CFP: Reality Television: Media Convergences and Narrative Futures Conference
July 5-6, 2013
19 April 2013
 |
Reality Television: Media Convergences and Narrative Futures Conference Two day conference 5-6 July 2013 |
The Media School in Bournemouth University, at Kimmeridge House on Talbot Campus
Organisers: Dr Christopher Pullen & Dr Peri Bradley
| Conference | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | Keynote speakers | ||
| General topics of discussion | Possible case studies | ||
| Registration | Funded | ||
Overview
The aim of this international conference is to consider contemporary debates concerning reality television, with a specific focus on media convergence and narrative innovation. At the same time featuring keynote speakers within the plenary sessions, the conference contributes to debates surrounding television studies, documentary theory, class structure, interactivity, gender performance and narrative theory.
The organisers invite proposals for papers (of 20 minutes length) from researchers, academics and industry practitioners. There will be no registration fees for accepted papers. Also there will be light refreshments, for all that attend.
Proposals for the conference may involve a purely academic focus involving textual investigation, such as considering media narratives, representations, cultures and/or audiences. Also proposals are invited which might consider issues within creative practice or industry. A published edited collection is planned, to include a range of papers that will be presented at the event.
With the rise of reality television formats, which involve media convergent opportunities, such as connecting to mobile technologies, and involving increased distribution through web based downloading, alongside an increased interest and popularity in the use of scripted reality formats, this conference offers an innovative chance to share research interests, intersecting contemporary television, new media and narrative potentials.
Key-Note Speakers
- Dr Deborah Jermyn, Reader at the University of Roehampton - co-editor of Understanding Reality Television (Routledge 2003)
- Professor Helen Wood of DeMontfort University - co-author of Reacting to Reality Television: Performance, Audience and Value (Routledge 2012) and co-editor of Reality Television and Class (Palgrave 2011)
General topics of discussion
- Convergent media technologies
- Multiplatform textual innovations
- Contemporary narrative forms
- Realism and the hyper-real
- Issues of identity
- The politics of representation
- Potentials for minority groups
- Theories of intimacy and affect
Possible case studies
Community celebrity:
The Hills (MTV)
The Only Way is Essex (ITV)
Talent searches:
The XFactor (ITV)
The Glee Project (Oxygen)
Relationships & dating:
Playing in Straight (Channel 4)
Temptation Island (Fox)
Historical recreation:
The 1900 House (Channel 4)
Pioneer Quest (CBC)
Personal makeover:
The Swan (Fox)
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (Bravo)
Food & domesticity:
Come Dine with Me (Channel 4)
The Chew (ABC)
Education & otherness / addiction:
The Undateables (Channel 4)
Intervention (A & E)
Domestic audiences:
Gogglebox (Channel 4)
Registration
Please send abstracts (of 200 words length) and a biography, indicating any technical requirements for the delivery of your paper, by Tuesday 28th of May 2013 to Chris and Peri.
Decisions will be made by Friday 31st of May 2013.
Registration and Costs: Please visit our registration page to register or for further information.
Download our draft programme (PDF-59kb).
Funded
This conference is funded by the Narrative Research Group at Bournemouth Media School, with supplementary funding from the Centre for Media History, also at Bournemouth.
Contacts at The Media School, Bournemouth:- Christopher Pullen
- Peri Bradley
- Sandie Rose - Tel. 01202 965360
- Jane Whitaker - Tel. 01202 965296
