2002 00 00 Utopian Studies - Vol 13 No 1 - Mike Wilson

Magazine Overview

This document is a review of the book "UFOs and Popular Culture, An Encyclopedia of Contemporary Myth" by James R. Lewis, published in 2000 by ABC-CLIO. The review, authored by Mike Wilson, appeared in *Utopian Studies*, Volume 13, Number 1, published by Penn State University Press in 2002. The review is critical of the book's scope and content, suggesting it is not a comprehensive encyclopedia of UFO phenomena.

Review of "UFOs and Popular Culture, An Encyclopedia of Contemporary Myth"

The reviewer, Mike Wilson, begins by describing the physical presentation of a related work, noting a "hodge-podge of print types, mixed highlighting and white print on black pages" as "truly disturbing" and an example of the medium destroying the message. This sets a critical tone for the review of Lewis's book.

James R. Lewis's book is presented as an encyclopedia with over 400 alphabetically arranged entries. However, the reviewer immediately points out significant omissions, such as the Shag Harbour incident of 1967 and the Socorro, New Mexico landing in 1964, which are considered prominent in UFO lore. The reviewer states that a primary complaint will be the lack of "hard information about UFOs."

Lewis's work is contrasted with Jerome Clark's two-volume *The UFO Encyclopedia*, which is described as more comprehensive. The reviewer notes that Lewis himself acknowledges that his encyclopedia is not intended to be strictly about UFO phenomena but rather focuses on "soft ufology," including UFO religions, folklore, mythology, and the New Age aspect of UFOs. Lewis, who has authored encyclopedias on new religions, cults, and astrology, uses his expertise to connect these subjects to UFO phenomena.

Many entries in Lewis's book are described as relating or comparing non-UFO subjects to UFO phenomena. Examples include entries on near-death experiences, astral projection, Bigfoot, theosophy, pyramids, automatic writing, archetypes, and channeling. The reviewer also points out that while Stonehenge is pictured on the cover, there is no entry for it in the book.

A significant portion of the book's material is devoted to movies about UFOs or space adventures. The reviewer notes that of the 20 entries under the letter "T," twelve are movies, with many entries being mere synopses of plots. This is seen as adding length without substance, with the reviewer citing examples like "The Three Stooges in Orbit," "Coneheads," and "The Cat from Outer Space." The reviewer suggests that a better approach would have been to focus on a few important movies or have a single entry discussing common themes in UFO films.

Some entries are considered a stretch for a UFO encyclopedia, such as the one connecting narratives of colonial New England Puritans captured by Indians to an American proclivity for "hostage" tales, which Lewis suggests made alien abduction tales inevitable. The reviewer finds this an overstatement without evidence.

The book includes four appendixes. The latter two are lists of UFO organizations, periodicals, and non-print resources. The first two are considered substantive: one is a chronology of UFO phenomena beginning in 1837, and the second contains documents from the Heaven's Gate cult, preceded by a discussion of the movement. Lewis classifies Heaven's Gate as a New Age cult, noting the tendency of the New Age movement to portray ufonaunts as spiritual beings and the acceptance of "walk-ins." Lewis attributes the anomalous component in Heaven's Gate to suicide rather than UFOs.

The foreword by Thomas E. Bullard and Lewis's introduction frame the book's perspective as removed from the immediacy of UFO incidents, focusing instead on underlying themes and archetypes that connect UFO phenomena with religion, folklore, and art. The reviewer states that the book is less about UFOs themselves and more about the human imagination's response to them.

Comparing Lewis's book to Alan Baker's *The Encyclopedia of Alien Encounters* (2000), the reviewer notes that Baker's book contains more "hard" information. However, Lewis's book is credited with providing more in-depth introductory material that creates a folkloric or literary perspective for contemplating UFO phenomena.

Ultimately, the reviewer concludes that Lewis's book is a misnomer to call an encyclopedia. It is described as a "collage illustrating a broad thesis about the human imagination." The reviewer quotes Bullard from the foreword: "whether UFOs crumble into a collection of conventional occurrences or exist as an independent phenomenon, no one can hope to study UFOs without recognizing the role of human beliefs and concerns in UFO lore."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The *Utopian Studies* journal, as evidenced by this review, appears to engage with subjects that explore the intersection of belief systems, cultural phenomena, and the human imagination, even when those subjects, like UFOs, are often considered fringe. The review itself adopts a scholarly yet critical stance, evaluating the book's content, structure, and contribution to the field of ufology and popular culture studies. The editorial stance seems to favor rigorous analysis and comprehensive information, while acknowledging the value of exploring cultural narratives and psychological interpretations of phenomena. The focus on "soft ufology" and the role of human imagination suggests an interest in how societies construct meaning around unexplained events.