Fan Phenomena: Twin Peaks

Abstract

Renewing Feminisms: Radical Narratives, Fantasies and Futures edited by Helen Thornham and Elke Weissmann challenges the notion that feminism is a relic of the past. This collection of essays examines feminism as an ongoing reality and practice, emphasizing its ideological and political significance in contemporary media studies. The editors argue for continuous intergenerational dialogue among feminists, rejecting the post-feminist narrative that equates personal freedom with the end of feminist struggle. The volume explores how personal narratives and autobiographical practices can be politically significant, redefining representational politics and envisioning future feminisms. Structured into four sections, the book begins with an introduction by the editors followed by Christine Geraghty's historiographic essay on the Women and Film Study Group from the 1970s and 1980s. Geraghty highlights the group’s efforts to claim space for feminism and raise critical questions that remain relevant today. The subsequent essays delve into various aspects of feminist criticism, including new representational politics and future-oriented feminisms. By engaging with both historical and contemporary contexts, this volume contributes to a broader feminist political project, advocating for renewed and retooled approaches to gender equality in media studies.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)