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Pop Culture Pioneers: The Women Who Transformed Fandom in Film, Television, Comics, and More
Celebrate the empowering and inspiring women who helped create, shape, and make pop culture great, from the creator of SYFY WIRE's FANGRRLS and the podcast "Forgotten Women of Genre"!
In every medium in popular culture—from books, films, and video games to comics, television, and animation—women have been instrumental in creating and shaping the worlds, characters, and genres that we know and love. However, much of their hard work and innovation has gone largely unrecognized—until now. With a foreword by American Gods actress Yetide Badaki and essays exploring the history and transformation of pop culture's genres and mediums, Pop Culture Pioneers explores and pays respect to the women who played a crucial role in creating and influencing of some of the most famous worlds and characters in pop culture including:
Directors & Producers like Karyn Kusama (Aeon Flux, Jennifer's Body), Denise Di Novi (co-producer of Batman Returns, The Nightmare Before Christmas), and Jean MacCurdy (producer of Batman: The Animated Series, Animaniacs)
Writers & Editors like Jeanette Khan (editor and publisher of DC Comics), Alice Bradley Sheldon (writing as James Tiptree Jr.), and Alison Bechdel (Fun Home)
Animators & Artists like Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe), Noelle Stevenson (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) and Brenda Chapman (animator and director of Brave)
As well as Marlene Clark (Blaxploitation actress), Roberta Williams (creator of the adventure game genre), Yvonne Blake (costume designer for Superman), Bonnie Erickson (co-creator of Miss Piggy), and many more.
In every medium in popular culture—from books, films, and video games to comics, television, and animation—women have been instrumental in creating and shaping the worlds, characters, and genres that we know and love. However, much of their hard work and innovation has gone largely unrecognized—until now. With a foreword by American Gods actress Yetide Badaki and essays exploring the history and transformation of pop culture's genres and mediums, Pop Culture Pioneers explores and pays respect to the women who played a crucial role in creating and influencing of some of the most famous worlds and characters in pop culture including:
Directors & Producers like Karyn Kusama (Aeon Flux, Jennifer's Body), Denise Di Novi (co-producer of Batman Returns, The Nightmare Before Christmas), and Jean MacCurdy (producer of Batman: The Animated Series, Animaniacs)
Writers & Editors like Jeanette Khan (editor and publisher of DC Comics), Alice Bradley Sheldon (writing as James Tiptree Jr.), and Alison Bechdel (Fun Home)
Animators & Artists like Rebecca Sugar (Steven Universe), Noelle Stevenson (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power) and Brenda Chapman (animator and director of Brave)
As well as Marlene Clark (Blaxploitation actress), Roberta Williams (creator of the adventure game genre), Yvonne Blake (costume designer for Superman), Bonnie Erickson (co-creator of Miss Piggy), and many more.
- GenresNonfictionFeminism
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 26, 2021
4 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 7, 2024
Before Reading: This book has been languishing in my TBR stack BUT the pile over balanced and when I stacked it back up this was on top!
It is a Christmas gift from a close friend so I was happy to start it.
During Reading: My poor husband. If he was anywhere near me he was treated to endless, "Hey! Did you know?" Or me just reading the names out loud and seeing if he knew them. To his credit he did know quite a few of the video game related ones.
Halfway through I started playing a game with the illustrations. I would look at the hints in each one and try to guess what part of pop culture the woman had enriched. It was a great way to stretch my critical thinking.
After Reading: I really enjoyed this book. I was especially drawn to the early chapters and the break throughs of the early Pop Culture Pioneers. I learned a lot about different industries and how women worked to kick the door in. The later chapters were also interesting because I was able to identify works I had seen, read or played myself with more frequency.
I think my favourite parts to read were women who used their hard won influence to help encourage other women and marginalized groups to become involved and succeed in their fields. It was mentioned in several instances where the individual discussed would go on to mentor and hire other women.
The illustration style was very interesting. It had a retro feel to it and blended well with the voice in the book. I do feel that the work would have benefit from samples of the women's work in their sections. I think it would have added to the depth of their accomplishments.
Overall: Definitely worth reading if for no other reason than these are names that should be known.
It is a Christmas gift from a close friend so I was happy to start it.
During Reading: My poor husband. If he was anywhere near me he was treated to endless, "Hey! Did you know?" Or me just reading the names out loud and seeing if he knew them. To his credit he did know quite a few of the video game related ones.
Halfway through I started playing a game with the illustrations. I would look at the hints in each one and try to guess what part of pop culture the woman had enriched. It was a great way to stretch my critical thinking.
After Reading: I really enjoyed this book. I was especially drawn to the early chapters and the break throughs of the early Pop Culture Pioneers. I learned a lot about different industries and how women worked to kick the door in. The later chapters were also interesting because I was able to identify works I had seen, read or played myself with more frequency.
I think my favourite parts to read were women who used their hard won influence to help encourage other women and marginalized groups to become involved and succeed in their fields. It was mentioned in several instances where the individual discussed would go on to mentor and hire other women.
The illustration style was very interesting. It had a retro feel to it and blended well with the voice in the book. I do feel that the work would have benefit from samples of the women's work in their sections. I think it would have added to the depth of their accomplishments.
Overall: Definitely worth reading if for no other reason than these are names that should be known.
December 25, 2022
I really liked reading this book. It is presented in an almost textbook-like style, focusing on women in genre history. But, rather than make the focus on ancient history, the focus is on recent history. And, the topics of focus are the sorts of genre I gravitate to: sci-fi and fantasy movies, games, books, comics, tv shows, etc. Some.of the women feature I was aware of, but many I wasn't. Even with those I know, I learned something from each of the vignettes presented. I also appreciate that this book seeks to help push for change not by highlighting all the negative stories (which unfortunately still need highlighting), but instead by celebrating the successes and shining a light on those successes for all to see.
May 27, 2022
Another great feature of would-be forgotten females from diverse publisher Hachette. I was surprised to find so many of my media favorites that were influenced or created by women. But why should that be a surprise? Women after all make up half of the population, so their recognition is about time.
Hopefully, this will inspire more females to design and pursue their media goals.
Well-written with each female pictured, it's a wonderful tribute to women who rounded out television, games, animation, comics, and design in the last decades.
@IvyDigest
Hopefully, this will inspire more females to design and pursue their media goals.
Well-written with each female pictured, it's a wonderful tribute to women who rounded out television, games, animation, comics, and design in the last decades.
@IvyDigest
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews