Trans Identities in the French Media: Representation, Visibility, Recognition explores the representation of trans identities in contemporary French society, with essays in fields as wide-ranging as translation studies, women’s and gender studies, film studies, and comics studies. This bookanalyzes the multi-layered meaning of “representation” to reflect on the questions of trans visibility and recognition in a French context. The texts selected provide readers with in-depth and innovative...

Is Sue is the true driving force behind Glee? Who is the real alpha male in New Directions? Why do we really keep coming back to Glee week after week?From its quirky character insights to its inspirational, funny, and touching stories from fellow gleeks, Filled with Glee is the perfect companion for the fan who can't get enough Glee.Other standout sections include:A guide to putting together a glee club in your own school or commu...

What do you get when you combine CSI science, the medicine of ER, and an acerbic, pain pill addict with a cane? House MD.In House Unauthorized: Vasculitis, Clinic Duty, and Bad Bedside Manner, the entire cast of the show is on the exam table: Wilson, Cuddy, Foreman, Cameron, Chase and particularly the cantankerous, but brilliant Dr. House.What makes House tick? Why did he really hire Foreman, Cameron and Chase (and why is it so easy to believe he's actuall...

The 2005-2006 season's smash hit Grey's Anatomy swiftly eclipsed its Desperate Housewives lead-in, in ratings, in critical claim and in vocal viewer enthusiasm. What could have been just another hospital drama is elevated by sharp, clever writing, strong female characters and a stellar ensemble cast of multi-ethnic actors. With 20+ million viewers tuning in every week, Grey's Anatomy was the new must-see television show of the year. From lighthearted relationship...

Speculating about the cultural metaphors in Janet Evanovich's wildly popular mystery series (which includes 11 books, from One for the Money to Eleven on Top), this anthology takes a look at lingerie-buyer-turned-bounty-hunter Stephanie Plum and catalogs her bad luck with cars (she's blown up quite a few), her good luck with men, her unorthodox approach to weapon storage, and the rich tapestry of her milieu: Trenton, New Jersey, also known as The Burg. The contributors pr...

In the fall of 2000, Gilmore Girls premiered on the WB and viewers were introduced to the quirky world of Stars Hollow and the Gilmores who had made it their home, mother-daughter best friends Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. With the show in its seventh season on the fledgling CW, Coffee at Luke's is the perfect look at what has made the show such a clever, beloved part of the television landscape for so long.What are the risks of having your mother be your best friend?...

First there was “Buffy the Vampire Slayer"; then its spin-off “Angel"; then the cult hit “Firefly"; and its follow-up film, “Serenity." They all had two things in common: their creator, Joss Whedon … and their surprising psychological depth.Revisit the worlds of Joss Whedon … with trained psychologists at your side. What are the psychological effects of constantly fighting for your life? Why is neuroscience the Whedonverse's most terrifying villain? How can watching Joss's shows he...

From Cole's downfall and Phoebe's somewhat questionable fashion sense to the power of three in history and literature and a magical tourist's guide to the Halliwells's hometown of San Francisco, this clever, lighthearted essay collection offers a fun and funny look at the world of the WB hit series Charmed. Edited by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Crusie, these accessible and entertaining essays apply the wit and insight of one of today's leading romance authors to the...

The tangled web of vengeance, love, and loss woven by Spider-Man comics and films is explored in this collection of insightful essays by acclaimed writers of comics and science fiction. A variety of topics-from the superhero's sarcasm to the science behind radioactive spiders-are discussed in essays on "Turning Rage into Responsibility: A Psychology of Loss," "Love Is Selfish: Can a Hero Afford Personal Attachments?," and "Self Identity and Costume Design." The popular rival Green Goblin, ...

The staying power of the world's most dashing secret agent and the evolution of the James Bond franchise are explored in this smart yet nostalgic collection of essays. Leading writers, including Raymond Benson, J.A. Konrath, Raelynn Hillhouse, and John Cox, discuss the ten sexiest Bond girls, the best villains, and the controversy surrounding the latest actor to play James Bond. Topics covered range from the playful-how to build a secret lair and avoid the perennial mistakes made by would-...

Comic writers trace the X-Men series' evolution, challenge its metaphors, and draw from its truths about human nature and human society in this exploratory look at the still-timely and often-revamped classic. With chapters such as Magneto the Jew, The New Mutants and the Corruption of the Teenager, and The Sexuality of X-Men, the contributors highlight the strange ties between the characters and current society. From mutant subcultures in the real world to the reality of ...

This selection of smart, accessible essays covers CSI's cutting-edge science, intriguing mysteries, and engaging personal dynamics. Essays from experts in the field illuminate such processes as DNA testing, ballistics, crime-scene photography, and autopsy procedure. With pieces that focus on the leads' varying appeals, the history of forensics on television, the show's treatment of alternate sexualities, and whether the incredible attention to detail actually gives criminals an ad...