European Communication Research and Education Association
Special Issue in Media and Communication
Deadline: May 31, 2019
Editors: Monika Taddicken and Anne Reif, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Institute of Social Sciences,, Department of Communication and Media Sciences.
Information
In 1985, the Royal Society of London declared that a better public understanding of science (about results as well as methods) is necessary for individual citizens to make reasoned, personal decisions in most aspects of daily life (Bodmer, 1985). Scientists, scientific institutions, and the media were requested to encourage public understanding of science by communicating more information to the public. Empirical research, however, could not prove a positive correlation between the amount of information about and knowledge of science the public has and its positive attitude toward scientific topics. As a result, the assumption of knowledge deficit that can be addressed with better information distribution has been criticized. For science communication this means that simply communicating more information to the public is not sufficient and further considerations are required.
This begs the question of whether emotion is relevant in scientific discourse. Currently, particularly among practical science communicators, there is a great deal of discussion on how individuals can be reached, not only through pure science communication, but also through emotional appeals. Innovative, target group-oriented formats show an increasing trend toward an ‘edutainment’ approach to science communication that focuses on the emotional experience of the audience (Gerber, 2011, p. 11). From an academic viewpoint, this form of science communication is often regarded as trivial and met with skepticism. However, there has been very little empirical research done relating to usage, reception, and the effect of these new formats of science communication.
Public discussion around so-called ‘alternative facts’ and ‘fake news’ as well as the accusations against the alleged ‘lying press’ direct the glance further toward negative aspects of emotional appeals and debates. This is also relevant for the communication of science and science-related topics. Following the Habermasian ideal, public communication should follow rational, critical reasoning and aim to achieve a consensus based on facts and respectful contributions of equal and rationally motivated participants. Nevertheless, deviations from this ideal are currently observed in the public sphere and give reason for further research in science communication.
This is, more or less, attributed to the modern communication environments that have formed through the establishment of social media networks. In these networks, trolls and bots, but also potential echo chambers and paradoxes of participation (Schmidt, 2018), influence the public discourse about topics such as science. Against the backdrop of ‘hate speech’ in social media and the linked alleged verbal coarsening in the debating culture, the so-called ‘sensitivity communication’ (Barth & Wagner, 2015) is commonly presented in a negative light. Emotions that are evoked by science communication or intentional emotional appeals are often explicitly associated with an overarching trend of disaffection with elites and a (possibly profound) loss of trust in societal authorities and systems. This is especially true when considering that leading politicians publically question the truth of scientific results and thus contest fundamental epistemological criteria.
Thus, it seems more important than ever to bring research on emotion, in the context of science and the public, into focus. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss whether or not the assumption of the dichotomy of reason and emotion withstands, or if the relationship between affective and cognitive debates has to be rethought and reinterpreted. Particularly in the context of science communication, which is known for its high complexity and uncertainty, the question arises as to what extent evidence-based and emotional appeals can be understood as opposites.
The discussion around these and similar aspects are the main focus of this special issue. The following list of thematic areas shall serve for orientation purposes but shall not limit the range of topics of potential submissions. We welcome theoretical and/or empirical papers that engage with these or similar thematic areas.
Thematic Area 1: Emotion and Perception, Interpretation, Effects
This thematic area addresses the question of the emotional processing of science communication. Bearing in mind that, within a public discourse, scientific facts are understood and interpreted individually, it becomes more significant to look closely at the recipients’ perspective. What is the role of emotions (that arise from, e.g., personal concern or individual contexts) for the usage and reception of science-related content? What further approaches are used and what are the current results of the way humans interpret scientific information? In this context, for example, it is relevant to investigate the significance of emotions in the process of complexity management. Emotions such as fear, which may promote over-simplifications or the belief in conspiracy theories, are possible consequences of an individual mental overload in light of the increasing complexity of (scientific) issues and social challenges.
A further area for examination is the individual and social consequences of emotional debates in science communication, e.g., concerning the question of a (potential) loss of trust: What is the role of emotions in a (positive/negative) relationship of trust between science and the public?
