cfp.english.upenn.edu

There is no television show more in the public eye right now than the Fox hit Glee, and as season two begins this month, it’s becoming more clear than ever that the show continues to explore contemporary issues impacting teens and society. Essays are needed for a collection on the television show Glee and Teen Culture (under contract from McFarland). This collection will investigate what the show’s portrayal of teenagers suggests about teenage culture and society today. General ideas for essay topics includes some of the following:

• Cliques and popularity
• Bullying and adolescents / adolescence
• Single father and gay son: teen and parental acceptance of homosexuality
• Interaction between adults and teens
• Issues of race and class
• Gender and empowerment
• Sexuality and teen pregnancy in small-town America
• Competition in high school culture
• Glee and teen marketing
• Other ideas are absolutely welcome, but make sure they ultimately go back to the overall thematic concept of studying not just the television program Glee but what the program suggests about Teen Culture today.

Please submit your abstract (no more than 500 words) and a brief CV by December 15. Invited essays of 5,000-8,000 words will be due in May, 2011. Please note that invited essayists will be asked to work examples from season two (which airs September 2010 to May 2011) into their completed essays. Please contact collection editor, Erik Walker, with questions or to submit your abstract: ErikMWalker@aol.com