[ecrea] CFP CMCS Perth 2017 - Bridging Gaps: National Identity in Persona, Branding and Activism

The Centre for Media and Celebrity Studies will be holding a conference 
in sunny Perth, Australia.

Deadline for Abstract submission: *August 1 2017*
Please see below for further information

*_CALL FOR PAPERS_____*
*/
Bridging Gaps: National Identity in Persona, Branding, and Activism/*
University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia
December 8-10, 2017

With the rise of Web 2.0,  people brand themselves through social media 
as a singular person. The  online visibility of their brand often takes 
precedence  over social contributions. Their *online presentation*, 
however,  is a reflection of how they want to be perceived in a 
collective  setting. How does this kind of branding differ to a local 
business  service or an international celebrity who also brands 
themselves online? What impact is *persona branding* having on society 
and the way people view themselves?

A focus on the*persona of activists *shows the particular impact of 
branding in  society. An activist’s voice, like that of a political 
leader, is often  heard if they have a strong brand. Yet, the perception 
is often specific  to their national contexts. How are socialist actions 
in North Korea viewed in the Western world? How does having a female 
political leader change the perception of a country? How are immigrants 
seen around the world? What role does media play in creating these 
*constructed views in national and transnational contexts*?

We encourage scholars and  industry practitioners to question, explore, 
and problematize the notion  of national identity in persona, branding, 
and activism.  We ask: *how is a country reflected through its 
celebrities, popular history, stereotypes and myths*? Often one 
individual can have global fame, which can result in  branding a nation 
or city and develop a country’s cause as well. Their  persona becomes 
the basis of how a place is perceived internationally.  For example, 
American born icon Elvis Presley is  used to represent Las Vegas and 
Memphis, while George Clooney has  attached himself to Darfur through 
his activism. Similarly, Steve Irwin  became a symbol of Australian 
culture through his philanthropy and his  fame as “The Crocodile 
Hunter.” A decade since  his death people still create the association 
between him and the  nation’s identity, while overlooking how race, 
gender and class affect  one’s overall brand identity.*Myths surrounding 
national identity* are also evident in beauty pageants and the Olympics. 
How do these stereotypes affect our understanding of culture?

The Centre for Media and Celebrity Studies (CMCS) /Bridging Gaps/ 
conference, in association with sponsors Centre for  Ecological, Social, 
and Informatics Cognitive Research (ESI.CORE) and  WaterHill Publishing, 
invites papers and films that explore the relationship among four key 
themes – persona, branding,  activism, and national identity. We invite 
academics, filmmakers,  journalists, publicists, designers, advertisers, 
marketing specialists,  charity organizers, and guests to explore and 
connect themes from a  range of interdisciplinary fields and generate a 
valuable  discussion and practice that will inspire change.

Attendees may present papers,  take part in a workshop or create a 
roundtable discussion on the themes  of persona, branding, activism and 
national identity. *We already have one roundtable on Elvis Presley and 
another on Heath Ledger, which people can apply for. *

Extended versions of *selected papers will be published in an edited 
book* by WaterHill Publishing, while others will be invited for the 
opportunity to publish work in the CrossBridge Journal.

We also invite people to send in *videos for the /Celebrity Chat/ 
Award*. The idea for /Celebrity Chat / was born in Melbourne and the 
first recording took place in Perth. We  are proud to be bringing it 
back home. The best video/documentary will  be selected based on its 
ability to draw attention to a significant matter, be relevant to the 
conference theme and/or inspire change.

*_Registration includes:_*  Your printed conference package, catered 
lunch, coffee / tea  breaks, evening drinks, professional development 
workshop, access to  evening receptions, eligibility to publish in 
edited book, and  consideration for the $100 best paper and screen awards.
*__ _
Submission guidelines:_*

  * 250-word abstract or workshop / roundtable proposal

  * Include a title, your name, e-mail address, and affiliation if
    applicable
  * Submit to conference Chairs Dr Jackie Raphael and Dr Celia Lam at
    email address: (celeb.studies /at/ gmail.com) <mailto:(celeb.studies /at/ gmail.com)>
  * Deadline for abstract submission: *August 1, 2017*
  * Notification of acceptance:*September 15, 2017*
  * Full text due: *November 1, 2017*
  * Pre-Conference reception: *December 8, 2017 *
  * Conference presentations: *December 9-10, 2017*
  * Publication of edited book: *2018*

*__ _
Celebrity Chat Video Submissions:_*

  * Video length should be *10-20 minutes*
  * Include a title, your name, e-mail address, and affiliation if
    applicable
  * Submit to conference Chairs Dr Jackie Raphael and Dr Celia Lam at
    email address: (celeb.studies /at/ gmail.com) <mailto:(celeb.studies /at/ gmail.com)>
  * Deadline for submission: *August 1, 2017*
  * Notification of acceptance: *September 15, 2017*
  * Conference screening: *December 9-10, 2017*

/Topics include but are not limited to:/

  * National Identity and Persona

  * Activism and Philanthropy
  * Fandom and Audiences
  * Endorsements and Advertising
  * Branding and Graphic Design
  * Tourism and Promotion
  * Politics and Leadership
  * Persona and Online Presence
  * Mass Media and Social Media
  * Public Relations and Publicity
  * Journalism and Newsworthy Topics
  * Fame and Fortune
  * Gender and Power
  * Icons and Status
  * Beauty Ideals, Pageants and Culture
  * Models as Role Models
  * Olympics and Representing Nations
  * Sporting Identities
  * Literature and Photography
  * Film and Television
  * Laws and Policies
  * Theory and Methods
  * Research Agenda and Business Models
  * Ethics and Morality
  * Cognition and Memory
  * Social Innovation and Change
  * Education and Advocacy
  * Community Building and Community Partnerships


*Conference Chairs: *Dr Jackie Raphael and Dr Celia Lam
*Conference URL:* http://cmc-centre.com/conferences/2017perth/


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