[Commlist] CFP: Creative Spaces, Affective Responses and Visual Methods: New Approaches to Film Fan Tourism

Creative Spaces, Affective Responses and Visual Methods: New Approaches 
to Film Fan Tourism - Call for Papers. University of Sheffield
July 12th 2019

Film tourism is not a new phenomenon and in recent years it has grown 
with the rise of both fantasy based tourism  (Game of Thrones (2011-19, 
USA), Lord of the Rings (2001-3, New Zealand/USA) and journeys of 
perceived self reflection and development (Eat, Pray Love (2010, USA)]. 
However, existing research has tended to focused on tourist behaviours 
and heritage conservation within specific national states. Questions 
related to transnational fandom and the socio-cultural implications of 
their tourism are highly under-explored and this workshop is about 
bridging the spaces between film studies, fan studies, tourism studies 
and other allied fields.
Asia, specifically Southeast Asia, significantly relies on tourism for a 
larger part of its economy. Recently, the phenomenon of “fan tourism” 
has become a key point of debate following the success of transnational 
films from diverse markets from The Beach (2000, USA) to Lost in 
Thailand (2012, China) to Crazy Rich Asians (2017, Singapore) as well as 
older features such as Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Man with the 
Golden Gun (1974) and the specific form of tourism that has resulted. 
Asian film trails (based on popular sites featured in films) have been 
established and are shared both on- and off-line for potential visitors. 
 How do we both chart and evaluate the fan tourist narrative - one that 
can both challenge and uphold dominant structures. Whilst at the same 
time evaluate our own practices as scholars? What challenges does the 
experiences and actions of the fan tourist offer to both the original 
source text and the local structures of tourism and formal modes of 
engagement? What methods are appropriate to explore the affective 
experiences that the film fan tourist engages with. This workshop is not 
focusing on the financial or political usage of film sites from formal 
top-down structures (aka. tourism stakeholders), rather we seek to 
explore the aesthetic and visual experiences and affective responses 
that fan tourism holds.
This workshop is about developing new connections, approaches and 
methods. As such, we are not asking for the traditional formal 
conference paper approach. We invite scholars to submit a 300 word 
overview of their work with identification areas they would be keen to 
explore further with relation to this topic. We welcome visual (this can 
include photography, music, film, video art) practitioners and 
practice-led researchers who have challenged mainstream discourses of 
travelling in Asia.  Whilst we are focused primarily on Asia, scholars 
whose work looks at transnational film tourism would also be considered. 
We are interested in hearing from scholars whose works engage with ideas 
of play, nostalgia, fandom, social media and film location. This one and 
half day workshop will focus on developing networks, methodologies and 
approaches to this diverse topic.  By the conclusion we would explore 
attendees developing creative approaches to their work and its 
dissemination.

We are also thrilled to present a screening of Sompot Chidgasornpongse’s 
award-nominated documentary film Railway Sleepers (2016) as part of this 
workshop. Sompot Chidgasornpongse is known best his work as assistant 
director on Cemetery of Splendor (2015), Syndromes and a Century (2006) 
and Tropical Malady (2004). Railway Sleepers explores the close 
connection between Thai people and the railway. The film is both a 
record and a celebration of contemporary Thailand.
Maximum number of attendees will be set at 15 to ensure space to focus 
and engage on the topic. We will pay travel and accommodation for 
attendees up to £150 - email organisers for details.
For those based in Asia – Please note a CFP for a Singapore based 
workshop will be circulated shortly.
DEADLINE: 1st May 2019.
Notification of acceptance will be the following week.
For more details please email (Filmfantourism /at/ gmail.com)

Organisers:
Dr. Wikanda Promkhuntong, Research Institute for Languages and Cultures 
of Asia (RILCA)
Mahidol University, Thailand
Prof. Kate Taylor-Jones, School of East Asian Studies, University of 
Sheffield, UK.
Sponsored by The British Academy and Thai Office of Higher Education 
Commission.

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