Friday the 13th Special Issue of Horror Homeroom: Call for Papers

deadline for submissions: 
January 15, 2020
full name / name of organization: 
Horror Homeroom
contact email: 

Panned by critics during its initial release, Friday the 13th is arguably the quintessential American slasher. With an iconic villain, Jason Voorhees, an instantly identifiable location, Camp Crystal Lake, and a rabid fan base that expresses its adoration for the franchise through everything from clothing to tattoos, its presence in the popular zeitgeist nearly 40 years later speaks to its unique staying power. The film has generated countless sequels, inspired a comic book and a television series, and even resulted in a survival horror video game; yet, there is a surprising dearth of scholarship devoted to the franchise.

 

In honor of the original film’s impending 40th anniversary, Horror Homeroom will be publishing a special online issue on the Friday the 13th franchise. We invite submissions on any aspect of the franchise and its media tie-ins for a special issue celebrating this anniversary milestone. Emerging and advanced scholars, popular writers, and fans are invited to submit abstracts on any aspect of the film franchise. We are especially interested in representing the franchise’s lesser known films. Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

 

  • Jason Voorhees’ origin(s) of evil

  • Friday the 13th and the codification of slasher tropes

  • Fan tourism and Camp Crystal Lake

  • Slasher films and participatory culture

  • Location and narrative dread

  • Ecocriticism and monstrous nature

  • Friday the 13th merchandising

  • Gender performance and sexuality

  • Camp and its presence in the sequels

  • Reboots and audience expectation

  • Sex comedy in Friday the 13th: A New Beginning

  • Jason Lives: Friday the 13th Part VI as Horror-Comedy

Please submit abstracts of 500 words and a brief bio to Dawn Keetley and Elizabeth Erwin at  horrorhomeroom@gmail.com and dek7@lehigh.eduby January 15, 2020. Articles will be limited to 2,500 words and should be written for a general audience. Completed essays will be due March 2, 2020 in order to ensure publication on the 40th anniversary. We welcome all questions and inquiries!