*CFP* "COURTROOM DRAMAS", FALL 2019 ISSUE, IN MEDIA RES JOURNAL

Courtroom dramas are a staple of mass media. Examples of these dramas are prevalent in various media, including cinema and television. Famous examples from cinema include 12 Angry Men (1957). Anatomy of a Murder (1959), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), The Verdict (1982), and A Few Good Men (1992). 

Examples of television courtroom dramas include past and present series, like Perry Mason (CBS, 1957-1966), The Defenders (CBS. 1961-1965), L.A. Law (NBC, 1986 – 1994), Law and Order (NBC, 1990-2000), The Practice (ABC, 1997-2004), How to Get Away with Murder (ABC, 2014 -), For The People (ABC, 2018-2019), Proven Innocent (Fox, 2019). and many others. 

Courtroom dramas have garnered commercial and critical success. These works also have detractors. Some critics accuse courtroom dramas of promoting inaccurate notions of law and judicial processes. Others express concerns over impacts these dramas may have on real-life legal proceedings. In Media Res seeks submissions for a theme week on courtroom dramas. We welcome submissions on the subject from a variety of perspectives.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

1. A specific courtroom drama(s) from cinema, television, and/or other media. 
2. Social, cultural, and/or political issues addressed by a courtroom drama(s). 
3. Representations of identity as informed by race, gender, class, and/or sexuality. 
4. Portrayals of judicial processes. 
5. Commercial and critical successes of courtroom dramas. 
6. Controversies surrounding courtrooms dramas. 
7. Perceived effects of courtroom dramas on real-life legal proceedings. 
8. Scholarship on courtroom dramas.

Proposals may be brief (one paragraph), but do be sure to describe the topic and key question(s) to be explored. Please submit your proposal by August 9, 2019. If interested, please contact In Media Res (inmediares@gsu.edu) with your proposals or for more information about the theme. Be sure to include the name of the theme week you would like to be involved with in the subject line of the email.

Academics, journalists, critics, media professionals, and fans are all welcome to submit proposals.

The actual piece will include either a 30-second to 3-minute clip, an image, or slideshow that will be accompanied by a 300 to 350-word response to/contextualization of your clip, image, or slideshow. In addition to your piece, you will be expected to engage the other pieces presented that week to encourage discussion and further flesh out the individual topic in relation to the week’s theme.

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