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Join us for the 34th Annual Southwest/Texas Popular Culture and American Culture Association Conference, February 13 – 16, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The theme of this year’s conference is "Celebrating Popular/American Culture(s) in a Global Context." The Special Topics Area Chairs invite paper or panel proposals on any aspect of stardom or fandom.

Proposal submission deadline: November 16, 2012.

Any and all topics will be considered, although we especially encourage proposals on:

The reciprocal relationship between stars and fans
Impact of celebrity and fame on identity construction, reconstruction and sense of self
Reality television and the changing definition of ‘stardom’
The impact of social media on celebrity/fan interaction
Children and stardom (Little Rascals to Toddlers and Tiaras)
Celebrity/fame addiction as cultural change
The intersection of stardom and fandom in virtual and physical spaces
Celebrity and the construction of persona
Pedagogical approaches to teaching stardom and fandom
Straddling the stardom/fandom line: big name fans, bloggers and aca-fans
Anti-fans and ‘haters’
Fan shame and fame shame
Gendered constructions of stars and fans

The list of ideas is limited, so if you have an idea that is not listed, please suggest the new topic. We encourage submissions from multiple perspectives and disciplines.

Submit 250 word paper or panel proposals (with separate abstracts and user accounts for each presenter) to: http://conference2013.swtxpca.org. Choose the area “Special Topics – Stardom and Fandom” and input your information as directed.

Direct questions to: Lynn Zubernis, lzubernis@wcupa.edu

Deadline for proposal submissions: November 16, 2012. Earlier proposals are welcomed and will be responded to with all due haste.

For more details on the conference, please visit the Southwest/Texas Popular Culture/American Culture Association: www.swtxpca.org.