Cinemascope-Independent Film Journal
www.cinemascope.it 

Call For Papers
Responsibility of Film Criticism and Film Studies
Issue 7  - January-April 2007
edited by
Frank Coffey 

please, send your proposal to:
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After three years, Cinemascope is defining more precisely their 
responsibility as a forum for film criticism. Undoubtedly, this can be 
informed by many theoretical and practical concerns involving responsibility 
and film studies, responsibility and cinema. 

An Invitation for Two Kinds of Articles
We invite two kinds of proposals: those that would address this theme 
generally; and secondly, those that would specifically relate it to 
Cinemascope. Of course, the second will involve general considerations, and 
the former may well include particular challenges such as those faced by 
Cinemascope. 

I. The General Approach – Theoretical Aspects of  Responsibility of Film 
Journals 

In this case, you will develop one theoretical theme relevant in a more 
general way to the role served by journals of film studies. Speak to the 
issue of responsibility of a film journal to individuals and groups dealing 
with the current difficulties and challenges of life at the beginning of the 
third millennium. 

The following themes, by way of suggestions, may be of interest: 

a.	How Film Criticism Helps Activate the Specific Power of Film
In this case you may wish to explore how film studies contributes to the 
work of film in  uncovering  and making available dimensions of problematics 
and remedies to current situations. 

b.	Perspectives or Approaches Specific to Film Studies for confronting 
contemporary challenges and opportunities.
In dealing with film reality, film studies has evolved a number of 
approaches and perspectives for identifying important aspects of the cinema 
phenomena in all its depth and expansiveness. These approaches and 
perspectives not only clarify dimensions of film but also involved in 
identifying contemporary challenges and opportunities to culture and world 
community. Film Studies is part of a solution, even as catalyst and 
stimulant, to more general current problematics. 

c.	How Film Studies Helps “Think” and Notice  our Current Situations
Film studies, as an intellectual work, conceptualizes what is essentially 
audiovisual, even noncognitive in nature, or at least begins its reflection 
from these aspects of  the film phenomena. It is involved in ways that 
noncognitive realities think us (cf. Aumont, Deleuze, Schefer), come into 
thought. What does film studies offer for uncovering and identifying the 
meaning of critical circumstances (one critical circumstance) in the lives 
of world citizens in 2006. 

d.	Film Studies: Engaged  and Beyond Moralism – Cinematic Bases of 
Responsibility
Many moral requirements can be brought to bear on film studies, from any 
number of moral systems and ideologies. Truth-telling is one such demand. 
Still, there is something specific to film studies not covered by these 
moral sources and demands. There are realities only film studies can be 
responsive to. There are ways of responsiveness to moral character that only 
film studies can record. There are “oughts” or moral requirements for film 
criticism that come only from the character of its work and specificity. 

e.	The Responsibility to Communicate the Work of Film Criticism and Studies.
Film journals are directly involved in spreading, broad-casting the work of 
film studies. Responsibility in this discipline or field of scholarship 
drives practioners to advance and adapt means that will realize its aims and 
objectives. This concerns not only the improvement of classic institutional 
forms of transmission (university programs, conventions, etc.) including 
film journals, but also the new opportunities for achieving these objectives 
through other media (as in online film journals!) and with other publics.
		
This list of themes is not exhaustive. They are suggestions. The parameters 
used for the second approach may also serve as a stimulus in this regard. 

II. A Specific Case: Defining the Responsibility of the Cinemascope Film 
Journal 

In this second kind of article you are invited to describe, identify, 
explore some aspect of the  responsibility fulfilled by film studies and 
theory which you see as important for Cinemascope and others involved in 
publishing  reflection on cinema. Not only the articles but the 
deliberations and conclusions developed by Cinemascope in this clarification 
of our mission will be published in our next issue. 

There are two reference points for those opting for this second approach. 
The first reference point would be the issues of Cinemascope that have been 
put online. We foresee that clarity of our responsibility will arise from 
either confirming what is already evident in themes and articles of 
Cinemascope, or from some clear lack or shortcoming identified there. A 
reflection or analysis based on review of the nine numbers already 
posted/published would be invaluable in pinpointing these strengths and 
weaknesses and new directions in meeting our responsibility. 

A second point of reference would be the parameters we have set for our 
deliberations. The character of Cinemascope’s responsibility is shaped by 
the following critical elements and parameters: 

 -	this journal operates online – how does this help or hinder 
responsibility?
 -	this is an independent film journal which welcomes contributions from many 
theoretical perspectives that help in clarifying cinema’s particular 
contributions and innovations – how does independence support or limit 
responsiveness?
 -	based in Naples, Italy it has an international editorial and 
organizational team and perspective – what are the dangers and advantages 
for defining responsibility from such a global perspective but based 
locally?
 -	it is seeking to assist the singular contact with reality (realities) that 
cinema alone is able to provide, and able to innovate or introduce – how 
does this qualify our responsibility?
 -	it emerges from a responsiveness to current situations and human needs – 
how does the preoccupation with film, film criticism both limit and magnify 
sensitivity to human needs?
 -	it finds the “site” of film criticism to be in that juncture between the 
force of a film and the liberty of the human subject and community in 
setting an approach, a reading, a hermeneutic, a framework or perspective 
that will aid and abet that force – what might be the responsibility of film 
criticism for bridging this gap between subject-centered and the 
artifact-centered analysis? 

Both kinds of articles will be part of Cinemascope’s Deliberations in 
Setting Its Responsibility. 

Cinemascope Defines Its Responsibility 

The January Issue of Cinemascope is an occasion for defining the 
responsibility of the journal. You are invited to contribute in these 
deliberations. 

Three Ways to Contribute 

There are three ways you can contribute to the deliberation for developing 
Cinemascope’s new vision. 

1.	Propose and prepare an article according to one of the approaches 
outlined above. To be eligible as a contributor to this issue, a proposal 
needs to be submitted by October 21, 2006; acceptance will be given by 
October 28, and the completed article (with a 150 word abstract!) will be 
due December 7, 2006. In addtition to publishing the article in the next 
issue, the abstract will be tabled at the study day on this theme (See No. 3 
below)
2.	Post a notice in the Online forum. Present your observations in the 
“Responsibility” Forum by Cinemascope - http://www.cinemiz.net/cinemascope/
3.	Participate in the Study Day Conference, “Cinemascope Independent Film 
Journal: Caring for a Human Future”. Saturday, December 16, Naples, Italy. 
The Conference Locale will be posted in the Cinemascope Website December 1. 
The Study Day is a free Public Event open to everyone. The study day will 
run on two tracks: input and discussion. Input will consist of three 
interventions from invited specialists, tabled abstracts of articles 
accepted for publication, and summary of interventions in the forum and in 
emails. The second track will consist of discussion with the Cinemascope 
team aimed at refining their mission. 

The editorial of the January issue of Cinemascope will summarize the 
deliberations and describe how they shaped the refined mission and operating 
principles of the journal. 

We look forward to your participation in these deliberations. 

Resume: 


Deadline for proposals: October 21, 2006 

Notice  of Acceptance of Proposals by Cinemascope: October 28 

Reception of Articles: December 7, 2006 

Max length of articles: max 5000 words
Abstract: 150 word
Issue Editor: Frank Coffey 

Language: English 

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