[ecrea] Cinemascope ­ Independent Film Journal

Cinemascope ­ Independent Film Journal

www.cinemascope.it


Issue 7
January ­ April 2007

Call For Papers

Responsibility of Film Criticism and Film Studies

edited by
Frank Coffey


please, send your proposals to

(info /at/ cinemascope.it)


After three years, Cinemascope is defining more precisely their
responsibility as a forum for film criticism. Undoubtedly, this can be
informed by many theoretical and practical concerns involving responsibility
and film studies, responsibility and cinema.

An Invitation for Two Kinds of Articles
We invite two kinds of proposals: those that would address this theme
generally; and secondly, those that would specifically relate it to
Cinemascope. Of course, the second will involve general considerations, and
the former may well include particular challenges such as those faced by
Cinemascope.

I. The General Approach ­ Theoretical Aspects of  Responsibility of Film
Journals

In this case, you will develop one theoretical theme relevant in a more
general way to the role served by journals of film studies. Speak to the
issue of responsibility of a film journal to individuals and groups dealing
with the current difficulties and challenges of life at the beginning of the
third millennium.

The following themes, by way of suggestions, may be of interest:

 > 1. How Film Criticism Helps Activate the Specific Power of Film
In this case you may wish to explore how film studies contributes to the
work of film in  uncovering  and making available dimensions of problematics
and remedies to current situations.

 > 1. Perspectives or Approaches Specific to Film Studies for confronting
 > contemporary challenges and opportunities.
In dealing with film reality, film studies has evolved a number of
approaches and perspectives for identifying important aspects of the cinema
phenomena in all its depth and expansiveness. These approaches and
perspectives not only clarify dimensions of film but also involved in
identifying contemporary challenges and opportunities to culture and world
community. Film Studies is part of a solution, even as catalyst and
stimulant, to more general current problematics.

 > 1. How Film Studies Helps ³Think² and Notice  our Current Situations
Film studies, as an intellectual work, conceptualizes what is essentially
audiovisual, even noncognitive in nature, or at least begins its reflection
from these aspects of  the film phenomena. It is involved in ways that
noncognitive realities think us (cf. Aumont, Deleuze, Schefer), come into
thought. What does film studies offer for uncovering and identifying the
meaning of critical circumstances (one critical circumstance) in the lives
of world citizens in 2006.

 > 1. Film Studies: Engaged  and Beyond Moralism ­ Cinematic Bases of
 > Responsibility
Many moral requirements can be brought to bear on film studies, from any
number of moral systems and ideologies. Truth-telling is one such demand.
Still, there is something specific to film studies not covered by these
moral sources and demands. There are realities only film studies can be
responsive to. There are ways of responsiveness to moral character that only
film studies can record. There are ³oughts² or moral requirements for film
criticism that come only from the character of its work and specificity.

 > 1. The Responsibility to Communicate the Work of Film Criticism and Studies.
Film journals are directly involved in spreading, broad-casting the work of
film studies. Responsibility in this discipline or field of scholarship
drives practioners to advance and adapt means that will realize its aims and
objectives. This concerns not only the improvement of classic institutional
forms of transmission (university programs, conventions, etc.) including
film journals, but also the new opportunities for achieving these objectives
through other media (as in online film journals!) and with other publics.

This list of themes is not exhaustive. They are suggestions. The parameters
used for the second approach may also serve as a stimulus in this regard.

II. A Specific Case: Defining the Responsibility of the Cinemascope Film
Journal

In this second kind of article you are invited to describe, identify,
explore some aspect of the  responsibility fulfilled by film studies and
theory which you see as important for Cinemascope and others involved in
publishing reflection on cinema. Not only the articles but the deliberations
and conclusions developed by Cinemascope in this clarification of our
mission will be published in our next issue.

There are two reference points for those opting for this second approach.
The first reference point would be the issues of Cinemascope that have been
put online. We foresee that clarity of our responsibility will arise from
either confirming what is already evident in themes and articles of
Cinemascope, or from some clear lack or shortcoming identified there. A
reflection or analysis based on review of the nine numbers already
posted/published would be invaluable in pinpointing these strengths and
weaknesses and new directions in meeting our responsibility.

A second point of reference would be the parameters we have set for our
deliberations. The character of Cinemascope¹s responsibility is shaped by
the following critical elements and parameters:

-      this journal operates online ­ how does this help or hinder
responsibility?
-      this is an independent film journal which welcomes contributions from
many theoretical perspectives that help in clarifying cinema¹s particular
contributions and innovations ­ how does independence support or limit
responsiveness?
-      based in Naples, Italy it has an international editorial and
organizational team and perspective ­ what are the dangers and advantages
for defining responsibility from such a global perspective but based
locally?
-      it is seeking to assist the singular contact with reality (realities)
that cinema alone is able to provide, and able to innovate or introduce ­
how does this qualify our responsibility?
-      it emerges from a responsiveness to current situations and human
needs ­ how does the preoccupation with film, film criticism both limit and
magnify sensitivity to human needs?
-      it finds the ³site² of film criticism to be in that juncture between
the force of a film and the liberty of the human subject and community in
setting an approach, a reading, a hermeneutic, a framework or perspective
that will aid and abet that force ­ what might be the responsibility of film
criticism for bridging this gap between subject-centered and the
artifact-centered analysis?

Both kinds of articles will be part of Cinemascope¹s Deliberations in
Setting Its Responsibility.

Cinemascope Defines Its Responsibility

The January Issue of Cinemascope is an occasion for defining the
responsibility of the journal. You are invited to contribute in these
deliberations.

Three Ways to Contribute

There are three ways you can contribute to the deliberation for developing
Cinemascope¹s new vision.

1. Propose and prepare an article according to one of the approaches
outlined above. To be eligible as a contributor to this issue, a proposal
needs to be submitted by October 21, 2006; acceptance will be given by
October 28, and the completed article (with a 150 word abstract!) will be
due December 7, 2006. In addtition to publishing the article in the next
issue, the abstract will be tabled at the study day on this theme (See No. 3
below)
2. Post a notice in the Online forum. Present your observations in the
³Responsibility² Forum by Cinemascope - http://www.cinemiz.net/cinemascope/
3. Participate in the Study Day Conference, ³Cinemascope Independent Film
Journal: Caring for a Human Future². Saturday, December 16, Naples, Italy.
The Conference Locale will be posted in the Cinemascope Website December 1.
The Study Day is a free Public Event open to everyone. The study day will
run on two tracks: input and discussion. Input will consist of three
interventions from invited specialists, tabled abstracts of articles
accepted for publication, and summary of interventions in the forum and in
emails. The second track will consist of discussion with the Cinemascope
team aimed at refining their mission.

The editorial of the January issue of Cinemascope will summarize the
deliberations and describe how they shaped the refined mission and operating
principles of the journal.

We look forward to your participation in these deliberations.


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