Representing the War on Terror: post 9/11 television drama and documentary
One day conference at the ATRiuM, CCI, University of Glamorgan, Cardiff
Saturday November 21st 2009
The phrase ?the War on Terror? has become
shorthand for the West?s response to the attack
on New York?s twin towers in September 2001, and
has never been far from our television screens
since. Although the phrase itself is
controversial, television has engaged directly,
and obliquely, with the new realities of the
post-9/11 world. Much of the coverage has been
in news, current affairs and documentaries, but
there have also been several significant one-off
filmed dramas made by UK companies (largely
independents) and transmitted by broadcasters in
the UK and abroad to considerable acclaim. This
conference will address fictional, documentary
and current affairs responses to the War on
Terror, and papers will cover a range of topics including:
- Recent US dramas that address the War on
Terror through science fiction
- The? paranoid style? in recent UK drama series
- The public and critical response to
Henry Singer?s documentary, The Falling Man (2006)
- BBC?s Panorama and its response to the 9/11 event
- There will be a particular focus on the work of Peter Kosminsky.
The conference keynote will be given by Derek
Paget: ?Ways of Telling, Ways of Showing:
Reflecting and Refracting the ?War on Terror? on
British Television post-9/11?. Drawing on his
work on dramadoc and docudrama, Derek will
examine the ways in which the dividing lines
between documentary and drama have become not so
much blurred ? as critics of the form(s) have
often maintained - as ?porous?, with radical
effects on texts and their reception.
It was noted in the call for papers that Peter
Kosminsky would be able to attend, but he has
reluctantly withdrawn due to filming commitments
abroad. However, Mary Stockley, an actor with
considerable experience of recent UK television
drama, which includes playing Tess in
Kosminsky?s Britz, will be interviewed in a Q&A in the afternoon.
Please consult the conference webpages for further updates on the schedule.
Conference details, including registration
forms, location maps, accommodation and travel
suggestions, can be found at:
<http://drama.research.glam.ac.uk/events/>http://drama.research.glam.ac.uk/events/
Please note that the relevant links will not be
available until WEDNESDAY 28/10
All enquiries should be addressed to Madelon de
Hoedt at:
<mailto:(symposium.waronterror /at/ gmail.com)>(symposium.waronterror /at/ gmail.com)
.
Professor Stephen Lacey
Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural
Industries/Ysgol Diwydiannau Creadigol a Diwylliannol Caerdydd
University of Glamorgan/Prifysgol Morgannwg
ATRiuM
Adam St/Heol Adam
Cardiff/Caerdydd CF24 2FN
tel: 01443-668611 (direct line)
01443-480480 (university switchboard)
(swlacey /at/ glam.ac.uk)
