Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies

PhD Research

Discursive formations in Supernatural Fanfiction

My research attempts to bring a Foucauldian perspective to fan studies, by looking at the way discourse constructions operate between cult television and fandom in the context of New Media. I take the cult show 'Supernatural' (CW, 2006-) as my case study due to its rich intertextuality and active engagement with its own fandom. I look at three discursive formations fundamental to the Gothic genre that the show both participates in and parodies: race/ethnicity, religion, and incest.

I hope to show that fandom's participation helps form and change the nature of these constructions through supporting and challenging statements in fan fiction. I began this thesis in 2010, under the supervision of Dr. Matt Hills.

Publications

Papers published:
Fathallah, Judith May. 2010. Becky is my hero: The power of laughter and disruption in Supernatural. Transformative Works and Cultures, no. 5. doi:10.3983/twc.2010.0220.

Fathallah, Judith May. 2011. "H/c and Me: An Autoethnographic Account of a Troubled Love Affair." Transformative Works and Cultures, no. 7. doi:10.3983/twc.2011.0252.

Teaching

BA Teaching Assistant: History of Mass Communication and Culture and Understanding Journalism Studies.