What Happens Next: The Mechanics of Serialization

What Happens Next: The Mechanics of Serialization
Conference dates: March 25 – 26, 2011

The recent explosion of popular serialized forms, from Lost and Battlestar Galactica to computer game expansion packs, has provoked renewed interest in the economics and mechanics of serialization as well as the impact of this cultural form on readers, viewers and gamers. How do contemporary serials relate to earlier forms of serialization, and how do they affect our understanding of the concept of serialization? What are the economic, narratological, and social effects of contemporary serials? And where does the form go from here?

This conference is intended to give graduate students from different fields of study the opportunity to present and exchange ideas on the concept and mechanics of serialization. The aim of this conference is to form ideas about how serialization can be conceptualized across disciplines as diverse as literary history, economics, narratology, television studies and cultural analysis.

We invite proposals for twenty-minute research papers addressing any aspect of serialization; and collaborative panels of two to three papers. Possible subjects include, but are not limited to, the impact of serialization in 19th century literature, the relationship between serialization and notions of authorship, webserials, the mechanics or economics of serials, the effect of serialization on science fiction, newspapers, comics and downloadable game content. Graduate students are encouraged to approach serialization from the perspective of their particular field to give the conference an interdisciplinary character.

Deadline for abstracts: 31 December 2010.
Please send your abstracts and inquiries to uvaserialization@gmail.com
Keynote Speakers:

Dr. Joyce Goggin, University of Amsterdam

Dr. Mark Turner, King's College London