The theme of the conference is Spectacle Revisited; returning to Guy Debord’s widely cited work The Society of the Spectacle, the conference welcomes contributions addressing the spectacular – that is, the mediatization of cultural forms, (mega)events, performance and the allure of ‘the popular’. In line with the conference’s main theme, particular emphasis will be placed on the production and remediation of events, including music festivals, sports events, blockbuster films and exhibitions. In addition, the organizers encourage proposals exploring fans and fan communities as producers, interpreters and challengers of the spectacular. Other possible themes include rethinking the spectacular in the digital age, especially the new expressions and aesthetics brought forth by the rapid development of open-access, easy-to-use AI tools. The aforementioned topics, however, are not exclusive, and the organizers also welcome proposals within the broader popular cultural framework, including – but not limited to – media, fashion, celebrity culture and popular literature and comics.
International conference: Media Archaeology & Literary Studies
We welcome contributions from a wide range of fields, including literary studies, media studies, comparative literature, theatre and performance studies, cultural studies, and history.