Building ‘Diverse’ Spaces in YA Fantasy: Publishers, Readers, and Media Adaptations

This thesis examines ‘diversity’ and the representation of marginalised groups in YA fantasy. This topic is explored from the perspectives of YA fantasy publishing professionals and social media influencers, as well as from the perspectives of YA fantasy readers. The thesis also demonstrates the role and impact of screen adaptations on the representation of marginalised characters in this genre. The research gathers relevant data from multiple sources and in different formats, namely: qualitative semi-structured interviews with YA fantasy publishing professionals and social media influencers; a quantitative online survey with YA fantasy readers; and a qualitative case study of Netflix’s screen adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows YA fantasy series. This thesis uses a mixed-method approach to investigate the research questions thoroughly. Findings indicate that various participants in the publishing communication circuit of YA fantasy, such as publishing professionals, readers, and social media influencers, are interested in seeing more authentic representations of marginalised groups in the genre. The findings also indicate that some readers are still unable to see themselves represented accurately and authentically in the YA fantasy books they read. Through an analysis of some popular YA fantasy tropes and trends across different media, this thesis demonstrates that including representations of marginalised characters does not, in itself, achieve the goals of ‘diversity’ and inclusion. For this reason, it is crucial to consider the contexts of these tropes and the real-life implications of the types of roles that marginalised characters occupy. The ultimate objectives of this thesis are to disrupt and dismantle some problematic representations and contribute to building safer and more inclusive spaces for these characters and for the readers who see themselves through them