[Commlist] Call for Papers: TV Londons: Exploring Representations of London on Television

*Call for Papers*

**

*TV Londons*

*Exploring Representations of London on Television*

A CREAM, University of Westminster conference, in collaboration with the 
University of Brighton

July 28^th and 29^th 2022, Fyvie Hall, 309 Regent St., London W1B 2HT

**

*Organisers:*

Dr. Christopher Hogg – (C.Hogg /at/ westminster.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(C.Hogg /at/ westminster.ac.uk)>(University of Westminster)

Dr. Douglas McNaughton – (D.Mcnaughton /at/ brighton.ac.uk) 
<mailto:(D.Mcnaughton /at/ brighton.ac.uk)>(University of Brighton)

Dr. Andrew O’Day – (aoday41414 /at/ aol.com) 
<mailto:(aoday41414 /at/ aol.com)>(Independent Scholar)

**

*Confirmed keynote speakers:*

Professor Jonathan Bignell (University of Reading)

Professor Charlotte Brunsdon (University of Warwick)

**

*Confirmed industry speakers:*

David Wickes: producer/director, /Jack the Ripper /(Euston Films/Thames 
1988).

June Hudson: costume designer, /EastEnders/ (BBC 1985-present)

Nathaniel J Hall: actor, /It's a Sin /(C4 2021)

*Overview:*

London has been depicted extensively on British television, in part due 
to its centrality in British culture but also to the fact that much of 
the British television industry has historically been located there. 
This conference was inspired by the experience of watching television 
during lockdown and the effect of seeing empty London streets across a 
range of genre contexts, from post-apocalyptic dramas to contemporary 
news. For many people, ‘visiting’ London became a virtual experience 
during lockdown. As such, we invite paper proposals focused on the 
particular connections that can be made between London on television and 
London in lockdown. However, more broadly, we welcome paper proposals on 
visualising and dramatising London on television across genres, in 
everything from situation comedy to news to documentary to science 
fiction to period drama.

Scholars such as Colin McArthur (1997) and Charlotte Brunsdon (2007) 
have identified ‘London discourse’, meaning sets of onscreen signifiers 
of place that are historically contingent and often only loosely 
connected with the material city itself. Connectedly, this conference is 
interested in the ways in which conditions of production shape 
representation, especially in terms of production design and costume 
design, and how location shooting and studio design affect the depiction 
of screen ‘Londons’. In addition, we are interested in how London is 
represented in television content made outside of the UK. Equally of 
interest is the relationship between the city and identity/community, 
repeatedly explored in television storytelling over the years.

Another dimension to ‘TV Londons’ is the status of the city as a key 
site of media tourism in the UK. Nick Couldry (2004) notes the way in 
which the use of recognisable locations in film and television involves 
a process of ‘site sacralisation’, where the media industries recycle 
conventional signifiers of place, and in the process, transform 
locations into sites of pilgrimage for viewers. As a way of exploring 
this, we also plan to organise a walking tour of London television 
locations.

*Paper proposals are welcomed on various topics that may include – but 
are certainly not limited to – the following approaches:*

London as seen during lockdown

‘Visiting’ London remotely through television

Stereotypical signifiers and narratives for representing London on 
television

Choice of locations/architecture to represent London

Studio design to represent London

Heritage representations of London

Multiple and ‘classed Londons’ – from West End theatre to East End crime

London and costume design

London and production design

London and identity/community

Media tourism and visiting television locations

Overseas representations of London on television

**

*Please send abstracts of no more than 500 words, a title for your 
paper, a 300 word biography (written in the third person) with ‘TV 
Londons’ in the email subject line to all three organisers listed 
above.*We welcome papers from students studying towards a PhD as well as 
from established academics.


*_Deadline for submitting abstracts of papers: January 31^st 2022_*

Presentation of the papers will be limited to 20 minutes.

Travel and accommodation expenses are covered by the participants 
themselves.

_Please note_: At the moment we are planning an in-person conference but 
as we do not know what the COVID 19 pandemic situation will be like this 
time next year we are not ruling out the possibility of papers being 
given virtually, especially for those who do not feel comfortable 
travelling to, and attending, an in-person conference. We also recognise 
that contributor positions may change, as may official restrictions on 
the possibilities for a physical event. We will keep presenters and 
planned attendees regularly updated on any developments in this regard.

We are currently in dialogue with potential publishers for an edited 
collection based on the conference.


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