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italian-studies: Scholarly discussions in any field of Italian studies *Call for papers for the International Conference:* * “Global Intersections and Artistic Interconnections: Italian Cinema and Media Across Time and Space” Journal of Italian Cinema and Media Studies, The American University in Rome, 14-15 June 2019: * http://www.wellesley.edu/italian/jicms-rome2019 *Title:* *Paolo Sorrentino’s Eclectic Aestheticism* As many critics have pointed out, all of Paolo Sorrentino’s films as well as his television series feature individual shots or whole scenes that may or may not further the narrative but whose sheer beauty arrests the eye. From the baroque depiction of political machinations in *Il Divo* to the idiosyncratic long form narrative of *The Young Pope* to 2013’s spectacular Academy award winner for Best Foreign Language Film *The Great Beauty*, Sorrentino's filmmaking combines a melodramatic approach with an eclectic aestheticism that has been known to alienate when it doesn’t enchant. Accusations of ‘style over substance’ persist, although arguably, in Sorrentino, they are two sides of the same coin. *Youth*, his elegiac 2016 art film/comedy-drama, offers an excess of whimsical storytelling punctuated by outlandish visual gags in nearly every scene. Finally, Sorrentino’s latest, the twin films *Loro 1* and *Loro 2* tempers a satiric biopic of Italian tycoon Silvio Berlusconi with a tragicomic tone. His excessive film style highlights, on the one hand, the director’s desire to be ironic, self-reflexive, and non-transparent (see Marcus’ notion of ‘post-realism’ in *Il Divo, *2010). On the other hand, Sorrentino seems to be invested in his own brand of political *impegno* for a postmodern, post-millennial era (see Antonello and Mussgnug, 2012), complicating any easy interpretation of his often parodic portrayal of political conflicts, gender issues and (masculine) identity crises. Sorrentino’s masterful combination of a captivating visual style with an at times penetrating psychological insight makes him one of the most intriguing auteurs in contemporary Italian cinema. This panel explores the different aspects of Paolo Sorrentino’s eclectic style and visionary aesthetics in his films and television series. Please send a 250 words proposal with a Bio by *September 30th,* *2018* to the co-organizers: Russell Kilbourn, Wilfrid Laurier University at [log in to unmask] and Annachiara Mariani, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville at [log in to unmask] Dr. Flavia Laviosa Senior Lecturer Department of Italian Studies Wellesley College, USA Resident Director, E.C.Co. in Bologna, Fall 2018 Founding Editor, *Journal of Italian Cinema and Media Studies* ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe italian-studies YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe italian-studies to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/italian-studies