[Commlist] CFP: Researching political cinemas: A state of the art

CALL FOR PAPERS
International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics

Researching political cinemas: A state of the art

Guest editors: Xose Prieto Souto (UC3M-Tecmerin, Spain) and Jean-Paul 
Aubert (Université Côte d’Azur-Lirces, France)

The International Journal of Media & Cultural Politics would like to 
invite submissions for a special issue dedicated to a state of the art 
in political cinema.

The volume edited by Guy Hennebelle and published in the journal Cinéma 
d'aujourd'hui ("Cinéma militant: histoire, structures, méthodes, 
idéologie et esthétiques", no. 5-6, March-April 1976) marked an 
important stage in research about the phenomenon of political cinemas, 
at a time when it was still benefiting from the momentum of May 1968. 
This was followed by a period of relative academic disaffection with 
these film practices, which coincided, particularly in the Western world 
at the end of the twentieth century, with a certain decrease in 
political intervention cinema and a questioning of militant practices 
themselves. However, interest in this field of investigation has grown 
considerably over the last twenty years, with a growing number of 
articles, doctoral theses and important books.

This development in academic research on political cinema now presents 
the opportunity to rethink the subfield from methodological, 
epistemological and historiographical perspectives, with the aim of 
drawing up an initial state of the art, as a necessary steppingstone 
that will pave the way for new research including comparative approaches 
and a possible mapping of political cinema on an international scale.

The term 'political' used in this call is intended to be broad enough to 
reflect a heterodoxy of practices and interests. Often referred to as 
militant, activist, marginal, alternative or even underground and 
experimental, the cinema discussed here must be considered as a tool for 
intervention whose existence cannot be dissociated from political and 
social contexts, and which is part of collective political action. 
However, the semantic debate and the reflection on categories have their 
place in this issue, which will welcome with interest conceptual 
considerations on film practices that are related to political cinema or 
are close to it.

Possible article topics include:

-The evolution of historical research in political cinemas, from modes 
of production to exhibition practices, with special attention to the 
film collectives, audience analysis and the different traditions and 
research trends;
- The methodological and conceptual aspects involved in analyzing film 
practices framed by militant practices, where the dynamic process is as 
important as the result itself;
- The contemplation of enunciative and narrative strategies as elements 
of aesthetic tactics for films whose aims are different forms of social 
praxis;
- The roles and functions of transnational networks and international 
solidarity in the production and distribution of political cinemas;
- The question of the circulation of images and of the recovery and 
reinterpretation of political films from a diachronic perspective;
-The links and connections between filmmakers, film practices, political 
structures (trade unions, political parties, etc.) and movements (such 
as feminism, anti-colonialism, environmentalism, workers and gender 
struggles, among others);
-The analysis of political cinemas in the context of a wider media 
landscape;
-Technologies and formats of political cinema;
-The challenge of access to documentary evidence (public archives, 
private collections, etc.) and the preservation of the films.

Submissions will be considered in a two-step fashion: first, interested 
authors should submit an abstract by February 16, 2024. Those authors 
whose abstracts are deemed appropriate for the special issue will be 
notified by March 31, 2024 and will be invited to submit a full paper by 
June 30, 2024.

The titles and abstracts of the proposed papers may be sent to 
(francisco.seoane /at/ uc3m.es) <mailto:(francisco.seoane /at/ uc3m.es)>, and should 
include title, author(s) institutional affiliation(s), and a 300-word 
summary. Please, state in the subject of your email ‘Political Cinemas 
Special Issue’.

For more information about the International Journal of Media & Cultural 
Politics, please visit the website:
https://www.intellectbooks.com/international-journal-of-media-cultural-politics 
<https://www.intellectbooks.com/international-journal-of-media-cultural-politics>

APC Policy:
Publication in the International Journal of Media & Cultural Politics 
does not entail any Article Processing Charges (APCs).

SUBMISSION TIMELINE:
Abstract submission deadline: February 16, 2024
Notification on acceptance: March 31, 2024
Article submission deadline: June 30, 2024

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