BSG 2007
The Politics, Poetics and Philosophy of Battlestar Galactica
A One Day Symposium
28 July 2007
Buckingham Chilterns University College
Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Since its return, the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica has emerged as the
most politically, philosophically and artistically compelling television
series of recent years. Opening with the near-obliteration of mankind by a
race of cyborgs evolved from human technologies, BSGs survivors
including a war-weary military commander, a minor cabinet member suddenly
elevated to President, a scientific genius harbouring a secret and
hallucinating his duplicitous girlfriend variously struggle to reconcile
the grief and guilt of survival, their own personal and psychological
flaws, and the demands of fighting an enemy uncannily close to themselves.
Remaking the cult 1970s original as a morally challenging, psychologically
complex and politically controversial science fiction series, the show
combines thriller, space opera, war film and docu-drama, while meditating
on the nature of humanity, governance, desire, technology and religion.
Conflicted characterisations, ethical irresolvable scenarios, ambiguous
storylines, an often-uncomfortable resonance with contemporary
international events, and a filming style more cinιma vιritι than Star
Trek, combine in a text which demands serious academic attention.
This one day event affords academics, fans and fan-academics the
opportunity to consider the social, political, philosophical and artistic
significance of Battlestar Galactica Contributions are invited from
researchers working in a wide range of disciplines, including film and
television, fantasy, fandom, philosophy, psychoanalysis, drama, documentary
and media production.
Deadline for abstracts: 1 June 2007
Conference fee: £30 waged - £10 student/unwaged
Please contact Ewan Kirkland at [log in to unmask] with enquiries and
submissions.
http://www.bcuc.ac.uk/faculties/creativity__culture/faculty_news__events/con
ferences.aspx
Suggested Topics for Papers:
Gender, Sexuality and Robots
Reflections on The War on Terror
Science Fiction Set Design
Miniseries and Long-Format TV
Queering Starbuck
Biotechnology, Cyborgs and Posthumanism
The Ethics of War
Oppositional Readings and Their Commodification
Individualism and Collectivism
Verisimilitude, Naturalism and Discourses of Realism
Contemporary Science Fiction Television and Telefantasy
Masculinity and the Femme Fatale
Religion and the State
Narrative Arcs Across American Television Serials
Technophobia/Technophilia
Corporate Television and the Culture Industry
Special Effects and CGI
Subjectivity and Embodiment
Performance and Intertextuality
TV Remakes, Nostalgia, Reimagining
Fanfic/art/vids/culture
Quality Television
Identity in the Age of Electronic Reproduction
American History, Culture, Politics
Psychoanalysis, Fantasy and Desire
Religion and Political Leadership
Online Promotional Strategies
Embodiment and Selfhood
Contemporary Television Production and Reception
Deadline for abstracts: 1 June 2007
Please contact Ewan Kirkland at [log in to unmask] with enquiries and
submissions.
Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College
High Wycombe Campus, Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
HP11 2JZ
|