Re: CFP Reminder: Refocus on Amy Heckerling deadline January 31st

From: Frances Smith [[email protected]]

Dear Colleagues,

A reminder that the deadline for the following call for proposals is Januar=
y 31st. We look forward to receiving your submissions...
Refocus on the films of Amy Heckerling
Edited by Dr. Frances Smith and Prof. Timothy Shary
The films of director and screenwriter, Amy Heckerling, have enjoyed both p=
opular and critical success. Debut features Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1=
982) and National Lampoon=92s European Vacation (1985) were blockbuster hit=
s at the box office, and were arguably instrumental in the development of t=
he nascent high school and family comedies that emerged during the 1980s. L=
ater, Heckerling would achieve critical recognition for Clueless (1995), he=
r revisionist adaptation of Jane Austen=92s Emma, which led the way for a b=
oom in teen literary adaptations at the end of the 1990s. Additionally, Hec=
kerling has directed family films, notably the huge hits Look Who=92s Talki=
ng (1989) and its follow-up Look Who=92s Talking Too (1990), and created tw=
o television series =96 Baby Talk (ABC 1991-1992) and Clueless (ABC 1996-19=
99) =96 based on her film work. Her more recent films =96 Loser (2000), I C=
ould Never Be Your Woman (2007), and Vamps (2012) =96 while compelling in t=
erms of theme, did not achieve the visibility of her earlier work, suggesti=
ng that Hollywood may no longer embrace the mildly feminist work of a middl=
e-aged female director.

Heckerling=92s films remain relevant and well remembered, while a growing b=
ody of academic literature acknowledges the importance of her teen films. N=
onetheless, there has to date been no scholarly volume dedicated to the dis=
cussion of her work as a whole. This anthology seeks to address this gap in=
 scholarship, and will be published by Edinburgh University Press in 2015 a=
s part of the Refocus Series. Edited by Dr. Gary D Rhodes and Dr. Robert Si=
nger, this series is dedicated to examining the work of overlooked director=
s.
We are seeking proposals of 500 words, plus a biography of 50 words for ess=
ays to be included in the book. Completed essays should be between 6500 and=
 8000 words and follow the Chicago endnote referencing style.
We are open to proposals on all aspects of Amy Heckerling=92s work in both =
film and television. Essays may focus on individual works, or on themes and=
 topics that pervade her body of work. Contributions are particularly welco=
me, but are by no means limited to, the following areas:

Heckerling and teen cinema and/or teen television
Analysis of individual films, or television series
Gender and teen comedy
Heckerling and family films, such as Look Who=92s Talking (1989)
The American family in Heckerling=92s films
Heckerling and Jewish comedy
Feminist themes in Heckerling=92s work
The place of female directors in genre history
Audience studies =96 growing up with Heckerling=92s films
Heckerling=92s role in the 1980s teen movie cycle
Issues of medium specificity working across film and television
Proposals should be sent to [email protected] January 31, 20=
14. Both editors will review all proposals and provide a response by Februa=
ry 28, 2014. Essays will need to be completed by September 30, 2014. Please=
 send any queries to [email protected]
Thanks and regards,
Dr. Frances Smith, University of Warwick

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