[Commlist] CFP: The older, the better! Ageing celebrity in contemporary media and sport contexts

*THE OLDER, THE BETTER!*
*AGEING CELEBRITY IN CONTEMPORARY MEDIA AND SPORT CONTEXTS*
International Conference

PRIN 2022 PNRR “CELEBR-AGE” FINAL CONFERENCE
organised by Ylenia Caputo, Simona Castellano, Antonella Mascio, Roy 
Menarini,
Maurizio Merico, Sara Pesce, Mario Tirino
*University of Bologna*
*Bologna, 15 – 17 September 2025*

*Deadline CFP: 15 May 2025*
Celebrities occupy a prominent position in contemporary (media) society 
for several reasons. In addition to being a form of ‘commodity’ used by 
the media industry (Turner, 2004), they represent devices capable of 
creating connections between the media world and the audience world, 
acting as models for inspiration.
For an ever-increasing number of subjects (people, users, audiences), 
the activities, speeches and performances of celebrities become symbolic 
materials, forms of cultural mediation through which they elaborate 
their own interpretations of the world. In the words of Nick Couldry 
(2009), it seems useful to look at celebrity as ‘a generative centre 
that explains the social world's functioning and its values’, i.e. a 
privileged access point for interpreting a set of fundamental phenomena 
affecting society.
Many studies have been carried out on celebrities, starting with the 
figures who embody this role and the type of relationship they have with 
their publics, also highlighting their ‘measure’ (macro, meso and micro 
measure, Marwick, 2007). However, few analyses have accompanied these 
reflections regarding ‘elderly’ celebrities, i.e. all those celebrities 
who have reached a certain age threshold. Their role seems to have 
changed compared to the past and the media spaces in which they appear 
are increasingly numerous and differentiated (films, TV series, social 
networks...) bringing significant novelties not only on a spectacular 
level, but also - and perhaps most importantly - on a cultural and 
social ones.
Ageing is increasingly evident in the world's population, with a 
significant impact on the economy, politics and social life of many 
countries. As a result, the cultural models referred to over the past 
three decades have changed rapidly: advertising, cinema, sports and 
other spheres now propagate conceptions of ageing under the banner of 
intellectual activism, psycho-physical well-being and social prominence.
Within a vast constellation of phenomena, events and products that, in 
various ways, shape new and often contradictory conceptions of ageing, 
the cultural discourses elaborated by celebrities assume a clear 
centrality in the mediatised public scene. For this reason, it now 
appears necessary to analyse in depth the link between celebrity and 
ageing, from a multidisciplinary and transcultural perspective.
We therefore invite scholars of Film Studies, Media Studies, Sociology 
of Culture and Communication and, more generally, scholars interested in 
the study of the social, anthropological
and cultural dynamics of ageing, to send in a paper relating to (but not 
limited to) these issues:
- celebrity ageing and fiction (films, TV series, comics, podcasts, 
novels, etc.);
- the role of celebrities in promoting active ageing;
- the function of ageing and the conversion of celebrity capital into 
other forms of capital (political, economic, etc.) in post-career life 
(especially for sports celebrities);
- gender differences among celebrities in their experience of ageing;
- nostalgia and ‘ageing’ celebrities;
- ageing celebrity fandom/fans;
- ageing theories in the Celebrity and Media Studies;
- theoretical analyses of the celebrity-ageing nexus from humanities and 
social science perspectives;
- the social role of celebrities in the evolution of beauty standards, 
glamour and desirability in old age;
- the role of social media in cultural discourses on celebrity and ageing;
- comparative analyses of celebrity ageing in different historical, 
cultural, social and geographical contexts.

Abstracts should be up to 300 words, plus key references. Papers must 
add a short biographical note of the author (max. 150 words). The 
evaluation will focus on the relevance to the conference topic, the 
selection of research objects and the clarity of the use of methodology. 
Only one abstract per author can be submitted. Pre-constituted panels (3 
to 5 participants) will be welcomed.
Papers must be submitted to: *(celebrageunibo /at/ gmail.com)*.
The conference will be held in-person only. Submission should be made by 
*May 15th, 2025*.
Notification of acceptance will be sent by *June 30th, 2025*.
The keynote speakers will be announced soon.

No fees will be charged, but individual voluntary contributions for 
social dinners will be encouraged.
Please also note that conference participants are responsible for their 
own travel and accommodation arrangements.






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