This book of empirical studies analyzes examples of televisual shared universes since the 1960s to understand how the nature of televised serial narratives and network corporate policies have long created shared storyworlds. While there has been much discussion about shared cinematic universes and comic book universes, the concept has had limited exploration in other media, such as those seen on the smaller screen. By applying convergence culture and other contemporary media studies concepts to television's history, contributors demonstrate the common activities and practices in serial narratives that align older television with contemporary television, simultaneously bridging the gap between old media and new media studies. Scholars of film studies, media studies, and popular culture will find this book of particular interest.
CarrieLynn D. Reinhard is professor at Dominican University. Vincent Tran is a PhD candidate at Swinburne University of Technology.
Chapter 1. Introduction: Televisual Shared Universes Vincent Tran Chapter 2: "Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations"? LGBTQ+ Representation and Diversity Star Trek's Shared Universe in the 21st Century Mareike Spychala Chapter 3: Nostalgic Intertextuality and the Television Set: Happy Days and Its Shared Universe Raymond I. Schuck Chapter 4: From Television to Videotape and Back Again: Intellectual Property Laws in the TSU of Doctor Who Lisa Horton, Peter Soulen, Aaron Propes, David Beard, Clare Ford, and Jason Ford Chapter 5: Where Everybody Stays the Same: Failures, the American Dream, and the Realism of the Boston-Nantucket-Seattle Flight Path CarrieLynn D. Reinhard and Erin K. Burrell Chapter 6: "What Ever Happened to the Disney Afternoon?": Nostalgia, Remixes, and DuckTakes Shared Universe Peter Cullen Bryan Chapter 7: Women in the Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert Universe: Reflections on/of Feminism in History and Mythology Princess O'Nika Auguste Chapter 8: Mighty Morphin Continuity: Shaping a Universe through Authorship and Nostalgia Vincent Tran Chapter 9: The CW's Crisis on Infinite Earths and the Shared Multiverse as (Anti)Transmedia Storytelling Chris McGunnigle Chapter 10. The Institutional Basis of the One Chicago Universe Melina Meimaridis Chapter 11: Wrestlers-as-Marks and Producers-as-Fans: BTE, AEW, and the Televisual Shared Universe of the Forbidden Door CarrieLynn D. Reinhard, Christopher J. Olson, and Christopher Medjesky Chapter 12: Conclusion: Extending the Shared Universe Concept Christopher J. Olson and CarrieLynn D. Reinhard About the Contributors
"Bringing together its own "Westphall Universe" collection of dynamic chapters, Televisual Shared Universes explores the intricate connections between spin-offs, transmedia narratives, and transfictionality. Through detailed and thorough analyses of key case studies (Star Trek, Doctor Who, Ducktales, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, Cheers, and many more!), the authors in this collection deftly explore what unifies--and splinters--the continuity of crossover. Highly recommended!" -- Paul Booth, DePaul University "We are lucky to have as brilliant a guide as this to the world of shared universes and storytelling across media. It has a solid grip on both the historic and the contemporary. Bravo!" -- Toby Miller, University of California, Riverside