Thematic Area 2: Emotions and Participation
Besides ‘traditional’ mass media communication, forms of science communication that are oriented on dialogue, engagement, and participation are becoming increasingly relevant.
Particularly, new media environments, in the form of digital communication and social media, create a low-threshold participation opportunity with the potential to encourage citizens’ participation in science (Stilgoe, Lock, & Wilsdon, 2014). So far, however, there are scarcely any scientific findings concerning participation, as well as the motivation for and the emotional appeal of it. The academic debate stays on normative grounds (Fähnrich, 2017; Stilgoe et al., 2014). Questions to be discussed within this thematic area are, for example: Who can be reached with dialogue-participative formats? Who participates and why? To what extent do emotions motivate participatory processes (e.g., in Citizen Science formats)? How do different forms and degrees of participation influence the (emotional) attitude toward science? What is the role of emotional participation in public discourses about science, e.g., in the context of the March for Science?
Thematic Area 3: Emotional(ized) Content
Practical science communicators increasingly contemplate how science and scientific results should be presented to ‘successfully’ reach a wider public. Can or should the rational position of science and the presentation of abstract results be abandoned in favor of more emotional narratives? Or does this approach undermine the neutrality and thereby credibility of science?
So far, there has been little research on the level of emotionality within science communication, and whether or not science communication varies when it comes to different times, communicators, or formats. Hence, this thematic area takes stock of the question of the relevance of emotion in different areas, contexts, and topics of science. What emotions should be evoked or prevented and by what means (and which are created, see thematic area 1)? This thematic area aims to discuss questions about professional, emotional science communication content and its producers.
Furthermore, the question as to how emotional the recipients’ communicative contribution (e.g., incivility of online comments or un-scientific, user-generated content) in the scientific discourse is, shall be addressed as well.
Submissions
Deadline for abstracts: 31 May 2019
Deadline for submissions: 15 September 2019
Publication of the special issue: February/March 2020
Instructions for Authors:
Authors interested in submitting a paper for this issue are asked to send, via email, an extended abstract of about 500 to 600 words, with a tentative title and reference to the thematic issue to the Editorial Office (mac@cogitatiopress.com) by 31 May 2019.
Contributions should not be considered for publication elsewhere. This has to be explicitly stated on the cover page. Names must be removed for blind peer reviews.
Please consult the journal’s instructions for authors and Call for Papers. All papers will be proofed in a blind peer-reviewed process.
References
Barth, N., & Wagner, E. (2015). Erhitzte Öffentlichkeit - zur medialen Transformation
öffentlicher Kommunikation auf Facebook. POP Zeitschrift. Retrieved from http://www.popzeitschrift.de/2016/03/05/social-media-maerzvon-niklas-barth-und-elke-wagner5-3-2016/
(zuletzt abgerufen am 22.5.2018).
Bodmer. W. (1985). The public understanding of science. London: The Society.
Fähnrich, B. (2017). Wissenschaftsevents zwischen Popularisierung, Engagement und
Partizipation. In H. Bonfadelli, B. Fähnrich, C. Lüthje, J. Milde, M. Rhomberg, & M. S. Schäfer
(Eds.), Forschungsfeld Wissenschaftskommunikation (pp. 165–182). Wiesbaden: Springer
Fachmedien Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-12898-2_9.
Gerber, A. (2011). Trendstudie Wissenschaftskommunikation - Vorhang auf für Phase 5: Chancen,
Risiken und Forderungen für die nächste Entwicklungsstufe der Wissenschaftskommunikation
(Vol. 1). Berlin: edition innovare/innokomm Forschungszentrum.
Schmidt, J.-H. (2018). Social Media. Wiesbaden: Springer.
Stilgoe, J., Lock, S. J., & Wilsdon, J. (2014). Why should we promote public engagement with
science? Public Understanding of Science, 23(1), 4–15.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0963662513518154.
