist scholarship, attempts to present a set of academic concepts to a general viewer in an accessible form, using the lens of Steven Universe. To do this, I shared four video essays and three short written posts on a progressive, queer-oriented Steven Universe Facebook fan group that I founded in February 2017 and moderate with over 1,200 members. Contributions pair feminist and queer theoretical concepts, drawn from anthropology, communication studies and cultural studies, with historical context. The most notable of these are Gayle Rubin’s 1984 framework of the Charmed Circle, and Stuart Hall’s 1973 Encoding/Decoding model. In using a pop culture touchstone and the platform of social media, my intent was to engage with a broader audience than the classroom allows, with the feeling of being on friendly ground. Here I include the content of those uploads, as well as reflections on why I felt they were important WGSS scholarship, and on the response they received. I conclude with a set of recommendations for public scholarship projects.
Advisor
Craven, Christa
Department
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Recommended Citation
Weston, Rebecca, "Queer Spaces and Space Queers" (2017). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 11799.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/11799
Disciplines
Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Other Film and Media Studies | Television
Keywords
Steven Universe, Gayle Rubin, Charmed Circle, Stuart Hall, Encoding, Decoding, Public Scholarship, Social Media, Facebook, Cartoons, Animation, Queer Representation
Publication Date
2017
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
External Link
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL427qGPkeO3tCtytZzbFlN_wS_uTXI7Z_
© Copyright 2017 Rebecca Weston