Gender and terror tangled in the weeds: Poison Ivy between eco-feminism and eco-terrorism

“One of the ‘plant scientists’ who embodies environmental themes in the DC universe is Poison Ivy, the alter ego of the botanist Dr Pamela Isley. Ivy’s physical makeup – part human, part plant – is significant in understanding and contextualising her role as a feminist, and her extremism. While Ivy’s origin story varies in the multi-faceted DC universe, she typically uses violence to achieve her goals and is characterised as an eco-terrorist. The intersection and juxtaposition of eco-terrorism and eco-feminism within one character is relevant to how we, as an audience, consume her content and messaging. It therefore begs the questions: How is eco-feminism explored in DC’s Poison Ivy through her characterisation as an eco-terrorist? And what role does (her) violence play in her portrayal as a plant-empowered female protagonist? To clarify these questions, this paper unpacks Ivy’s position between eco-feminism and eco-terrorism.”

Joker – Joker and Science

“TERRIFIC. The Joker is one of our most popular and polarising nightmares in comics and (animated) film. He is a vicious vaude-villain, a violent clown, a creepy criminal and an ingenious mastermind – and, would you believe, in some stories he is a scientist. What can we learn from the Joker’s science machinations – Joker Science – about the cultural meanings of science? How does the Joker participate in, and contribute towards, complex cultural inquiries and transmedial discourses around science/technology and popular entertainment? What is the cultural role and relevance of the Joker?” At the Popsicule, we have a research stream specifically dedicated to the Joker, the character’s clowning characteristics and how they shape our understanding of Joker science.

MORE COMING SOON!