Special issue #18 of VIEW journal of European Television History and Culture
Deadline: June 1, 2019
We are presently accepting propositions for a special issue of VIEW Journal dedicated to the history of television and health. VIEW Journal of European Television History and Culture is the first peer-reviewed, multimedia and open access e-journal in the field of European television history and culture. The special issue follows the thematic lines of the Tele(visualising) Health conference on the history of TV, public health, its enthusiasts and its publics. The special issue will include contributions from the authors who presented at the conference but is open to other authors who wish to explore these topics in writing.
Televisions began to appear in homes in large numbers of the public in Europe and North America after World War II. This coincided with a period in which ideas about the public’s health, the problems that it faced and the solutions that could be offered, were changing. Threats posed by infectious diseases were receding, only to be replaced by chronic conditions linked to lifestyle and individual behaviour. Public health professionals were enthusiastic about how this new technology and mass advertising could reach out to individuals in the population with a new message about lifestyle and health risk. Television symbolised the post-war optimism about new directions in public health
At the same time, television acted as a contributing factor to new public health problems. Watching TV was part of a shift towards more sedentary lifestyles, and also a vehicle through which products that were damaging to health - alcohol, cigarettes and unhealthy food - could be advertised to the public. Population health problems could be worsened by TV viewing. How should we understand the relationship between TV and public health? What are the key changes and continuities over time and place? How does thinking about the relationship between public health and TV change our understanding of both?
In this special issue, we seek to explore questions such as:
This special issue aims to bring together scholars from different fields (such as, but not limited to, history, history of science, history of medicine, communication, media and film studies, television studies) working on the history of television in Great Britain, France and Germany (West and East) (the focus of the ERC BodyCapital project), but also other European countries, North and South America, Russia, Asia or other countries and areas. Papers might focus on one national, regional or even local framework. Considering the history of health-related (audio-) visuals as a history of transfer, as entangled history or with a comparative perspective are welcome. The co-editors welcome contributions with a strong historical impetus from all social and cultural sciences.
Please consult the author guidelines, notably with regard to format, length and availability of films/programmes, before making your proposal.
For further information or questions about the issue, please contact its co-editors: Tricia Close-Koenig , Claude Mussou , Angela Saward
For further information or questions about the issue, please contact its co-editors:
We invite you to submit your proposals (500 word abstract) by 1 June 2019 to VIEW’s managing editor at journal.euscreen .eu.
Authors will be notified by 1 July and full articles (3000-6000 words) must be submitted by October 2019, they will then be circulated for the double-blind peer reviewing process, for publication in winter 202
About VIEW Journal
See www.viewjournal.eu for the current and back issues. VIEW is supported by the EUscreen Network and published by the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. VIEW is proud to be an open access journal. All articles are hosted by Ubiquity Press and indexed through the Directory of Open Access Journals, the EBSCO Film and Television Index, Paperity and NARCIS.
MeCCSA Local and Community Media Network
November 1, 2019
Coventry University
Deadline: July 31, 2019
The landscape for local and community media is undergoing a period of rapid change in the wake of the disruption of traditional business models and the advent of diverse, entrepreneurial reactions to the spaces created. At the same time this disruption has prompted reflection by those within and without the industry as to the impact of these changes, and so to the consideration of the purposes of local media. This conference aims to capture the range of meanings associated with local and community media both in the UK and beyond by considering those purposes. It invites both academics and practitioners to consider the range of responses to this disruption and how those relate to the perceived role and purpose of local and community media.
Areas which might be addressed include, but are not limited to, the implications of these changes for:
Papers on both academic research and practice-based projects are welcome.
The event is organised by the newly-formed Local and Community Media Network of MeCCSA. Papers will be peer-reviewed Please send an abstract of no more than 300 words and a cover sheet with a brief biographical note, your institutional affiliation (where relevant) and your contact details (including your email address). Abstracts should be sent to network chair r.matthews@coventry.ac.uk. Please address any queries to the same address in the first instance.
Closing date for proposals: July 31 2019. You will be notified of the acceptance of your paper by early September.
