Keynote Speaker: Professor Matt Hills (Aberystwyth University)

Formed in March 2012, the Fan Studies Network provides a space for academics interested in fans and fandom to connect, share resources, and develop their research ideas. It has already grown beyond its initial function as a mailing list and collection of CFPs, with May 2013 seeing the release of the network's first co-publication - an extensive special section of Participations: Journal of Audience & Reception Studies.

As we are keen to ensure that the work done by network members continues to grow, we are delighted to announce the FSN2013 symposium, which will provide the first opportunity for fan scholars to meet under the Fan Studies Network banner. It is hoped that this will become a regular event.

It will take place at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, on Saturday 30th November 2013, and the keynote speaker will be Professor Matt Hills (Aberystwyth University), author of Fan Cultures (Routledge, 2002) and Triumph of a Time Lord: Regenerating Doctor Who in the 21st Century (I.B. Tauris, 2010).

We invite abstracts of no more than 300 words for individual 20 minute papers that address any aspect of fandom or fan studies. We encourage new members to the network and welcome proposals for presentations on, but not limited to, the following possible topics:

-           Fan use of social media platforms

-           Fan practices

-           Activism and fandom

-           Producer-audience interactions

-           Underrepresented fan cultures

-           New modes of fan fiction

-           Ethics in fan studies

-           Politics and Fandom

-           Anti-Fandom and Non-Fandom

We also invite expressions of interest (100-200 words) from anyone wishing to host a short session of ‘speed geeking.' This would involve each speaker chairing a short discussion on a relevant topic of their choosing, and then receiving extensive feedback, making it ideal for presenting in-progress or undeveloped ideas. If you have any questions about this format of presentation, please contact Richard McCulloch at richardjmcculloch@gmail.com.

The day will conclude with a series of working group discussions, which we anticipate will lead to individual and/or collaborative publication opportunities.

Deadline for Abstracts: Friday 23 August 2013

Notification of Decision: Week commencing Monday 2 September 2013

Enquiries/Abstracts to: fsnconference@gmail.com

Conference Organisers:

Lucy Bennett and Tom Phillips (FSN chairs)

Bertha Chin, Bethan Jones, Richard McCulloch, Rebecca Williams (FSN board)

http://fanstudies.wordpress.com/

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2013

Sorry, no refunds after this date.  All refunds will be subject to a small administration fee.