[Commlist] cfp: Falling off a Cliff? Women, Ageing and the Screen Industries

*/Falling off a Cliff? Women, Ageing and the Screen Industries/***

*CALL FOR CHAPTER ABSTRACTS*

**

Scholars researching (self-identifying) women and ageing in the screen 
industries are invited to sendchapter abstracts for an edited collection 
provisionally entitled /Falling off a Cliff? Women, Ageing and the 
Screen Industries/. The book will//explore the gendered challenges 
facing women over 50 yrs. as they attempt to carve out and/or maintain a 
career in the screen industries, in front of and behind the camera.

Research relating to on-screen representation has shown that women over 
50 yrs. are relegated to supporting roles primarily; they are less 
likely than men to be cast as protagonists or central characters; they 
are characterised by ageist stereotypes and sexually active older women 
are absent with some recent tentative exceptions.

To date, there has been much less focus on the experiences of women over 
50 behind the camera; in key creative roles or as crew. Anecdotally, 
practitioners speak of becoming invisible as the years pass, being 
overlooked or leaving the industry and finding it extremely difficult to 
regain a foothold.  Who is behind the camera. especially in key creative 
roles, is important and can have implications for the kinds of stories 
being told and the employment and creative opportunities available to 
other women.

It has been argued that the intersection of gender and age can create a 
“double jeopardy” (Lincoln and Allen, 2004 p. 611) for women. But 
ethnicity, class, sexuality and disability also intersect with gender 
and age and such a focus would be welcome, as would a cross-cultural 
perspective. This collection seeks to gather a number of different 
strands around ageing in the screen industries in one collection.

Areas of inquiry could include, but are not limited to:

  * On screen representation – continuity and change.
  * Streaming services – new opportunities?
  * Older women as storytellers.
  * ‘New’ voices vs young voices: shortcomings in policies and
    initiatives for gender equality?
  * Case studies of older women practitioners (writers/ directors /
    producers/ crew) who have forged a successful pathway.
  * 'Forgotten women' – practitioners who worked in the industry in the
    1970s, 1980s and beyond.
  * Film Festivals that have opened up a space for older women’s work.
  * Audience and ageing.
  * Feminism, ageing and new directions.


It is anticipated that the book will make a valuable contribution to 
international debates on women and ageing in the screen industries. 
There is a strong expression of interest from an international publisher 
who is awaiting the submission of a full proposal. Potential 
contributors should send me a detailed 300 word abstract and a short bio 
by 15 January, 2021. The estimated timeframe for the completed first 
draft of approx. 6,000 words is August 2, 2021.

Please send abstracts and queries to:  Susan Liddy, Department Media and 
Communication Studies, MIC, University of Limerick. 
(Susan.liddy /at/ mic.ul.ie) <mailto:(Susan.liddy /at/ mic.ul.ie)>

References

Lincoln, A. E. and Allen, M.P. 2004.  Double Jeopardy in Hollywood: Age 
and Gender in the Careers of Film Actors 1926-1999. /Sociological Forum/ 
19 : 611-631.

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