Pop Junctions
@popjunctions.bsky.social
Pop Junctions is a blog that provides reflections on entertainment, pop culture, activism, media literacy, fandom, and more! Formerly known as Confessions of an Aca-Fan by Henry Jenkins. Website: https://henryjenkins.org/
The latest this week on Pop Junctions is a piece on Captain Nemo and swap storytelling by @elkwrites.bsky.social.
Captain Nemo: A Swap Story, or Why We Can’t Barter Our Way to a Better World — Pop Junctions
Ellen Kirkpatrick dives into the character of Captain Nemo, particularly Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill’s gender-swapped version. She argues that story is the beating heart of social action, helpin...
henryjenkins.org
In our last contribution to #EmmysWatch2025 at Pop Junctions, @ladyhorrors.bsky.social considers how #WhatWeDointheShadows shapes the sitcom and mockumentary forms in ways that enrich narrative, character and theme. And that’s a wrap of this series—thanks to all our contributors and readers!
EMMYS WATCH 2025 — What We Do in the Shadows: Nothing Ever Changes, But Yet it Does — Pop Junctions
‘Emmys Watch 2025’ showcases critical responses to the series nominated for Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Comedy, and Outstanding Limited Series at that 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Contributions to t...
henryjenkins.org
For the final day of #EmmysWatch2025 at Pop Junctions, Alex Beare explores the cultural dialogue that has surrounded the Netflix series, #Adolescence.
EMMYS WATCH 2025 — Adolescence: Think Pieces and Cultural Dialogue — Pop Junctions
‘Emmys Watch 2025’ showcases critical responses to the series nominated for Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Comedy, and Outstanding Limited Series at that 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Contributions to t...
henryjenkins.org
Next up in #EmmysWatch2025 on Pop Junctions, @jackie-johns.bsky.social contextualizes #ThePitt within the long lineage of television soap operas.
EMMYS WATCH 2025 — All Dr. Robby’s Children: The Spectre of Soap Opera on The Pitt — Pop Junctions
‘Emmys Watch 2025’ showcases critical responses to the series nominated for Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Comedy, and Outstanding Limited Series at that 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Contributions to t...
henryjenkins.org
Today on #EmmysWatch2025 at Pop Junctions is a contribution on #Hacks by Ashton Leach, which explores the dichotomies of aging women in comedy.
EMMYS WATCH 2025 — Laughing at Her/Laughing with Her: Dichotomies of the Aging Woman in Hacks — Pop Junctions
‘Emmys Watch 2025’ showcases critical responses to the series nominated for Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Comedy, and Outstanding Limited Series at that 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Contributions to t...
henryjenkins.org
Next up in #EMMYWATCH2025 is a piece on #Andor by @taralomax.bsky.social that explores questions of genre in the series and the #StarWars franchise.
EMMYS WATCH 2025 — When the Force is Not with Us: Considering Genre in Andor and the ‘Star Wars’ Franchise — Pop Junctions
‘Emmys Watch 2025’ showcases critical responses to the series nominated for Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Comedy, and Outstanding Limited Series at that 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Contributions to t...
henryjenkins.org
In this latest contribution to #EMMYSWATCH2025, Robert Boucaut explores how Shrinking constructs a workplace storyworld around mental healthcare as a thematic imperative and narrative setting.
EMMYS WATCH 2025 — Shrinking and Mental Healthcare ‘Comedy’ — Pop Junctions
‘Emmys Watch 2025’ showcases critical responses to the series nominated for Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Comedy, and Outstanding Limited Series at that 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Contributions to t...
henryjenkins.org
In this video essay on #Severance, Melanie Robson analyses how the series engages with the science fiction genre in a present day dystopian context. #EMMYSWATCH2025
EMMYS WATCH 2025 — Severance: A Present Tense Dystopia — Pop Junctions
‘Emmys Watch 2025’ showcases critical responses to the series nominated for Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Comedy, and Outstanding Limited Series at that 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Contributions to t...
henryjenkins.org
In this #EMMYSWATCH2025 contribution, @mbarnesnelson.bsky.social discusses the self-reflectivity of #TheStudio.
EMMYS WATCH 2025 — The Studio: Television (About Movies), Now More Than Ever — Pop Junctions
‘Emmys Watch 2025’ showcases critical responses to the series nominated for Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Comedy, and Outstanding Limited Series at that 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Contributions to t...
henryjenkins.org
Next up on #EMMYSWATCH2025, @chriscomerford.bsky.social compares the blend of comedy and drama in #TheBear and #Shrinking to explore the complexities of effective ‘dramedy’ storytelling.
EMMYS WATCH 2025 — Shrinking The Bear: A Closer Look at Two Divergent Outstanding Comedy Nominees — Pop Junctions
‘Emmys Watch 2025’ showcases critical responses to the series nominated for Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Comedy, and Outstanding Limited Series at that 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Contributions to t...
henryjenkins.org
To kick off #EMMYSWATCH2025, Pop Junctions shares a 2-part interview on the @peabodyawards.bsky.social/Centre for Media and Social Impact podcast, We Disrupt this Broadcast. In Part 1, Lauren Alexandra Sowa interviews Jeffrey P. Jones about "Television that Changes Us".
EMMYS WATCH 2025 — Television that Changes Us (Part 1): An Interview with the Peabody Award’s Jeffrey Jones on We Disrupt This Broadcast — Pop Junctions
‘Emmys Watch 2025’ showcases critical responses to the series nominated for Outstanding Drama, Outstanding Comedy, and Outstanding Limited Series at that 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. Contributions to t...
henryjenkins.org
New post on Pop Junctions is an interview with Carlos A. Scolari (@cscolari.bsky.social) by Renata Frade (@renatafrade.bsky.social). They discuss the shift from transmedia to immersive storytelling .
