CFP: The Golden Age of LGBT Representations in Film and Television (6/1/14; 10/29-11/1/14)

From: Cynthia Miller <[email protected]>

CALL FOR PAPERS
CFP: The Golden Age of LGBT Representations in Film and Television
An area of multiple panels for the 2014 Film & History Conference:
Golden Ages: Styles and Personalities, Genres and Histories
The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor=92s Club
Madison, WI (USA)
October 29-November 2, 2014
DEADLINE for abstracts: June 1, 2014

AREA: The Golden Age of LGBT Representations in Film and Television

The GLAAD media report for the 2012-2013 television season reported the =
highest number of LGBT characters and storylines ever.  In the current =
season, as well, LGBT characters and stories continue to make up a =
percentage of mainstream film and television that is roughly equivalent =
to the population of Americans who self-identify as LGBT. Is this shift =
in representation merely a function of changing politics, or have =
politics been changed by what we=92ve been exposed to on screen?=20

This area invites 20-minute papers that investigate the proliferation of =
LGBT characters and stories on screen.  Papers may investigate =
individual films (Dallas Buyers=92 Club, Transamerica), television =
series (Modern Family, The Fosters, Glee), or web series (Husbands), or =
may explore trends within a single medium or across media.

Questions to consider include:
=95	What kind of diversity within the LGBT community is being =
depicted on screen? Is on-screen representation really reflective of the =
community or is it homogenized for broad audiences?
=95	In what ways do LGBT characters and stories deepen, complicate, =
reinforce, or dispute mainstream narratives? In what ways do they =
engender new narratives and social constructs?
=95	What are the implications of greater inclusivity for the =
political economy of the film and television industries?
=95	What can be said about the persistence of stereotypes and =
resistance to change in mainstream film and television?
=95	What are the effects of more LGBT-inclusive mainstream media on =
independent films?

Proposals for complete panels (three related presentations) are also =
welcome, but they must include an abstract and contact information, =
including an e-mail address, for each presenter. For updates and =
registration information about the upcoming meeting, see the Film & =
History website (www.filmandhistory.org).

Please e-mail your 200-word proposal by 1 June 2014, to the area chair:
Bridget Kies
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee=20
[email protected]=

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