Society for Cinema and Media Studies
March 2-5, 2006
Vancouver, Canada
<http://www.cmstudies.org/conference_index.html>http://www.cmstudies.org/conference_index.html

"Representing Work on U.S. Television"

Transformations in the nature and organization of work, e.g.
computerization and electronic surveillance or the shift to service work,
have been central to the changes associated with postmodernity and
globalization. However, little attention has been paid to how work
itself--distinct from the class or professional identities of workers--is
represented on television programming. Papers are sought that explore the
visual representation and narrative thematization of work in different
formats and genres such as reality programming, news, documentary, drama
etc. Possible areas of inquiry include: What does U.S. television
programming think work actually is, i.e., what are the sets of practices
and ideologies that constitute "work" on TV? How do the economic and
cultural logics of the American television industry shape these
representations? Is it possible to map the limits of televisual
representations of work? What kinds of work are not, or cannot, be
represented on television? What does the recent boom in reality shows such
as The Apprentice or America's Next Top Model where participants compete to
win a job say about how work, opportunity, and success are articulated in
contemporary culture? What are the relationships between television
representations of work and broader news and policy debates over issues
such as the presence of undocumented workers, the globalization of
manufacturing, the feminization of labor, overseas outsourcing of IT work etc.?

Please send a150-word proposal, plus a brief bibliography and bio
statement, by August 20, 2005.
Contact: Mobina Hashmi, mhashmi_at_wisc.edu

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Received on Sun Jul 24 2005 - 16:35:17 EDT