''Transformative Works and Cultures'' is a

peer-reviewed Peer review is the evaluation of work by one or more people with similar competencies as the producers of the work (peers). It functions as a form of self-regulation by qualified members of a profession within the relevant field. Peer review ...

open access Open access (OA) is a set of principles and a range of practices through which research outputs are distributed online, free of access charges or other barriers. With open access strictly defined (according to the 2001 definition), or libre op ...

academic journal An academic journal or scholarly journal is a periodical publication in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as permanent and transparent forums for the presentation, scrutiny, and d ...

published by the

Organization for Transformative Works The Organization for Transformative Works (OTW) is a nonprofit, fan activist organization. Its mission is to serve fans by preserving and encouraging transformative fan activity, known as " fanwork", and by making fanwork widely accessible. OT ...

. The journal collects essays, articles, book reviews, and shorter pieces that concern

fandom A fandom is a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of empathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest. Fans typically are interested in even minor details of the objects of their fandom and spend a significant ...

, fanworks, and fan practices. According to Humanities, Arts, Science and Technology Alliance and Collaboratory (HASTAC), the journal "supports the rganization for Transformative Works'smission to promote the legitimacy and sustainability of non-commercial fan creativity by providing a forum for innovative criticism in

fan studies Fan studies is an academic discipline that analyses fans, fandoms, fan cultures and fan activities, including fanworks. It is an interdisciplinary field located at the intersection of the humanities and social sciences, which emerged in the early ...

, broadly conceived." The founding editors were

Kristina Busse Kristina Dorothea Busse (born November 29, 1967) is a professor in the Philosophy department at the University of South Alabama. As the co-editor of ''Transformative Works and Cultures,'' her research focuses on fanfiction communities and fan cultu ...

and

Karen Hellekson Karen L. Hellekson (born 1966) is an American author and scholar who researches science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic ...

, who remain the editors as of 2021. It covers "popular media, fan communities, and transformative works". A number of noted fan and media scholars sit on the journal's board, such as

Henry Jenkins Henry Jenkins III (born June 4, 1958) is an American media scholar and Provost Professor of Communication, Journalism, and Cinematic Arts, a joint professorship at the University of Southern California (USC) Annenberg School for Communication an ...

, Busse, Hellekson,

Francesca Coppa Francesca Coppa (born March 26, 1970) is an American scholar whose research has encompassed British drama, performance studies and fan studies. In English literature, she is known for her work on the British writer Joe Orton; she edited several o ...

, Paul Booth, Kathleen Fitzpatrick,

Jason Mittell Jason Mittell is a professor of American studies and film and media culture at Middlebury College whose research interests include the history of television, media, culture, and new media. He is author of three books, ''Genre and Television'' (2 ...

, and

Rebecca Tushnet Rebecca Tushnet (born April 4, 1973) is an American legal scholar. She serves as the Frank Stanton Professor of First Amendment Law at Harvard Law School. Her scholarship focuses on copyright, trademark, First Amendment, and false advertising. ...

, among others. The journal has raised the academic profile of female fan communities and transformative works, including fan fiction, fan art, fan vids, and cosplay, by serving as a central publication venue for these topics. Coppa states that many second-wave fan fiction scholars, such as herself, started to publish in ''Transformative Works and Cultures'' and that the journal has "nurtured a new wave of scholars". Via a number of articles, the journal has had a hand in helping to spread Jenkins, Sam Ford, and Joshua Green's idea of "spreadable media". ''TWC'' reached its 20th issue milestone in September 2015, which was commemorated with an online panel discussion by past contributors about the state of fan studies and the role of'' TWC''.

References

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External links

Official website
Fandom Fan fiction Fan labor Open access journals Publications established in 2008