2011 CFP: Cultural Studies and Film

British and Anglophone: “Arthurian Avatars: The King Arthur Myth from Medieval to Modern Times”; “Dracula and Beyond: The Evolution of the Vampire”; “‘I am born’: The Characters of Charles Dickens”; “Muriel Spark: Before, During and After The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie”; “Revisiting Easter 1916”; “Twentieth-Century Blake”; “Wilde Family Values”

Comparative Languages: “The Immortal Fairy Tale: Re-writings and Re-visions”

German: “Collecting in German Literature and Culture”; “Fatih Akin and his Films”; “German Romanticism and the Revolution in Science”; “Ventures into the Unknown: Literary and Cinematic Representation of City Spaces”

Italian: “Il Caso Saviano”; “Il folklore nel cinema e nella letteratura Italiana”; “Italian Media Socialization. Between Private, Public and On-line Narratives”; “Italy in WWII and the Transition to Democracy: Memory, Fiction, Histories”; “Italy’s 150th. Norms, Forms and Storms (and Some…Stress): from 1861 to WWI”; “Literature and the Arts: An Exemplar of Multicultural Understanding”; “Our Vietnam: Terrorism and Contemporary Italian Cinema”; “Popular Italian Cinema: from Ubalda to Er Monnezza”; “Post-National and Trans-National Italian Cinema”

Pedagogy: “Artistic Adventures: Introducing the Visual Arts in the XXI Century Classroom”

Russian/Eastern European: “Russian Representations of World War II”

Spanish/Portuguese: “Behind the Lens: Immigration and Globalization in Spanish Contemporary Film”; “The Performative City: Contemporary Spanish Urban Culture”; “Trauma and Memory in literature and film of Latin America”

Theory and Literary Criticism: “I See What You Say: Exploring Intersections of the Visual and the Literary”; “Medical Visions of Modernism”; “Posthumanism, Biopower, and Modern and Contemporary War”; “Rethinking the Postmodern Monster”; “Routes of Memory: Remapping Trauma Studies”

Transnational Literatures: “Bohemiens, Tsiganes, Gitanos, Roma: Representing the Margins”

Women’s and Gender Studies: “Classical Women in Modern Literature and Media”; “Donors and Helpers: Masculinity in Contemporary Fairy Tales”; “Feminist Alternative Media in the long 1970s”; “Gender & Healing: Utilizing Films for the Feminist Classroom”; “Narrating the Public Self: YouTube, Facebook, and Contemporary Feminism”; “We’re plotting our evil, feminist agenda: Women’s Documentaries”

