Reinvigorating and Reinventing Stardom
Saturday 2 November 2019
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the publication of
Richard Dyer’s foundational study of film stardom, Stars (BFI, 1979). While this
work has been instrumental, charting the framework that has dominated star
studies in the following four decades, the study of stardom has expanded areas
referenced in Stars(fandom, archival research, cultural types) and issues not
studied in the book (national cinematic stars, multimedia stardom,
celebrities). Stardom and performance continue to be subjects of fascination
with new work emerging from the BFI Film Stars series and the Celebrity Studiesjournal,
in addition to singular studies exploring the overlap between stars and other
subjects (David McGowan’s Animated Personalities: Cartoon Characters and Stardom
in American Theatrical Shorts (2019); the recent special issue of the Film-Philosophyjournal,
‘Stardom and Philosophy’ (2019); and Lorraine York’s Reluctant Celebrity:
Affect and Privilege in Contemporary Stardom(2018)). While Starsremains an
important reference point, star studies is reinventing itself through new lines
of inquiry, reinvigorating one of the most essential subject areas in Film and
Television Studies.
This symposium acts as the first major event to emerge from
the BAFTSS special interest group, Performance and Stardom. The SIG has been
organised to promote and support the fascinating new work emerging from these
broad topics. The symposium seeks to highlight some of the current research
that is reinvigorating and reinventing star studies through pioneering archival
research, new theoretical paradigms, and developing links between star studies
and, for example, performance, celebrity, fandom, philosophy, and animation.
Papers are sought that approach stardom through these new avenues, possibly
even reflecting on how star studies has expanded since Stars, or considering
the importance of reinvention, not just within the field of star studies, but
how stars have reinvented themselves throughout their careers.
The remit for this symposium is broad with the intention to
manufacture links between those that attend and encourage scholars working
within the fields of stardom and performance. Although sponsored by BAFTSS,
this event is open to all, not just BAFTSS members, and we wish to urge,
especially, postgraduate students and early career researchers to submit
proposals and attend the event.
Further topics may include, but are not limited to:
- The history of star or performance studies
- Dyer’s Stars and or Heavenly Bodiesas foundational works in the field
- Reinvention in star studies/performance
- Reinvention within particular stars careers
- Interdisciplinary approaches to star studies/performance (audience studies, media studies, social sciences)
- Innovative approaches to star/performance studies (archival sources, historiography, practice-based research)
- Stardom/Performance and new media (social media platforms, video games, digital media, YouTube)
- Transmedia stardom/performance
- Transnational stars
- Identity and stardom/performance (postcolonial approaches, disability studies, queer studies, critical race theory)
- Fandom and star studies/performance
Please send 300 word_paper abstracts and a short biography
of no more than 100 words (tobaftssstars@gmail.com) by 1 September 2019. Successful
proposals will be notified by the end of September.
It is the intension that select papers (or shorter versions)
will be published on the Performance and Stardom blog.
Further information: It is expected there will be no
conference fee for the symposium. Millburn House is a fully accessible
building. Please do contact the conference organisers if you have any queries.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario