The Velvet Light Trap Call for Papers

Call for Papers
The Velvet Light Trap Issue #84: "The 1990s: A Decade of Change"

The internet. Blockbuster Video. Broadcast deregulation. New Queer Cinema. The rise of fandom and video game studies. In numerous ways, the 1990s served as an important decade of change for the media and media studies landscape. In industrial terms, the Telecom Act of 1996 helped to drastically change US television ownership rules, while the GATT negotiations of the early 90s helped shape international approaches to film. Technologically, the decade saw the explosive rise of the internet and digital technologies such as CGI, as well as the popularity of a variety of Japanese electronics (the Nintendo Game Boy, the Sony PlayStation and Discman) around the world. In terms of production, the film industry experienced the growth of both smaller-scale movements (Miramax and the mainstreaming of “independent” cinema, New Queer Cinema and the increased visibility of other non-hegemonic groups in film) and larger ones (the blockbuster successes of films such as Titanic and the “Disney renaissance” in animation), while the continued growth and fragmentation of cable channels provided a wider range of potential show types, perspectives, and markets.

These changes continue to shape media production and industries today. While many discuss the nostalgia boom for 1980s popular media and popular culture that continues to manifest itself in works such as Stranger Things and It, the 1990s have likewise been undergoing their own boom. From reboots of 1990s TV staples such as Roseanne and Clarissa Explains It All to TV adaptations of 90s films such as Fargo, and from popular film reboots and reimaginings (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Power Rangers) to the continued popularity of key 90s video game franchises (Pokemon, Tomb Raider), the last decade of the twentieth century continues to exert a strong, growing influence on the contemporary landscape.

As we witness these new perspectives on the 1990s, a decade defined in large part by the array of new perspectives it provided for media authors, audiences, and industries, how can we better understand the impact of this decade on today's media and cultural landscape? Are there key moments or issues from the 1990s that have had an especially prominent legacy? Are there underaddressed areas of research that can shed more light on both the 1990s and their role today? For our upcoming issue, we are looking for scholarship that considers a variety of issues relating to the 1990s as a decade of change. Although an entire decade provides for a broad topic range, potential topics could include (but are by no means limited to):

• The history and legacy of media (de)regulation in the 90s (the Telecom Act of 1996, the end of fin-syn, GATT/NAFTA trade agreements, etc.)
• The rise and legacy of 1990s superhero media
• The rise and legacy of queer media in the 90s
• Changing audiences and audience theorizations in the 90s
• Digital communications in the 90s and the altering of audience dynamics
• Trends in 90s children’s toys and merchandising (Tamagotchi, Furby, Beanie Babies, etc.)
• Domestic and international changes in film exhibition in the 90s
• The rise and popularity of soundtrack albums in the 90s
• Adult animation in the 90s (The Simpsons, South Park, Beavis and Butthead, etc.)
• The role of the 24 hour news cycle in the 90s
• The importance of film festivals in the 90s (Sundance, the circulation of international art cinema, etc.)
• Key pop music developments in the 90s (grunge, Britpop, gangsta rap, boy/girl groups, etc.)
• Major 90s international art cinema movements (Iranian, Taiwanese, Dogme 95, etc.)
• The international prominence of star athletes and related media in the 90s (Olympic athletes, commercials, Michael Jordan, Space Jam, etc.)

Submission Guidelines:

Submissions should be between 6,000– 7,500 words (approximately 20-25 pages double-spaced), formatted in Chicago style. Please submit an electronic copy of the paper, along with a one-page abstract (no more than 100 words), both saved as Microsoft Word files. While images are not required for submissions, if your submission includes images, please ensure that they are high resolution and included as an image file separate from your Word files. Remove any identifying information so that the submission is suitable for anonymous review. The journal’s Editorial Board will referee all submissions. Send electronic manuscripts and/or any questions to thevelvetlighttrap@gmail.com. All submissions are due July 31, 2018.

About the Journal:

The Velvet Light Trap is a scholarly, peer-reviewed journal of film, television, and new media studies. Graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Texas-Austin coordinate issues in alternation. Our Editorial Advisory Board includes such notable scholars as Hector Amaya, Ben Aslinger, Miranda Banks, Caetlin Benson-Allott, Mark Betz, Michael Curtin, Kay Dickinson, Lisa Dombrowski, Daniel Herbert, Lucas Hilderbrand, Debra Jaramillo, Roberta Pearson, Debra Ramsay, Avi Santo, Jacob Smith, Jonathan Sterne. VLT's graduate student editors are assisted by their local faculty advisors: Mary Beltrán, Ben Brewster, Jonathan Gray, Lea Jacobs, Derek Johnson, Jeremy Morris, Shanti Kumar, Charles Ramírez Berg, Thomas Schatz, and Janet Staiger.

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