The intention of this book is to connect scholars, readers, and fans of FX’s Atlanta from inside and outside of academia. Between 2016 and 2023, Atlanta was a zeitgeist that inspired think pieces and water cooler conversations. As one example of its complexity, Atlanta often features re-imagined but true local news events that were so outrageous that audiences unaware of the original stories assumed they were fiction. We hope our book project bridges the gap between “everybody already knows this” to “why or how do we know this”? Or even more, “why don’t you know this?” There is a cultural knowledge about Atlanta that sings in the FX show – from lemon-pepper-wet wings to the parking madness of Atlantic Station –  that screams IYKYK. By bringing in different voices and balancing academic writers with fans of the show from other walks of life, our book will showcase how Atlanta speaks to and for a multitude of audiences. 

As a work of serialized fiction, Atlanta reveals connections between a variety of literary and cultural media formats and genres; from magical realism to hip hop, from metafiction to critical internet studies, Atlanta paints from a diverse intellectual palette. It inspires wide ranging discussions that can be geographical, economic, historical, and theoretical. In approaching the totality of Atlanta’s four seasons, our collection of essays will have room to probe deeply into questions about Blackness, whiteness, the South, the city, social media, and representation. We intend for our collection to blend genres in innovative ways. 

In February 2023, In Media Res allowed us to curate and edit an FX Atlanta theme week. Each of the five authors dissected a different element of Atlanta and built a new frame through which to look at the show. Our contributors showcased the ways in which the show has touched on several aspects of social, professional, and geographical lives. From a high school administrator to the founder of the Punk Black music collective, we were proud to collect unique visions on the impact of Atlanta, beyond its wry and dark humor. 

Structurally, the book will be divided into themes that correspond to the most relevant aspects of the show and the flexibility of our contributions. Following a “mixtape” model, this edited collection may present sections on episodes, keywords, geography, and intertextuality. Potential contributors are invited to consider their distinct vantage point on Atlanta in a granular (episodic) or holistic (style) approach. Our model is supported by other book-length projects on television series highlighting that our interdisciplinary approach is valuable. 

We are seeking chapter proposals from academic and non-academic writers. Selected contributors are expected to take a unique approach to the series and the show’s themes. We are interested in work in diverse genres. In addition to academic essays, personal narratives or memoirs, travel logs, essays, historiographical pieces, fan fiction, data analysis, and other creative formats will be considered. 

Some possible topics include (but are not limited to):

• Race, wealth, and power

• Toxic relationships and black love

• The surreal, the real, and “keeping it real”

• Gender and sexuality

• Formal education versus the School of Hard Knocks

• “First time Atlanta” experiences

• Anti-racist activism and critical whiteness

• Incarceration narratives and the anxiety of over-policing

• Social media, performativity, and digital culture

• Hip-hop, fashion, and brand management

• Storytelling, historial revision, urban legend, and tall tales

• The City of Atlanta and its global impact

• Urban, suburban, rural, and global perspectives

• The Impact of Atlanta Trap Music

• Cultural performance and minstrelsy

Please send a 300-500 word abstract identifying how you will approach Atlanta, along with a short author bio (no more than 100 words) to Natasha Bailey-Walker at nwalke70@kennesaw.edu AND Pete Rorabaugh pete@kennesaw.edu. If selected, contributors should be expected to complete a project that is 3000-5000 words in length. 

Important Deadlines:

300-500 word abstract and author bio: March, 29, 2024

Abstract Selection and Notification: April 15, 2024

Complete Chapter Submission: August 15, 2024