Friday, August 05, 2005

Science & Celebrity (CFPs)

Details of a CFPs for the Society for Cinema and Media Studies annual conference in 2006. This relates a little to the previous post. I wonder if 'What the Bleep..' will come up or the whole range of celebs who openly endorse Scientology. Even though I did walk out after 30mins (which was generous), it is certainly an interesting case study for this theme.

(I just googled this to see whether it would pick up this posting and came up with a Wikipedia entry on Scientific Celebrity).

Call for Papers: Panel on Science and Celebrity
SCMS 2006 (Vancouver)

Abstract submissions are welcome for papers that explore the
crossroads between science and celebrity in film and media. In recent
years, the field of critical science studies has offered rich new areas
of inquiry for visual culture and cinema studies. In particular, there
is renewed interest in the early history of scientific cinema, the role
of visual technologies in the culture of medicine, and the sublime
force of science fiction media. This panel will take these concerns
further by examining specifically the way in which the visual cultures
of science are themselves creating new star systems. Whether it is the
scientists or their discoveries, the visual representation of science
creates a distinct celebrity culture that builds upon ideologies of
science as the hero or saviour of the future. Topics may include:
* representations of scientific discovery * the scientist as hero in film and media * science fiction icons and fan cultures * the place of visual technologies in the culture of science

Please submit a 200-300 word abstract, including your name,
affiliation, and contact information to:

Dr. Rebecca Sullivan
Associate Professor
Faculty of Communication and Culture
The University of Calgary
rsulliva@ucalgary.ca

Deadline to submit is August 15th.

---
Dr. Rebecca Sullivan
Faculty of Communication and Culture ~ The University of Calgary
2500 University Dr NW ~ Calgary, AB ~ T2N 1N4
Tel. 403.220.3397 ~ Fax. 403.282.6716 ~ rsulliva@ucalgary.ca