Overview

This book analyzes Jewish tropes in popular science fiction ranging from Star Trek and Marvel to other prominent franchises. Sometimes the representation is subtle and thought-provoking; other times, it is limited to cliché and oversimplification of characters. The chapters in this collection examine the representation of Jewish characters in films and franchises including Superman, Lord of the Rings, The Mandalorian, The Twilight Zone, and more to shed light on the broad range of representations of the Jewish experience in popular science fiction and fantasy.

Full Product Details

Author:   Valerie Estelle Frankel ,  Mara W. Cohen Ioannides ,  Matthew Diamond ,  Ari Elias-Bachrach
Publisher:   Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Imprint:   Lexington Books
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.20cm , Length: 23.20cm
Weight:   0.458kg
ISBN:  

9781666901474

ISBN 10:   1666901474
Pages:   296
Publication Date:   02 January 2023
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. “Discovery Requires Experimentation”: Centering Nazi-Fighting Ideology Without Judaism in Genre Television Erin Giannini Chapter 2. Destroyer, Defender, AI, Lover: The Golem in Speculative Fiction Prose and Comics Fraser Sherman Chapter 3. “The Golem was Built to go to War”: The Golem in TV Fiction Mara W. Cohen Ioannides Chapter 4. The Origins of Superman: An Unlikely Window into the Jewish American Experience Matthew Diamond Chapter 5. Bats & Mitzvahs: Judaism in Modern Batman Comics Jonathan Sexton Chapter 6. Have Onscreen Superheroes Lost their Faith? Considering Marvel, Magneto, the Arrowverse, and Harley Quinn Valerie Estelle Frankel Chapter 7. Making a Jewish Case for Ferengi: Redeeming Star Trek’s Worst Archetypes Miriam Eve Mora Chapter 8. Who Brings The Messiah: Klingon Messianism and Anti-messianism in Star Trek: TNG Ari Elias-Bachrach Chapter 9. Across Galaxies: How Science Fiction Echoes the Jewish Experience Under Colonization Sarah Katz Chapter 10. Mandalorian Midra

Reviews

Jews in Popular Science Fiction: Marginalized in the Mainstream offers a fascinating series of Jewish-tinted lenses through which to view some of our most widely known science fiction franchises. If you’ve ever wondered about topics such as whether the Ferengi are good for the Jews, or what rabbinic attitudes about zombies are (and where Mel Brooks’s son’s opinions fit into the discussion), then this is the book for you. -- Danny Fingeroth, author of A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee Jews in Popular Science Fiction is a pointed look at the Jewish roots of science fiction, historically and thematically, and why, unlike with Hollywood, stand-up, and comics, this contribution has largely gone unrecognized. A collection of voices and topics worthy of the Talmud, there’s something in here for everyone. Some chapters are provocative and some are lighthearted, but all ask worthwhile questions about the nature of identity, imagination, and how one is reflected in and shaped by the other. -- Roy Schwartz, pop culture journalist for The Forward and CNN.com, author of Is Superman Circumcised? The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero

Author Information

Valerie Estelle Frankel teaches at Mission College and San Jose City College.

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