Deadline Extension for Critical Essays on "The Righteous Gemstones"
The Righteous Gemstones is a dark comedy about a world-famous megachurch pastor; his three children, who assist with the ministry; and various associates, extended family members, and antagonists. Each season (2019, 2022, 2023) is self-contained and intricately structured, inviting scene by scene and even frame by frame analysis. Typically the family faces two interconnected outside threats; parallel father-son crises featuring patriarch Eli, his eldest son, and his grandchildren; parallel relationship crises involving the other children and their partners; and a disruptive force.
Abstracts for 5000-7000 word essays are invited for an edited collection on The Righteous Gemstones. Essays should be accessible to both a scholarly and a general audience. Suggested topics include:
- Sin, forgiveness, and redemption
- Deviance and criminality
- Mental illness
- Sexual identity and coming out
- The importance of place
- Death and resurrection
- Musical backgrounds
- Horror and science-fiction tropes
- The paranormal and divine intervention
- Time and atemporality
- Plot misdirections
- Fan fiction and fan art
Submit a 250-500 word abstract and a 50 word author biography to Dr. Jeffery P. Dennis, Department of Criminal Justice, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Email: jeffery.dennis@mnsu.edu
Deadline for abstract submission: November 30, 2023
Deadline for submission of selected papers: March 1, 2024