| Fans and Fandom A Global Inclusive Interdisciplinary Conference Friday 6th May 2022 - Saturday 7th May 2022 Prague, Czech Republic What is your first thought when you hear the word "fan" - a die-hard supporter of a pop-culture media product? A religious zealot? An avid enthusiast of a favourite sports team? Whether viewed as having positive or negative implications, concepts of fans and fandom are thoroughly embedded in society. Being a vital aspect of the self-identity of many individuals, fandom warrants closer study. We are pleased to launch the Global Inclusive Interdisciplinary Research Project on Fans and Fandom. Over the course of an ongoing series of events, this cross context research project will facilitate deeper engagements involving participants from across disciplinary, professional, practitioner and other backgrounds in exploring the nature, meaning and implications of fandom as it impacts individuals, fan communities and the societies in which they operate. For our inaugural event, we will focus on current issues surrounding the effect of the pandemic on fandom, the haptic culture development as well as transmedia/convergence culture. We welcome the submission of proposals for research papers, short position papers, workshops and performances/installations dealing with any aspect of fans and fandom that would address, in a discursive manner, points of tension when it comes to theorising fandom from a multidisciplinary standpoint: what disturbs, fascinates and puzzles us in the multiverse of fandoms at the beginning of the 2020s. Key Topics We offer to step beyond the limitation on fandom "studies" as we welcome everyone who has a passion and avid interest in fandom and fandom culture as a modern phenomenon. The organizers welcome a 300-word proposal for presentations on any related subject, including by not limited to: 1. Fandom as a Social Phenomenon - Fandom as a constellation of subcultural tribes - Communal dynamics: use of language, ethnographies, behavioural analysis - Impact and social value of fandom - Migrating fan communities - Intersections between fandom and issues of gender / sexuality / race / nationality and other markers of identity - Fan conventions and their significance 2. Issues of Authorship and Commercialisation in Fandom - Textual poachers/(un)authorized uses of texts - Economics of fandom (monetisation, commodification, (dis)empowerment) - Professionalisation of fan artists in the post-network era TV industry - Policing fans and fandoms - Interfaces between fandom and celebrity/stardom - Fantrepreneurs – entrepreneurial expressions of fandom 3. Fandom as a Research Subject - Multicultural/cross-cultural studies of fandom - Case studies of specific fans/fandoms - Historical studies of fans/fandoms - High culture vs. popular culture and alternative conceptualisations of fandom (theory fans, politics fans, etc.) - Critiques of fans/fandom - Taxonomies of fandom - The value of fandom studies - Innovative methodologies for researching fandom - Innovative pedagogies for teaching fan studies/using fandom as a teaching tool 4. Fandom Through and Through - First-hand accounts of individual experiences within fandoms - Creative expressions of fandom (studies of fanfics, fanvids, fanart, fansongs etc.) - Technologies of fandom - Psychologies of fandom: pleasures, needs and harms - Perceptions and representations of fandom in the media and creative arts - Haptic fandom and other interactive forms of engagement with fandom - Fandom and immersion: when the audience becomes the participant - LARPs and fandoms - Geeky is the new sexy: image and role of fans in popular culture What To Send The aim of this inclusive interdisciplinary conference and collaborative networking event is to bring people together and encourage creative conversations in the context of a variety of formats: papers, seminars, workshops, storytelling, performances, poster presentations, problem-solving sessions, case studies, panels, q and a's, round-tables etc. Creative responses to the subject, such as poetry/prose, short film screenings/original drama, installations and alternative presentation styles that engage the audience and foster debate are particularly encouraged. Please feel free to put forward proposals that you think will get the message across, in whatever form. At the end of the conference we will be exploring ways in which we can develop the discussions and dialogues in new and sustainable inclusive interdisciplinary directions, including research, workshops, publications, public interest days, associations, developing courses etc which will help us make sense of the topics discussed during the meeting. There is an intention, subject to the discussions which emerge during the course of the meeting, to form a selective innovative interdisciplinary publication to engender further research and collaboration. 300 word proposals, presentations, abstracts and other forms of contribution and participation should be submitted by Friday 26th November 2021. Other forms of participation should be discussed in advance with the Organising Chairs. All submissions will be at least double reviewed, under anonymous (blind) conditions, by a global panel drawn from members of the Project Team, the Development Team and the Advisory Board. In practice our procedures usually entail that by the time a proposal is accepted, it will have been triple and quadruple reviewed. You will be notified of the panel's decision by Friday 10th December 2021. If your submission is accepted for the conference, a full draft of your contribution should be submitted by Friday 8th April 2022. Abstracts and proposals may be in Word, RTF or Notepad formats with the following information and in this order: a) author(s), b) affiliation as you would like it to appear in the programme, c) email address, d) title of proposal, e) type of proposal e.g. paper presentation, workshop, panel, film, performance, etc, f) body of proposal, g) up to 10 keywords. E-mails should be entitled: Fandom Submission Where To Send Abstracts should be submitted simultaneously to the Organising Chairs and the Project Administrator: Daria Romanova (Organising Chair): daria@progressiveconnexions.net Lorraine Rumson (Project Administrator): praguefandom@progressiveconnexions.net What's so Special About a Progressive Connexions Event? A fresh, friendly, dynamic format - at Progressive Connexions we are dedicated to breaking away from the stuffy, old-fashion conference formats, where endless presentations are read aloud off PowerPoints. We work to bring you an interactive format, where exchange of experience and information is alternated with captivating workshops, engaging debates and round tables, time set aside for getting to know each other and for discussing common future projects and initiatives, all in a warm, relaxed, egalitarian atmosphere. A chance to network with international professionals - the beauty of our interdisciplinary events is that they bring together professionals from all over the world and from various fields of activity, all joined together by a shared passion. Not only will the exchange of experience, knowledge and stories be extremely valuable in itself, but we seek to create lasting, ever-growing communities around our projects, which will become a valuable resource for those belonging to them. A chance to be part of constructing change - There is only one thing we love as much as promoting knowledge: promoting real, lasting social change by encouraging our participants to take collective action, under whichever form is most suited to their needs and expertise (policy proposals, measuring instruments, research projects, educational materials, etc.) We will support all such actions in the aftermath of the event as well, providing a platform for further discussions, advice from the experts on our Project Advisory Team and various other tools and intellectual resources, as needed. An opportunity to discuss things that matter to you - Our events are not only about discussing how things work in the respective field, but also about how people work in that field - what are the struggles, problems and solutions professionals have found in their line of work, what are the areas where better communication among specialists is needed and how the interdisciplinary approach can help bridge those gaps and help provide answers to questions from specific areas of activity. An unforgettable experience - When participating in a Progressive Connexions event, there is a good chance you will make some long-time friends. Our group sizes are intimate, our venues are comfortable and relaxing and our event locations are suited to the history and culture of the event. Ethos Progressive Connexions believes it is a mark of personal courtesy and professional respect to your colleagues that all delegates should attend for the full duration of the meeting. If you are unable to make this commitment, please do not submit an abstract or proposal for presentation. Please note: Progressive Connexions is a not-for-profit network and we are not in a position to be able to assist with conference travel or subsistence, nor can we offer discounts off published rates and fees. Please send all enquiries about the conference to: praguefandom@progressiveconnexions.net For further details and information please visit the conference web page: https://www.progressiveconnexions.net/interdisciplinary-projects/narratives-persons-communities/fandom/conferences/ Sponsored by: Progressive Connexions |
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