Science Fiction Audiences

Science Fiction Audiences examines the astounding popularity of two television "institutions" of our time--the science fiction series Doctor Who and Star Trek. Both of theses programs have survived cancellation and acquired a following that continues to grow. The book is based on years of research including interviews with fans and followers of these two television series. In that period fans and followers have changed, and ways of studying them as "audiences" have changed as well, but the programs endure intact--Star Trek, for example, is approaching its fourth television incarnation.

John Tulloch and Henry Jenkins dive into the rich fan culture surrounding the two series, exploring such issues as queer identity, fan meanings, teenage love of science fiction and genre expectations. The authors further question how these series operate on other levels, for example, by portraying particular American and British profiles, by promoting certain ideologies, orsimply by providing a very consistent form of entertainment.

Science Fiction Audiences encompasses the perspectives of vast population of fans and followers throughout Britain, Australia, and the USA. This book is intended both for fans and followers of the series, who will continue their debates in these pages, and for those involved in media and cultural studies, who will examine a historically changing range of audience theory operating over the time period this study covers. Overall, Science Fiction Audiences offers a synthesis of text, context and audience study.