[Commlist] CfP: 'Books on Screen' Virtual Symposium

*Call for Papers: Books on Screen*
*University of Leeds and Anglia Ruskin University*
*Wednesday, 3 November 2021
(booksonscreen.symposium /at/ gmail.com)*

The codex has long asserted itself as an indication of its owner's 
sophistication and status. Codex display under pandemic conditions has 
highlighted the complexities of presenting books on screen; we have 
become increasingly aware of the importance of book materiality through 
online discussions centred on #BookshelfCredibility and 
#PandemicBookshelves, which draw attention to the shelves lurking in our 
Zoom backgrounds. Such backdrops, like bookish tableaus on BookTube, 
Bookstagram, and other social media spaces, have invited scholarly 
examination of curated book displays. But this study of books on social 
media – books as a component of self-presentation – can be complemented 
by a broader study of books on screen: representations of the book in 
films, television, photography, game and other screen worlds. Indeed, 
books have long been featured on screen: the comic book in a-ha's iconic 
'Take On Me' music video (1985) blends into reality; the magical tome in 
/Myst/ (1993) transports gamers to a mysterious island; rare books are 
the stars of the recent film /American Animals/ (2018). No matter the 
electronic medium, the physical form of the codex continues to assert 
itself as prop, metaphor, and plot device.

This virtual symposium (via Zoom), hosted by the University of Leeds and 
Anglia Ruskin University, will explore the ways in which books are and 
have been represented on the screen. Presentations will take the form of 
15-minute papers, allocated to relevant panels. Applications for 
45-minute panel discussions (maximum four panellists) will also be 
considered. Both 'book' and 'screen' are defined loosely, and 
presentations may focus on broad concepts of bookishness or particular 
examples of books on screen.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

  * Books in video games
  * Books in film and television
  * Books in photography
  * Books in social and digital media
  * Methodologies for the study of books on screen
  * The physical and metaphorical meanings of books
  * Books as characters and/or plot points
  * Social perceptions of books and bookishness
  * The histories and futures of book presentation

Papers from postgraduate students, early career scholars, and 
independent scholars are especially welcome.

For a paper presentation, please send a 250-word abstract and 50-word 
biography to (booksonscreen.symposium /at/ gmail.com) 
<mailto:(booksonscreen.symposium /at/ gmail.com)> by 31 March 2021. For a panel 
discussion, please send a 400-word abstract and 50-word biographies of 
all panellists.

Anticipating technical difficulties, we will request that presentation 
visuals and scripts for paper presentations be sent to the organisers by 
27 October 2021.

The symposium is endorsed by SHARP (https://www.sharpweb.org 
<https://www.sharpweb.org/>).

This symposium will be free for all who wish to present and participate.

(E-)bookishly yours,

Leah Henrickson ((l.r.henrickson /at/ leeds.ac.uk))
Laura Dietz ((laura.dietz /at/ aru.ac.uk))

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