Description
This thesis explores the ways in which Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009), a contemporary science fiction television series written in a postfeminist culture, both subverts and reinforces hegemonic power dynamics. Through a critical examination of classic science fiction conventions, one will see how the series becomes a commentary on reproduction, race, and violence. Furthermore the series' discourse on gender and nationalism, race and racialization, and women and violence offers compelling insight into debates over reproductive justice in the U.S. in the 21st century. This analysis of primary source research focuses on the reimagined series in its entirety spanning from the 2003 NBC miniseries, 2004-2009 SyFy television series, and supplementary films and webisodes. As a show that presents itself as feminist, this work gauges responses to the series by self-defined feminist members of feminist fan communities through their participation in blogs where they have written articles on the series and responses to those articles through forums on the blogs themselves. Overall, the series and its fans provide a glimpse of current political and social ideologies reflecting the changing national landscape of the United States.
