CFP The Age of the Geek collection (7/20/15)

Sounds like fun:

"The Age of the Geek:" Book collection. Abstract deadline 7/20/15
http://call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/node/62590
full name / name of organization:
"The Age of the Geek:" Book Collection
contact email:
KELane@nwosu.edu
CFP: “The Age of the Geek:” Book collection

Submission Deadline: Abstracts are due July 20, 2015

“The Age of the Geek:” Book Collection

It’s every child’s schoolyard nightmare—to be called a “nerd.” From an early age, we know that being labeled a “nerd” or a “geek” isn’t a good thing. It implies too much knowledge and too few social skills. Yet, as much as we don’t want to be labeled a “geek,” it’s obvious that as a society we value their knowledge and expertise—or Best Buy wouldn’t have labeled their technical support “The Geek Squad.” Furthermore, the popularity of the reigning “nerd” powerhouse The Big Bang Theory (now available nightly via syndication) or any number of other series— CBS’s newest hit Scorpion, NBC’s Chuck and the ubiquitous “Nerd Herd,” BBC’s Doctor Who, or the Sci-Fi Channel’s Eureka (to name but a few)—proves that America may want to watch “geeks” and use them but we “wouldn’t wanna’ be them.” A quick glance through an evening’s primetime programming begs the question: is it that American culture is becoming more accepting of difference or have we made “geeking out” okay and thereby created a new level of “geekdom”?

This book collection seeks to examine the relationship between popular culture and the ever-changing geek or nerd—to look at the way the concept of the nerd has changed over time, and at what these changes can mean for the future of “nerds” of every type. Topics could include: defining the “geek,” the geek versus the nerd, female geeks or nerds, depictions of geeks, depictions of nerds, tropes surrounding nerds/geeks, Hollywood’s pseudo-nerd creations, the “babe” in nerd/geek television series or films, differences between the two terms and their depictions in television or film, the power of the nerd, the social acceptance of the term “geek,” and much more.

Article abstracts (approximately 500 words) and a brief CV should be sent to Dr. Kathryn E. Lane at KELane@nwosu.edu by July 20, 2015. Longer outlines or drafts are also welcome at this time. Selected authors will be notified by August 1, 2015. For those invited to contribute to the collection, articles should be 5,000-7,000 words (MLA format, minimal footnotes or endnotes, please), and completed essays should be submitted by November 30, 2015. Queries are welcome concerning submission topics.


By web submission at 06/17/2015 - 21:36