Embracing ‘Diamond’ Open Access: The Psychgeist of Pop Culture Series
Dr Rachel Kowert, Honorary Fellow, Department of Computer Science
Computer Science departmental page / Personal and Psychgiest website / 
Summary
The Psychgeist of Pop Culture series, published by Play Story Press (formerly ETC Press), is a project that crosses the bridge between academic and non academic audiences by exploring psychological themes within iconic pop culture franchises, built on the foundation of open access publishing. This book series is a true collaboration with Play Story Press, driven by a shared commitment to making scientific work more widely accessible, challenging the traditional barriers of paywalled research. This open access approach has broadened the series' reach, fostering engagement among both academic and non-academic audiences, and underscoring my core, utopian principle that "science shouldn't have a paywall."
Case Study
In recent years, the intersection of psychology and pop culture has garnered significant interest, with discussions of these topics featuring prominently in both academic circles and mainstream media. Recognizing a gap in resources that delve into the psychological mechanisms underlying our beloved fandoms, I envisioned a series that would provide scholarly but accessible “deep dives” into our favorite books, television series’, movies, video games, and even pop culture icons (Looking at you, Taylor Swift). This vision materialized in 2023 with the release of the first book in the Psychgeist of Pop Culture series, The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: The Witcher. Since then, six other volumes have been published exploring the various psychological underpinnings of character development, relationships, and environments across franchises (Mandalorian, Umbrella Academy, Bluey, Stranger Things, Taylor Swift, and Destiny).
Implementation of Open Practices
Central to the series' mission was the principle of open access publishing. I originally approached Play Story Press because I was attracted to their dedication to disseminating academic work without financial barriers. Partnering with them for this series would mean that each volume in the series would be freely available to readers worldwide, maximizing the series' impact by allowing scholars and fans alike to have access to this work without traditional financial barriers.
(Image credit: © 2024 Play Story Press)
Challenges and Solutions
Transitioning to an open access framework does present some challenges. For example, traditional academic publishing often relies on subscription models, so there were some concerns about funding and the sustainability of producing high-quality publications without revenue from sales. To address these issues, Play Story Press has explored alternative, ‘diamond’ funding avenues, such as institutional support, gifts, and grants to allow authors the ability to publish open access at no charge, while also being able to keep the lights on at the press.
Benefits Realized
The open access model has yielded numerous benefits. First, the Psychgeist of Pop Culture series has been positively received, and has been seamlessly integrated into a wide range of curricula, allowing educators to integrate contemporary analyses of traditional psychological themes in a way that resonates with students. Beyond academia, fans of the featured franchises have accessed the series to gain deeper insights into their favorite narratives, fostering a community of informed and engaged readers. This widespread accessibility has amplified the series' reach and impact, highlighting the advantages of open access in disseminating knowledge.
Lessons Learned:
The journey of the Psychgeist of Pop Culture series underscores the feasibility and advantages of open access publishing in academia. It highlights the importance of selecting publishing partners who share a commitment to accessibility and quality. The experience demonstrates that with strategic planning and support, it is possible to overcome financial and logistical challenges associated with open access models. Moreover, the series serves as a testament to the potential of open access publications to engage diverse audiences, bridging the gap between scholarly research and public interest.
Links
You can access the entire Psychgeist of Pop culture catalogue here: https://rkowert.com/psychgeistofpopculture/