Call for Papers – Stardom and Fandom

Southwest Popular / American Culture Association (SWPACA)

39th Annual Conference, February 7-10, 2018

Hyatt Regency Hotel & Conference Center

Albuquerque, New Mexico

http://www.southwestpca.org

Proposal submission deadline: November 15, 2017

 

Proposals for papers and panels are now being accepted for the 39^th annual SWPACA conference.  One of the nation’s largest interdisciplinary academic conferences, SWPACA offers nearly 70 subject areas, each typically featuring multiple panels.  For a full list of subject areas, area descriptions, and Area Chairs, please visit http://southwestpca.org/conference/call-for-papers/

The Area Chair for Stardom and Fandom invites paper or panel proposals on any aspect of stardom or fandom. The list of ideas below is limited, so if you have an idea that is not listed, please suggest the new topic. We are an interdisciplinary area and encourage submissions from multiple perspectives and disciplines. Topics might include:

Studies of individual celebrities and their fans

Studies focused on specific fandoms – films, television programs, books, bands, etc.

The reciprocal relationship between stars and fans

Impact of celebrity and fame on identity construction, reconstruction and sense of self

Reality television, YouTube celebrities, and the changing definition of ‘stardom’

The impact of social media on celebrity/fan interaction

Celebrity/fame addiction as cultural change

The intersection of stars and fans in virtual and physical spaces (Twitter, Tumblr, conventions)

Celebrity and the construction of persona

Pedagogical approaches to teaching stardom and fandom

Anti-fans and ‘haters’

Fan shame, wank, and fandom policing

Gendered constructions of stars and fans

Historical studies of fandom and fan/celebrity interaction

 

All proposals must be submitted through the conference’s database at http://conference2018.southwestpca.org/ 

For details on using the submission database and on the application process in general, please see the Proposal Submission FAQs and Tips page at

http://southwestpca.org/conference/faqs-and-tips/proposal-submission-faqs-and-tips/ 

Individual proposals for 15 minute papers must include an abstract of approximately 200-500 words.  Including a brief bio in the body of the proposal form is encouraged, but not required.

For information on how to submit a proposal for a roundtable or a multi-paper panel, please view the above FAQs and Tips page.

SWPACA offers monetary awards for the best graduate student papers in a variety of categories. Submissions of accepted, full papers are due December 1.  For more information, visit http://southwestpca.org/conference/graduate-student-awards/

Registration and travel information for the conference is available at http://southwestpca.org/conference/registration/

If you have any questions about the Stardom and Fandom area, please contact its Area Chair, Lynn Zubernis, Professor, West Chester University, lzubernis@wcupa.edu

We look forward to receiving your submissions.