Affects and Spaces in Latin American Cinema, Performance and Literature: This panel aims to discuss the relation between affect and spaces in contemporary Latin American cinema, performance and literature. New approaches to affect theory are most welcome, as are new approaches to space, particularly spaces across genres and beyond face-to-face relations. How are affects and spaces impacted by communication technologies and the growing intensification of cultural hybridization? Please send 300-500 word abstracts in English or Spanish and a brief bio by email to Valeria Garrote <vgarrote@eden.rutgers.edu>
Cinema and Demos: This panel seeks to question the relation between politics and cinema in terms of its effect on the masses. How is the relation between ideology and cinema established? What is the relation between cinema and the desire of the masses? What kind of cinema is a political one and what demarcates such attribution? How is nationalism and cinema related? How is it possible of thinking of feminist cinema today in terms of its affect on the masses?please send an abstract to Elif Sendur, esendur1@binghamton.edu
Concepts of Identity in Post-colonial African Culture: African writers and cultural artists view the phenomenon of independence in the post-colonial dispensation differently. Specifically, and with special reference to Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone Africa, this panel aims to discuss how cultural agents have handled notions of identity, democracy, freedom, territoriality, progress, tradition and modernity within the broader contexts of race, gender, class and language. Submit proposal to Orquidea Ribeiro, Universidade de Tras-os-Montes e Alto Douro, oribeiro@utad.pt.
Constructing ‘Brazilian-ness’ through Cinematic Manipulations: How are contemporary works of Brazilian cinema utilizing filmmaking techniques to construct, deconstruct, redefine, question, or destabilize the notion of ‘Brazilian-ness?’ Any analysis of the construction of a Brazilian identity must recognize the problems inherent in such an effort. Papers will be accepted from all disciplines including film theory, Portuguese language studies, cultural studies, diasporic studies, etc. Abstracts accepted in English or Portuguese. Laurelann Porter <laurelannporter@yahoo.com>
Detective Fiction and Other Genres: Friends or Foes?: While detective fiction has historically been shaped by many influences, other genres, such as sci-fi, adventure, and Gothic, have, arguably, served to complicate and challenge it most. How do these intergeneric influences force a revisioning of the genre’s boundaries and identity? Case studies focusing on single works/ authors or broader generic overviews will be considered for this panel; please submit proposals (250 – 500 words as an MS Word attachment) to Maria Plochocki at bastet801@att.net
Environmentalism in the Realm of Science-Fiction and Fantasy: This panel will discuss the environmental and ecocritical themes found in works of science-fiction and fantasy literature. Through an analysis of these literary works, we look at how they address the environmental issues we face today. And, more importantly, we can look at the solutions that these present to ensure the sustainability of our natural world, and, in turn, for humanity. Please send abstracts of 250-300 words to: Chris Baratta, Binghamton University, cbaratt1@binghamton.edu
Experimentation in Latin American Film: Why does an artist step beyond the boundaries considered to be the safe parameters of production within her/his field? This panel aims to highlight Latin American films and film makers, both past and present, that exhibit experimental techniques in photography, narration, sound, editing or any other aspect of the film’s production that would expand the possibilities of the film’s critical interpretation. Christopher Donahue <cdonahue@bloomu.edu> EXTENDED TO OCT. 10/10
Figuring Diversity in the Cultural Imaginary: Abstracts about embodied difference in literature, film and video encouraged. Topics may include: cultural, racial, gendered, LGBTQ, physical and mental diversity. This panel will move beyond idealist aesthetics that prescribe and describe, to consider the methods of figuration in mainstream and subaltern narratives. How does an alternative aesthetics of corporeality impact the ways we interpret self and other? What are the differences across mediums and cultures? Please submit 250-300 word abstracts to E. Cherniak at ecernakova@gmail.com.
The Films of Kathryn Bigelow: This panel considers the films of Kathryn Bigelow, in particular, how-—if at all-—to situate Bigelow’s cinematic production within the context of feminist filmmaking. Please submit 250-500 word abstracts and a one-page CV to kathrynbigelownemla2011@gmail.com.
Housewives of Millennial Television: Recent TV obsession with (house)wives is a cultural phenomenon worth exploring. As traditional housewives have become increasingly rare, or renamed/transformed, first into homemakers, then ‘stay-at-home moms,’ they seem to occupy a greater share of the popular cultural imagination. How has this new TV phenomenon, in light of the role ‘housewives’, played in the cultural imagination? Historical, feminist, psychological, cultural studies approaches welcome. Abstracts: Katja Hawlitschka, khawlitschka@ocean.edu.EXTENDED TO 10/10
Immersions: Breaching Reality through Play: This panel will examine immersive fiction (e.g., live-action role-playing) and non-fictional immersion (e.g., reality shows), attending to tropes that “immerse” subjects, the boundaries of fiction and the cynical portrayal of the immersed subject in television, literature, film and journalism. Of particular interest are submissions dealing with such tropes outside of a U.S. context, within a cultural studies framework and/or against a backdrop of dramatic theory. Please send 300 word abstracts to Evan Torner (etorner@german.umass.edu).
Italian ‘famiglia’ Representations in Cinema and Television: In order to talk about Italy, one almost invariably must talk about family. This panel aims to focus on Italian family as a fluid, multi-layered theme in Italian and Italian-American cinema and television, and probe its various representations: traditional families, extended families, cross-national families, same gender families, adoptive families and all the different family figures that populate them. Please send 250-300 word abstracts to Francesco Pascuzzi, ciski77@eden.rutgers.edu.