The event will be held at Coventry University in the Midlands of the UK on Friday, November 1, 2019. A nominal fee of £10 will be charged for attendance. A limited number of travel grants will also be available to enable attendance by PG/ECR researchers. Please state on your abstract if you would like to be considered for a grant and the amount requested.
Deadline: June 5, 2019
VIEW Journal of European Television History and Culture is a peer-reviewed, multimedia and open access e-journal in the field of television studies. It offers an international platform for outstanding academic research and archival reflection on television as an important part of our European cultural heritage.
VIEW originated from the pan-European EUscreen network of audiovisual and broadcast archives and academic partners. It has been published by the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, in collaboration with the EUscreen Network, twice a year since 2012.
The journal is open to many disciplinary perspectives on European television – including but not limited to television studies, television history, media studies, media sociology, and cultural studies. The publication is completely open access. Article processing charges are covered by its publisher and all readers access the journal’s articles for free. The journal’s reviewing system is based on the open source Open Journal Systems and hosting is provided by Ubiquity Press .
VIEW currently seeks a managing editor. This is an honorary position for which Sound and Vision offers an annual € 1,250 gross allowance. The managing editor is appointed for a two-year term. The appointed ME is expected to start in September 2019, when work on our forthcoming issue "Canned Television Going Global?" is planned to start.
Role Description
The Managing Editor guides and serves the Editorial Board and works closely with the Assistant Journal Manager, the Publishing Support at Sound and Vision and each issue’s co-editors. She recommends the type of content that is best suited to meet the goals and objectives of our publication, which was launched in 2012.
The Managing Editor assists the Editors-in-Chief and the Editorial Board to:
Key Responsibilities:
Specific duties include but are not limited to:
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
This position requires a doctorate degree (will consider masters degree) in Television, Film, Media Studies, Science and Technology Studies or a closely related field of expertise.
Skills and Other Requirements:
Procedure
Are you interested in this position? Send a letter of motivation (max. one page) with your resume to the VIEW publishing support at support@viewjournal.eu by Wednesday, June 5th .
To obtain more information about this position, please call Erwin Verbruggen at +31356771691 or send an email to everbruggen [at] beeldengeluid [dot] nl.
Departement für Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienfoschung (DCM)
Voraussichtlich ab 1. August 2019
Stellenprofil: Die Oberassistentin/der Oberassistent soll Forschung und Lehre am DCM in einem oder mehreren der folgenden Bereiche verstärken: Journalismus, Kommunikations- und Mediengeschichte, Medienökonomie, Medienpolitik, Mediensysteme, Mediennutzung/Medienwirkung, Methoden, PR/Organisationskommunikation oder politische Kommunikation. In der Lehre ist die Übernahme von vier Semesterwochenstunden in unseren kommunikationswissenschaftlichen Studiengängen (BA/MA) vorgesehen. Es wird zudem erwartet, dass sich die Bewerberin/der Bewerber im Rahmen eines Habilitationsprojektes weiterqualifiziert. Die ausgeschriebene Qualifikationsstelle ist zunächst für ein Jahr befristet (Probezeit), mit Option auf 4 weitere Jahre Verlängerung.
Einstellungsvoraussetzungen: Voraussetzung für eine Bewerbung sind eine überdurchschnittliche Promotion sowie ausgewiesene Fach- und sozialwissenschaftliche Methodenkenntnisse. Internationale Forschungserfahrung sowie Erfahrungen in der selbstständigen Konzeption und Durchführung von Lehrveranstaltungen sind von Vorteil. Es werden gute Kenntnisse in englischer Sprache sowie die Bereitschaft zur Mitarbeit in der universitären Selbstverwaltung erwartet. Französischkenntnisse sind von Vorteil.
Die Universität Freiburg ist eine zweisprachige Universität und zeichnet sich durch ein internationales Umfeld sowie attraktive Arbeitsbedingungen aus. Zur weiteren Qualifizierung stehen hochschuldidaktische Angebote zur Verfügung.
