[ecrea] Call for Chapter Proposals on the X-Men Films

Call for Chapter Proposals on the X-Men Films

We would like to invite submissions of chapter proposals for an edited
book on the X-Men film franchise. The volume, to be published by
Rowman&  Littlefield, is titled "The X-Men Films: A Cultural Analysis"
and seeks to present scholarly research on the movies, their
audiences, and their place within the entertainment industry. The
overarching framework is cultural studies and media studies, yet the
approach is interdisciplinary, so we welcome submissions that involve
related disciplines.

The book focuses specifically on the X-Men movies (not the comics) as
popular culture products of international relevance. While the films
are rooted in the original Marvel series, they depart from it in
various ways, constituting their own conceptual universe. Therefore,
chapter proposals may consider the X-Men’s transformation from comics
to movies, but should not deal primarily with the comic books.

Proposals may focus on any of the X-Men’s movie characters, on themes
that run across several films, or on particular installments of the
series—including the original trilogy that started in the year 2000,
the recent prequels, and the ‘Wolverine’ offshoots. Since the
franchise continues to expand (two more movies are already slated for
release in upcoming years) we are looking for research that is
relevant and timely. In particular, proposals may address textual
aspects of the X-Men films, consider them in relationship to social
and political issues, compare them to other superhero movie series, or
provide an understanding of their audiences. Proposals that deal with
topics of importance for international/intercultural communication are
encouraged.

The following is a preliminary list of topics of interest:
- Social issues reflected in the X-Men films
- Political subtexts found in the X-Men films
- Individual characters’ analysis (Wolverine, Prof X, Magneto, Mystique...)
- Representations of gender, race, class, age, and sexual orientation
- Issues of diversity, disability, inclusiveness, and marginalization
- Issues of otherness, identity, trauma, and belonging
- Portrayals of violence and war in the X-Men films
- Historical references (e.g. the Holocaust, the Vietnam War)
- Representations of power, politics, and the government
- Moral dilemmas, personal choices, and issues of social responsibility
- Portrayals of science, technology and change
- The X-Men’s transformation from comics to movies
- Industry aspects of the film franchise
- The X-Men in relationship to other Marvel superhero films (e.g. Avengers)
- Marvel’s X-Men versus DC-based series (e.g. Batman, Justice League)
- Original research on audiences and fans
- International/intercultural perspectives on the X-Men
- Beyond the X-Men: related themes in popular culture

Please send a 600-word abstract of your proposed chapter to
(bucciferro /at/ gonzaga.edu), along with a short bio and contact
information. The deadline for proposals is September 27, 2014.

The chapter selection will seek to represent a variety of analytical
perspectives, disciplinary frameworks, and thematic clusters. The full
chapters will be 5,500 - 6,000 words long and the manuscripts will be
due in January 2015, with further revisions due in May 2015.

If you have questions, please contact Claudia Bucciferro, assistant
professor of communication studies at Gonzaga University, at
(bucciferro /at/ gonzaga.edu)  or (509) 313-3635.


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