Deadline for proposals: November 1, 2012

Call for proposals for the XI MAGIS – Gorizia International Film Studies Spring School Conference (Gorizia, March 15-21, 2013) – Porn Studies Section – Eurasian Pornography: Variety of Histories and Complexity of Characters

Beginning with the 2011 edition, the Porn Studies Section of MAGIS – Gorizia International Film Studies Spring School has promoted a long term research project devoted to the compilation of a cartography of pornographic audiovisual. On one hand, the project aims to reconstruct the historical variables (on an institutional, social, and technological level) which define the cultural existence of pornographic audiovisuals, thereby establishing the conditions which actually make them possible. On the other, the project aims to trace the geographical constants (on a sociological, economic, and linguistic level) which distinguish the different pornographic audiovisuals in terms of national (or regional) identity. The main objective of the project, therefore, is to map the several morphological expressions (and transformations) which pornographic audiovisuals have undergone during the historical evolution and geographical differentiation.

During the past two years, the research project has been mainly dedicated to North and South America, with a particular focus on contemporary mainstream pornography and on its primary commercial counterpart, the online amateur/alternative production.

This year, particular attention will be devoted to the development and the distinguishing characters of European and Asian pornographies. Our aim is to trace a first draft of an extremely rich, complex and multifaceted production, with an insight on the single national industries, audiences and uses (history, economic features, specific production and/or reception practices, corporate vs. grassroots dynamics, etc.), as well as on the recurrences and exchanges within the Eurasian area or towards other countries.

Mindful of these premises, the Porn Studies Section intends to encourage the study of the following topics:

• Eurasian pornographic genres and styles;
• Eurasian legislative systems and censorship;
• Eurasian pornographic industries and economies;
• Eurasian “auteurs”, commercial/mainstream producers and stardoms;
• Grassroots production, amateur, pro-am or alternative/post-pornographic experiences within Eurasian pornography;
• Modes of consumption, intellectual property and piracy within Eurasian audiences.

Both a diachronic inquiry on the historical developments of the single national pornographic productions and a synchronic approach to the diverse features of Eurasian pornography are welcome.

Applicants are invited to submit abstracts addressing the main topic and its articulations. Proposals can be: individual paper proposals and panel proposals for the plenary sessions; workshop proposals.

Length of paper proposals: 500 words max

Please send your proposals, along with a short CV (150 words max), to pornstudies.springschool@gmail.com

For more information and to check out other CFPs for the conference, visit the filmforum website.