Schriftliche Bewerbungen mit den üblichen Unterlagen (Lebenslauf mit Darstellung der bisherigen Tätigkeit, Zeugnisse, Liste der wissenschaftlichen Publikationen, 1-2 seitiger Abstract der Dissertation, aktuelle Lehrevaluationen) sind bis zum 15. Juni 2019 elektronisch im PDFFormat an unser Sekretariat, Frau Anne-Marie Carrel (anne-marie.carrel@unifr.ch) zu richten.
Universität Fribourg
Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaftliche Fakultät
Departement für Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienforschung (DCM)
z.H. Frau Anne-Marie Carrel
Bd. de Pérolles 90
CH-1700 Fribourg
Tel.: +41 (0) 26 300 83 83
November 7-8, 2019
Madrid (Spain)
Deadline: September 9, 2019
CALL FOR PAPERS
The call for submitting papers to the international seminar Platforms and Diversity: Netflix under Debate, that will be held on 7–8 November 2019 at the Faculty of Humanities, Communication and Documentation of Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), is now open until September 9.
This event is part of the activities that are being developed by the Audiovisual Diversity research team under the project Audiovisual Diversity and Online Platforms: Netflix as a case study, which is particularly interested in the role that online platforms play for the diversity of the audiovisual industries. More specifically, it studies the actions and impacts of transnational online platforms that commercialize audiovisual contents through Internet, considering their socioeconomic profile and the political and regulatory reactions they provoke. The analysis of such an impact pays special attention to the Spanish market and takes deeply into consideration Netflix as a case study.
The seminar, precisely, will revolve around these and will be organized as follows: a keynote speaker will open the event, followed by three panels dedicated to the challenges and opportunities audiovisual platforms present to diversity, Netflix’s performance in different national markets, and Netflix’s launch, evolution and connection within the Spanish audiovisual sector. Additionally, there will be a session of four contributors chosen, by the Scientific Committee of the event, among those replying to this call for papers.
If interested, please send a title and abstract, of no more than 500 words, and a short bio (150 words), along with a selection of key references.
Welcomed topics are:
Based on selected proposals, the panel discussion will be held in the afternoon of November 7. The contributors will have 20 minutes for their presentations. Previously, being October 21 the deadline, successful applicants must send their final unpublished and original contributions. Papers should be between 6,000 – 8,000 words in length.
TIMELINE:
(*) The organization is considering taking steps to offer the papers presented the possibility to be published in a peer review scientific journal.
More information on the event and the research project in http://www.diversidadaudiovisual.org
20th Documentary Summer School
August 12-17, 2019
Locarno, Italy
Deadline: June 16, 2019
Already in its 20th year, the Documentary Summer School (DSS 2019) is jointly organized by the Università della Svizzera italiana and Locarno Film Festival, in collaboration with the Semaine de la critique. The DSS offers places for up to 30 university students in the fields of cinema, media and communication. Graduated students, early doctoral students and emerging filmmakers are also welcome to apply. The DSS explores different research and production relevant issues concerning documentary cinema. A special attention is devoted to ethical questions.
DSS Website: https://www.locarnofestival.ch/pardo/professionals/summer-academy/documentary-summer-school.html
APPLICATIONS AND ENQUIRIES TO:
Documentary Summer School - Organizing committee
Università della Svizzera italiana
Via Buffi 13, 6900 Lugano
Tel. +41 (0)58 666 4814
documentarysummerschool@gmail.com
DSS 2019 PROGRAM
CONTENTS
Now in its 20th edition, the Documentary Summer School (DSS 2019) is jointly organized by the Università della Svizzera italiana and Locarno Film Festival, in collaboration with the Semaine de la critique.
The DSS explores different research and production relevant issues concerning documentary cinema. Given the great pervasiveness with which currently images and representations spread, for some years the DSS has decided to focus on the theme of ethics in documentary filmmaking. This year the DSS will be held on 11-18 August and will reflect upon the representations of people and issues we do not experience directly: "the others". The respectful coexistence between people different in terms of culture, sexual choices, origin, religion is becoming an issue of crucial importance. The aim of the DSS will be to investigate this issue in the context of audiovisual representations - such as documentaries, but also reportages. Which forms of communication could build bridges among people? Which ones can reduce fear, distrust, rejection? Which ones are at risk of dividing people?