From Transmedia to Immersive Worlds: An Interview with Dr. Carlos A. Scolari on the Evolution of Media and the Future of Storytelling — Pop Junctions
Renata Frade interviews Carlos A. Scolari, an eminent media theorist focused on digital interfaces, media ecology /evolution and interactive communication. Read to understand how "transmedia" might be...
henryjenkins.org
Heading towards the end of our OSCARS WATCH series, we have Part One of a two-part conversation piece on THE SUBSTANCE by @doowndonnakim.bsky.social @gtroitman.bsky.social and @utsavpgandhi.bsky.social. Stay tuned for Part Two.
OSCARS WATCH 2025 – The Substance: Youth, Body, Women, Success (Part One) — Pop Junctions
This piece is part of a series of critical responses to the films nominated for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards. In this in-conversation piece, Do Own (Donna) Kim, Utsav Gandhi, and Gabrielle ...
henryjenkins.org
Next in OSCARS WATCH is a lyrical video essay by Greed and Red on ANORA that poetically explores its use of color, lines, and shapes.
OSCARS WATCH 2025 – Anora — Pop Junctions
This piece is part of a series of critical responses to the films nominated for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards. With this video essay, Green and Red perform a poetic analysis of both the styl...
henryjenkins.org
Continuing our OSCARS WATCH series, we have a discussion between Henry Jenkins, Colin Maclay and Jonathan Taplin who discuss A COMPLETE UNKNOWN. This is a transcribed extract from a forthcoming episode of the How Do You Like It So Far? podcast.
OSCARS WATCH 2025 – A Complete Unknown: A Conversation With Jonathan Taplin — Pop Junctions
This post is part of a series of critical responses to the films nominated for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards. The following is an edited extract of a recording made recently for the producti...
henryjenkins.org
OSCARS WATCH 2025 continues with a piece on CONCLAVE. @doctorofmovies.bsky.social explores the film's relationship with the political thriller genre.
OSCARS WATCH 2025 – Political Fears and Fantasies in Edward Berger’s Conclave — Pop Junctions
This post is part of a series of critical responses to the films nominated for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards. The political thriller is a genre that most effectively exists in close proximit...
henryjenkins.org
We launch our annual OSCARS WATCH series in the lead up to the Academy Awards with Martina Fouquet's piece on I'M STILL HERE and the impact of political oppression on everyday life. Stay tuned for daily posts on a range of films nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars this year.
OSCARS WATCH 2025 – I’m Still Here: A Harrowing Retelling and Warning — Pop Junctions
This piece is part of a series of critical responses to the films nominated for Best Picture at the 97th Academy Awards. Fouquet weaves connections between nominees I'm Still Here , A Complete Unkno...
henryjenkins.org
Recently up on Pop Junctions, Julia C. Abrahão and Natalia Seixas share some of the research coming out of the Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas de Fanfic (Fanfic Studies and Research Group) (NEPF) in Brazil. Thanks also to @renatafrade.bsky.social for contributing to this piece.
NEPF Promotes a Bridge Between Fanfiction Academic Studies and Fandom in Brazil — Pop Junctions
In Brazil, NEPF is the only academic space dedicated to fanfic research, and, because of this, it has become extremely important for many graduate students and researchers around Brazil. So, readers o...
henryjenkins.org
The final peice in our Toys series is a conversation between Lauren Sowa and Henry Jenkins on Wicked dolls and the merchandising culture around The Wizard of Oz.
“Popular” Dolls: A Discussion of the Wicked Movie Dolls in the Context of Wizard of Oz Merchandizing Culture — Pop Junctions
In this final installment of the themed series on toys, Henry Jenkins and Lauren Sowa discuss how the many Wicked branded toys and dolls fit into the larger culture of dolls and collecting...
henryjenkins.org
The latest in our holiday special Toy series is from @taralomax.bsky.social and reflects on the art and play of action figure collecting and displaying.
Marvel on the Shelf: The Art and Play of Action Figure Display — Pop Junctions
There are many ways that adults enact the practice of action figure collecting: they might be driven by completionism or nostalgia; motivated by a hunt for rarities; alter the design through customiza...
henryjenkins.org
In the newest post in our Toys series, Ying "Lenore" Wang shares reflections on toys from Disneyland Shanghai, from Mulan to Lotsa Bear to Duffy and Friends.
Telling Your Toy Story: Fans’ Storytelling Practice in Shanghai Disneyland — Pop Junctions
It was 4AM in Shanghai, and a group of people in colorful clothing suddenly appeared. They were headed for a magical place: Shanghai Disneyland. They were up so early to wait in line for hours in orde...
henryjenkins.org
To coincide with the holiday season, we present a series of posts based around the theme of ‘toys’. First up, @javariafarooqui.bsky.social looks at #Barbie in Pakistan. Stay tuned for more to come over the month.
Barbie in Pakistan: The Toy, the Movie, and the Cultural Ambiguities — Pop Junctions
In Pakistan, Barbie the movie transcended its form as mere cinematic spectacle and metamorphosed into a tool through which the complex, unspoken, and ambiguous scales of morality can be an...
henryjenkins.org
Our most recent series collected a range of critical reflections on some of the shows nominated for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Comedy Series at the 76th Emmy Awards. See the thread below to revisit the posts in #EmmysWatch2024.
Pop Junctions is now on Bluesky. We’re looking forward to sharing forthcoming blog content and revisiting previous highlights. Formerly Confessions of an Aca-Fan by Henry Jenkins, Pop Junctions is now coordinated by a collective editorial team from across the globe.