Made in Spain: The Almodóvar Phenomenon: This panel seeks papers on the work of the Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar. What is it about him that connects so profoundly with spectators worldwide? How can we define this Almodovarian universe? Which ones are his main themes? How is Spain represented in his films? How does tradition play out in his films? What about genre? Proposals submissions and inquiries should be sent electronically. Languages accepted: English, French or Spanish (Microsoft Word, 250 words) Maria_Matz@uml.edu or Carole_Salmon@uml.edu
New Media and the Asian Diaspora: This panel will examine representations of Asian American and Asian diasporic communities in new media such as blogs, internet forums, social network sites, video games, etc. How do these representations deal with the heterogeneity of the Asian diaspora? How do online spaces develop, interrupt, or redefine transnational spaces? What do these representations tell us about the future of Asian American and Asian diasporic studies? Please submit 250-500 word abstracts to Swan Kim at SwanKim@virginia.edu.
The Other French Cinema(s) of the 1930s: This panel will examine aspects of 1930s French cinema situated outside the realm of “poetic realism” and/or any other generally accepted canonical films of the decade. The aim is not to challenge the icons of interwar filmmaking in France, but rather to open new paths to explore in a decade too often defined by their work. Please submit a 300-500 word abstract and a brief bio (English or French) to Colleen Kennedy-Karpat at kennedyc@eden.rutgers.edu and Bénédicte Lebéhot at blebehot@rci.rutgers.edu.
Reading the Postcolonial Other in Contemporary Film (Roundtable): Roundtable participants should examine one specific film (Hollywood, independent or international) and its methods used (thematic, cinematic, narrative) in treating the theme of postcolonial other. Preference will be given to under-represented and multi-language perspectives treating this topic in contemporary Africa, Americas, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, and South Asia films. 500 word abstract/CV to Sophie Lavin, SUNY Stony Brook: blavin@optonline.net.
Representations of Disability in Literature and Culture: This panel will investigate disability representation in contemporary popular culture, literature, film, and/or art. What can recent depictions of disability and disabled individuals suggest about our changing conceptions of physical difference and variability? Please submit abstracts to Sara Hosey <Sara.hosey@ncc.edu>
Reshaping the Italian American Identity: The media’s (mis)portrayal in recent years of the current Italian American youth and adult population as ‘Sopranos’, ‘Guidos’ and ‘Guidettes’ (e.g. Jersey Shore) bear witness to the complexity of the process of re-shaping the pre-established Italian American identity. Please send 500-word abstracts and a brief biography to Arianna Fognani (fognani@eden.rutgers.edu).
Surplus Formulations in Detection Fiction: This panel will follow surplus presentations in detection, including polyphonic, psychological, cyber, or hybrid experiments that push the genre to a figurative edge. The call also seeks psychoanalytic studies of jouissance in detection including psychotic or unstable perspectives that elude investigation,i.e. Lisbeth Salander in Steig Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Finally the panel will also address anti- formations in detection. All proposals on this or related topics are welcome. Send to jdatema@bergen.edu.EXTENDED TO 10/10
Transnational Relations: Sexuality and Body Traffic across the Global Village: We will examine the ways in which cinematic, literary and journalistic texts represent the sexuality of undocumented workers across the global marketplace. What are the significant variations and distinctive asymmetries of power within such work, as manifest in different parts of the globe? In what ways are sexual identities altered or affected among undocumented laborers who do not engage in sex work? Abstracts of 300-500 words should be sent to Helga Druxes (hdruxes@williams.edu).
Understanding Avatar: A Movie Made for the Masses: Are the primitive yet “linked-in” Na’vi of Avatar the manifestation of a form of nature now dreamed about by modern “users” dependant on the Internet for their understanding of the world? Did James Cameron select obvious metaphors and recycled themes to ensure Avatar would be understood by bloggers and “textrs” no longer capable of subtlety or wit? Does the popularity of Avatar represent to the “erosion of language” prophesized by Sven Birkerts as a morbid symptom of the electronic age? Please submit 250-500 word abstracts to pchafe@ryerson.ca.
Visceral Subjects: Exploring Bodies, Exploring Knowledges: The past fifteen years have given birth to radically new technologies, new media, and new experiments in film and literature, for which we must develop original ways of thinking about knowledge. In particular, how does embodiment figure in this reevaluation of epistemology? How do our bodies interact with the new forms of knowledge and learning to which we are confronted? How do they help us understand our own viscerality? Please submit 250-word abstracts to Caroline Godart (godart@eden.rutgers.edu).
Wandering Women: Female Itinerancy on Film: This panel seeks to explore cinematic representations of female itinerancy: women as vagabonds, flaneurs, tramps, nomads, drifters, seekers, pilgrims, or picaros. What is the symbolic valence of such images? How have films reimagined literary, social, or historical tropes of female “wandering”? Please submit 250-500 word abstracts to Elizabeth Alsop at ealsop@gmail.com.
What a ‘Man’’s Gotta Do: (Re)Defining Duty of Post-Feminist Action Heroes (Seminar): The action film presents the ultimate arena for testing both commitment to society and personal integrity. This seminar is interested in papers that examine the qualities prized in these heroes--male or female--that enter these arenas, and the implications on contemporary definitions of American masculinity and/or femininity. Papers are accepted that look at individual films, as well as works of a particular director or actor. Submit 250-500 word abstract in body of email to Elizabeth Abele <Abelee@ncc.edu> EXTENDED TO OCT. 10

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