HIGH POINT, N.C., June 10, 2015 – Dr. Kate Fowkes, professor of communication at High Point University, will serve on the editorial board for Messengers from the Stars, a new online academic journal dedicated to the study of science fiction and fantasy.
Fowkes was tapped for the advisory role by researchers from the University of Lisbon who are creating the new journal. Messengers from the Stars, which will launch in 2016, will be a biannual peer-reviewed publication of high-quality papers on science fiction and fantasy. It is the outgrowth of conferences, workshops and courses offered by Lisbon faculty, who use Fowkes’ book, “The Fantasy Film,” as a text for their courses.
“I was very pleased to hear about this new online journal, because it shows that a groundswell of interest in this type of story telling is finally taking place,” Fowkes says. “While science fiction has been studied for quite some time, fantasy has until recently been overlooked. Since both subjects are included in this journal, it shows scholars are taking fantasy seriously. It also reflects a recent trend in the production of more fantasy films, television shows and books than ever before.”
Fowkes teaches a variety of courses on media and popular culture at HPU, specializing in the analysis of film and television. Her work focusing on fantasy films has been published in numerous scholarly publications.
“I am honored and excited to be named to the editorial board of this new high-quality, peer-reviewed journal and to be asked to guest edit one of the volumes,” Fowkes says. “The opportunity to work with international scholars who are passionate about science fiction and fantasy is exciting. I look forward to the variety of perspectives that I’m likely to encounter and am confident that this will in turn enrich my scholarship as well as my teaching.”