[ecrea] CFP: My Little Pony: A Transcultural Phenomenon

My Little Pony: A Transcultural Phenomenon

Saturday 28 June 2014

University of Brighton – Grand Parade



The recent popularity of ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’ has 
reignited interest in this well-known franchise of children’s culture. 
Remaining strongly associated with a series of toys aimed at young 
female consumers, the reimagined show has attracted positive praise for 
its style, stories, and characterisation, critical discussion of the 
constructions of femininity the series promotes, and – unprecedented for 
an animated series primarily aimed at girls – a large and dedicated 
adult male fan base. MLPFIM raises a range of issues relating to 
contemporary children’s television, the blurring of entertainment and 
advertising, transformations across long-running media franchises, the 
politics of pink culture, adult appropriation of children’s media, 
fandom and its relationship with the culture industries.



This one day conference seeks to place the 30 year long ‘My Little Pony’ 
series within critical, cultural and creative contexts, exploring the 
brand from a multi-disciplinary range of perspectives. 300 word 
abstracts are invited, which might include but not be limited by the 
following perspectives:



· twenty first century children’s media, film and television

· ancillary products and merchandise

· transformations across MLP generations

· the political economy of media franchises

· animation history

· fandom and critical engagements with pleasure

· feminist approaches to children’s toy and television industries

· identity politics of gender, race, class, sexuality and national identity

· nostalgia and autobiography

· collections and collecting

· queer ponies

· authorship

· fantasy and mythology

· convergence culture

· the ethics of children's media

· popular culture and cultural value

· anthropomorphosis and animal studies

· subcultures



Please send abstracts and enquiries to Ewan Kirkland at 
(e.kirkland /at/ brighton.ac.uk). Deadline 28 May 2014.



http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/research/research-conferences/my-little-pony





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