The members of the conference committee are seeking contributions that explore noteworthy coverage patterns, representations and themes, in various media forms, pertaining to the longstanding idea of the end of the world. Participants are encouraged to interpret the conference theme broadly and innovatively. Individual presentations will be limited to 20 minutes in length. Possible topics include, but are certainly not limited to, discussions, representations, and/or media preoccupations connected to the prophecies of Nostradamus, Mayan prophecies, the Millennial agenda, or any catastrophic event that could potentially bring about the end of the world. Appropriate approaches include verbal, aural, textual, and/or visual analysis of news content, documentaries, films, television programs, and related media offerings.

We encourage submissions from scholars, educators, and students at all levels, and from disciplines including anthropology, communication, cultural studies, film studies, history, journalism, media studies, popular culture, sociology, and television studies. Selected papers will be published (with author’s permission) in a special anthology pertaining to the conference theme. As a bonus, please note that the conference dates allow presenters to take advantage of a much-needed weekend getaway before the end-of-semester “insanity” kicks in!

Persons submitting individual-paper proposals are asked to submit a one-page abstract with complete contact information (name, institutional affiliation, mail and e-mail addresses, and contact telephone number). Panel proposals (featuring three paper-presentations total) should include panel title, brief description of panel theme, name of the panel chair, one-page abstracts of each paper in the panel, and complete contact information for each presenter on the panel (name, institutional affiliation, mail and e-mail addresses, and contact telephone number). In order to be considered, all proposals must be received no later than November 10, 2006. Individuals will be notified of the status of their proposals within three weeks of the submission deadline.

Please mail or e-mail conference proposals to:

Media and the End of the World Conference
Attn: Kylo-Patrick Hart
Department of Communication and Media Studies
Plymouth State University
17 High Street, MSC 60
Plymouth, NH 03264
krhart@plymouth.edu

For specific inquiries prior to submitting a proposal, please contact Kylo-Patrick Hart at (603) 535-3122 or krhart@plymouth.edu