What Would The Doctor Do? This is a question at the heart of the famous BBC science-fiction show Doctor Who led by the eponym character: the Doctor. As a fan of the show myself, a Whovian, this question matters to me as I look up to the Doctor, this hero who is described as an alien ethical guide for their human companions. Inviting other Feminist Whovians on this journey of reflection about the Whoniverse, we have attempted to unveil if this inspirational motto is shared by the feminist fandom. Concretely, we wondered in what ways can Doctor Who inspire feminist fans. Together, we have explored the feminist inspirational potential of Doctor Who, investigating how we make sense of the show as feminists. We have focused on the reboot and the last evolutions of the show, introducing a woman in the leading role after 60 years of white males. Juggling with fan theory, feminist methodology and phenomenological frameworks analyzing emotions, this study therefore explores the agency of the feminist fandom regarding the political and inspirational potential of Doctor Who. To collect the voices of other Feminist Whovians, I have experimented with the method of chat-discussions, providing an intimist space to share reflections and interpretations of the show. Collectively, we painted a three-dimensional feminist inspirational potential, connecting feminist emotions, feminist values and feminist role models. Doctor Who seems to trigger strong emotions in feminist fans which opens a bridge where values can be shared, and heroes can be admired. This study shows that reading feminist inspirational potential into the show is rendered possible by the agency held by Feminist Whovians. The feminist fandom indeed adapts the messages of the show towards feminist interpretations, while having a critical understanding of the issues displayed on screen. Choosing specific moments and assigning them powerful meanings, Feminist Whovians are therefore both receivers and modelers of the feminist inspirational potential of Doctor Who. Navigating this emotional journey uncovering inspirational values and relatable heroes, I have attempted to grasp the concrete influence of the show on the lives of feminist fans, immerging myself with them, with us, into our common love for Doctor Who. Together, we shaped a critical vision of what Doctor Who is and what it can mean for Feminist Whovians. Fancy a trip?
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:liu-190992 |
| Date | January 2022 |
| Creators | Jaquemin, Marie |
| Publisher | Linköpings universitet, Tema Genus |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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