SPEAKERS
Prof. Maria Cristina Lasagni, the DSS director, lecturer in cinema and documentary at USI with more than 20 years' experience in teaching and researching documentary filmmaking and media ethics.
Prof. Nevina Satta CEO of the Sardegna Film Commission and a board member of Cineregio, the EU network of Regional Film Funds;
Andrea Segre an award-winner filmmaker who has directed over twenty films of documentary and fiction genre exploring issues such as ethnic and cultural identity, migration, social and economic crisis.
Prof. Gail Vanstone a well-known researcher in the field of Feminist Cultural Production with an emphasis on Literature and Film, Canadian Cultural Production, Contemporary Critical Cultural Theory;
Prof. Brian Winston founding director of the Glasgow Media Group and founding chair of the British Association of Film, Television and Media Studies. Among the DSS guests also professional documentarists from Semaine de la critique selection.
CONDITIONS OF PARTECIPATION
The Documentary Summer School is open up to 30 undergraduate students in the fields of film, media and communication studies. Graduate students, early PhD students and emerging filmmakers are also welcome to apply. No geographic restrictions apply.
The participation fee is of 550 CHF and it covers:
Meals other than breakfast and travel to and from the Festival are at the expense of participants.
Please note that the Festival provides participants with a shuttle service free of charge between Milano Malpensa airport and Locarno, prior booking.
SUBMISSIONS 2019
Deadline for submission is 16 June 2019 for students who do not need a visa, and 31 May 2019 for students who needs a visa to come to Switzerland.
Candidates shall submit via email the following documents:
Submitted dossiers will be evaluated by the scientific board, and selected participants will be notified via email within three weeks after the deadlines for submission.
University of Technology, Tallinn
Deadline: June 15, 2019
Interviewing starts June 15 2019. Priority will be given to applications received on or before June 15 2019.
Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance (RND) is one of the largest, most internationalized and leading social science research centres in Estonia. As part of Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) and its School of Business and Governance, RND functions at the intersection of technological and social science research.
The emergence of big data era has led to serious discussions about social datafication – i.e. the socio-cultural consequences of big data on societies, individual lives, and governmental organizations. Positive consequences like control of spatial mobilities through algorithms and negative consequences like discrimination through datafied decisions are central in these discussions. Estonian society with its contradictions – a highly digitalized environment, moderate use of open data, low awareness of algorithmic control and privacy concerns – offers a highly attractive environment for studying the societal consequences of big data, algorithms, and AI.
Key tasks:
• The main task of the doctoral researcher is to carry out research in data studies in the field of spatial mobilities (e.g. refugees, highly skilled immigrants, e-residents, ‘data rich’ and ‘data poor’ mobile groups).
• Participation in the research activities in the domains of
(1) data justice - how to avoid discrimination through data, automatized inequalities, racial bias, and movement towards more just data practices;
(2) awareness of algorithmic control (the perspectives of data subjects from the Global South, data rich and data poor ethnic / mobile groups),
(3) data governance (use of social scoring, AI, machine learning methods in governmental institutions for controlling mobility).
• Participation in the teaching activities of the research group, including supervision of students;
• Participation in the administrative functions of the research group;
Qualification requirements:
• MA or equivalent in social sciences (in the fields of sociology, public administration, media and communication, human geography, or a related discipline);
• Excellent knowledge of research methods, including quantitative (survey, mobility tracking, basic and advanced statistics, social networks analysis) or qualitative methods (interviewing, textual analysis, visual analysis methods). Knowledge of digital or computational research methods are advantageous.
Specifics & Benefits:
We offer the chance to do high-level research in an internationally recognized research team; opportunities for conference visits; networking with leading universities in the field of data studies; publishing in high-level journals in the field.
• The position is fixed-term (4 years)
Start date: 1 September 2019 (or as soon as possible).
