[Commlist] CFP Television Histories in Development conference

*Television Histories in Development*

*https://beeldengeluid.nl/en/visit/events/television-histories-development*

*Call for papers for a two-day academic conference hosted by the 
Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision in Hilversum, the Netherlands 
on Thursday 30 September and Friday 1 October 2021, organised by 
Professor Huub Wijfjes and Dr Josette Wolthuis*

On 2 October 2021 we will celebrate 70 years of television in the 
Netherlands. While this is a milestone worth celebrating, it also offers 
an opportunity to look back at the medium’s rich international 
histories. Television has survived its many predicted deaths and adapted 
constantly to changing social, cultural and technological trends and 
demands. We now invite scholars to respond to the call for papers below 
and contribute to a two-day international conference to further existing 
debates and reflect on the academic study of television history so far.

This conference will offer opportunities to share ideas and exchange 
research on the medium’s international histories. Scholars of all 
backgrounds and disciplines are invited to think about the question what 
role and influence television has had over the last seventy years. The 
conference seeks to address how television has created its own media 
logic that has influenced other cultural practices like journalism, 
sport, politics, theatre and drama, entertainment, youth cultures and 
education. We invite papers based on academic, preferably historic 
research about these perspectives. During the conference, we will 
encourage discussion on the development of the academic discipline of 
Television Studies from the 1950s until now.

Our conference aims to explore a number of these histories of television 
in a broad cultural and societal perspective. Suggestions include:

• What are the ‘big stories’ of television?  Few media have undergone 
such radical transformations in terms of technology, industry and uses 
as television in its first century.

• How has television shaped and changed political rhetoric, sport 
experiences, youth cultures, fictional narratives, journalistic forms 
and contents etc. and how has this influenced public and commercial 
strategies for economic or political organisation of television 
broadcasting?

• What role did technological developments and commercial interests play 
in changing television practices and media landscapes?

• What sources allow us to understand the big stories – and what sources 
are still missing?

• What voices have been silenced and what actors made invisible in the 
grand narratives of television?

• What can exploring television’s various intermedial connections tell 
us about the specificity of television in relation to other media forms 
and platforms?

• What new perspectives on television’s century are offered in the new 
digital research environment?

• What challenges and opportunities does the digital sphere offer for 
alternative new modes of television historical storytelling?

Since we approach television as an international cultural phenomenon and 
technology that extends beyond the Anglo-American context, we invite 
scholars from all countries, backgrounds and cultures to apply. We 
welcome a diverse range of papers from scholars in all stages of their 
career and strive to create an accessible and inclusive conference 
environment.

Given the current situation, we would ideally go for a hybrid format 
according to which some presentations can be held on site and others 
online, and all presentations and discussions will be livestreamed. The 
extent to which any talks can be arranged on site depends on how the 
Covid-19 situation develops. If you already know whether you would like 
to present your paper online or, if possible, in Hilversum, please 
indicate your preferences in your proposal.

On the basis of an abstract, authors shall be invited to the conference 
for a 20-minute paper presentation. Please send abstract proposals of 
max. 300 words and a short bio to: (tvhistoriesconference /at/ gmail.com)

Deadline for paper proposals: 1 May 2021.

For questions, please contact the organisers on the abovementioned email 
address.

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