[ecrea] CFP: Media, Technology and New Generations: Representing Millennial Generation and Generation Z

CFP: Media, Technology and New Generations: Representing Millennial 
Generation and Generation Z

Editors: Ahmet Atay (College of Wooster) and Mary Z. Ashlock (University 
of Louisville)

Even though the millennial generation, and now Generation Z, are two of 
the most educated and technologically savvy generations in U.S. history, 
compared with other generations, how they are, particularly millennials, 
are depicted in the media has not been widely studied (see, among 
others, Rose Kundanis and Paula Poindexter). For example, unlike 
previous generations, millennials are widely criticized for being 
self-centered, lacking curiosity and involvement in politics, mindlessly 
following cultural and fashion trends, and being victims of the consumer 
culture, as perpetuated by media outlets. We argue that while 
millennials are technologically savvy, capable of using different 
electronic devices and digital platforms, they often do not critically 
examine either the social and economic impact of these technologies or 
the ways they are individually affected by them. Furthermore, we argue 
that they do not critically examine the political and cultural 
implications of their heavy media and technology usage and how various 
cultural groups are represented in mediated texts. As a result, they 
often lack critical media analysis techniques to evaluate their media 
usage and the messages embedded in mediated texts. These characteristics 
of millennials are often depicted in various television shows, films, 
and news, and other aspect of popular culture, advertising and fashion. 
Therefore, the ways in which millennials are represented in media can 
determine how they are perceived by the previous generations. These 
representations can also shape the nature of the future generations, 
because millennials can function as role models for them. Therefore, 
studying these representations is crucial. Similarly, as technological 
“natives,” members of the Generation Z are also born into digital (and 
consumer) culture where most of their experiences, including education, 
dating, and shopping are digitalized.

Hence, the main goal of this book is to examine millennials and the 
members of Generation Z in the context of media and visual culture. In 
order to do so, we have to consider three interrelated areas: the ways 
millennials and Generation Z are presented in media, media and popular 
culture forms products designed for these two generations, and also 
media and popular culture forms products designed by millennials. The 
examination of millennial generation and Generation Z and their cultures 
would be incomplete without understanding these areas.

This book has several interrelated goals:

 1. Examining representations of millennial generation and Generation Z
    in media and visual culture.
 2. Examining media and visual culture texts produced by the members of
    the Generation Z and millennial generation.
 3. Theorizing media in the context of millennial culture and Generation Z.
 4. Bridging the gap between media and youth/generations studies by
    looking at mediated representation of the millennial culture as well
    as the culture of Generation Z.
 5. Taking a cultural studies perspective to explore the mediated and
    visual aspects of the millennial culture and the culture of
    Generation Z.

Topics may include but not limited to:

 1. Millennial and Generation Z generations and the role and issues of
    new media
 2. Different ways of understanding the mediated millennial culture and
    Generation Z whose members are culturally diverse and complicated
 3. Media and films about Generation Z and millennials
 4. Media and films about Generation Z and millennials
 5. Digitalization of millennials and Generation Z
 6. The political economy of generations
 7. Culturally diverse mediated and digitalized millennial and
    Generation Z experiences
 8. Millennial and Generation Z fandom
Abstracts are due by December 10, 2018, with a word length of no more 
than 500 words, along with pertinent references, contact information, 
and a short biographic blurb of 300 words. Full-length manuscripts are 
due on March 15, 2019, with a word length of no more than 5,000-7,000 
words and in APA style, including references, endnotes, and so forth. 
The project is currently under contract with Lexington Books. Please 
mail your abstracts as Word documents to Ahmet Atay ((aatay /at/ wooster.edu)) 
for an initial review.


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