• The position is financed from the state scholarship and from the projects, which in total provides monthly income up to 1200 EUR net (including 20% national income tax, Estonian national health, social security and pension payments).
Application requirements:
• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Research proposal (5 pages)
• When applying for the 1st time for a position in TalTech, duplicate of the required diploma (MA) or other document providing evidence of the necessary qualification.
For more information on TalTech, see www.taltech.ee
For more information on RND, see www.taltech.ee/nurkse
University of West London
Deadline: May 29, 2019
UWL is inviting a new round of applications for PhD scholarships featuring a fees waiver and a stipend of £15,000 pa. The call is for applications across the whole university and competition is initially at subject and then at University level.
The call is open until Wednesday May 29th. Among the wide range of fields in which applications are sought to work with supervisors from the School of Art, Design and Media are:
Summaries of areas of research expertise linked to specific areas and specific supervisors may be found at: https://www.uwl.ac.uk/academic-schools/film-media-design/mphil-and-phd
Details of how to apply are here: https://www.uwl.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/applications-and-entry-requirements
The call is posted here https://www.uwl.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/vice-chancellors-phd-scholarships
Potential applicants are invited to contact any of the supervisors or mailto:garin.dowd@uwl.ac.uk and/or mailto:michelle.henning@uwl.ac.uk
Call for Chapters
Deadline for Submission of Abstracts: June 30, 2019
Editor: Karen McNally
Donald Trump’s emergence in the field of American politics has had an undeniable and wide-ranging impact on contemporary American television. As a medium television has been quick to respond to the extraordinary climate and fast-paced news environment created by the roller-coaster of events and political strategies that have defined the Trump administration. CBS drama /The Good Fight/, for example, explicitly ties the unfolding events of the Trump presidency to its characters’ professional and personal lives, while the dystopian narrative of /The Handmaid’s Tale/ seems an updated warning of the continuing threats to women’s legal and cultural rights. Each genre from the satirical show to reality television has demonstrated the centrality of contemporary politics to viewers’ everyday experience, assuming an atypical awareness of current events amongst diverse members of the American public. At the same time, television has been forced to confront its role in the construction of a media-driven celebrity presidency, as it provides 24-hour breaking-news coverage and makes celebrities out of the various press secretaries entering and exiting Trump world. Whether it’s the challenge of depicting the fictitious car crash politics of /Veep/ with the backdrop of a White House reportedly in disarray, or news analysis shows wading through the concepts of ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’, the balance between representation, critique, entertainment, fiction and fact has become the site of television’s negotiation with the current era.
This volume seeks a range of essays aiming to address the ways in which the political climate of the Trump era has revealed itself on American television. The political setting might be defined as much by movements such as #MeToo, Time’s Up and Black Lives Matter as by the various branches of federal government, or political moments such as Charlottesville or the release of the Mueller Report. Similarly, authors might choose to examine individual television shows or particular genres, and themes including celebrity politics, backlash culture, journalism as entertainment, genre hybridity, amongst a variety of topics.
Chapter proposals should be submitted as a 300-400 word abstract by 30 June 2019 to the editor, Karen McNally, at TrumpEraTelevisionthebook@gmail.com . Please include a full author biography and contact details. Final chapters will be 5,000 to 6,000 words and due by 15 November 2019. Please feel free to email also with any queries prior to submission of abstracts. A major publisher is being sought for the volume.
Dr Karen McNally is a Senior Lecturer in Film and Television Studies at London Metropolitan University and a specialist in Hollywood cinema and American television and culture. She is the author of /When Frankie Went to Hollywood: Frank Sinatra and American Male Identity /(University of Illinois Press, 2008) and /The Stardom Film: Hollywood and the Star Myth/ (Columbia University Press, forthcoming). She is also the editor of /Billy Wilder, Movie-Maker: Critical Essays on the Films/ (McFarland, 2011) and co-editor of /The Legacy of Mad Men: Cultural History, Intermediality and American Television /(Palgrave Macmillan, forthcoming).
Contact Details: TrumpEraTelevisionthebook@gmail.com
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