Call for Chapter Abstracts: ReFocus: The Films of Shirin Neshat
Organization: Edinburgh University Press
We are pleased to invite chapter proposals for an edited volume dedicated to the work of Shirin Neshat, the internationally acclaimed Iranian-American filmmaker and visual artist. This volume aims to explore the multifaceted dimensions of Neshat's oeuvre, encompassing her contributions to contemporary visual culture. Neshat's work, deeply rooted in Iran's historical and political upheavals, spans photography, video installations, and films, often addressing themes of gender, identity, exile, and the intersection of tradition and modernity. Her art embodies a fusion of personal memories and creative interpretations, providing a distinct viewpoint on cultural and societal issues.
The edited volume seeks contributions that critically examine Neshat's artistic and cinematic productions from diverse disciplinary perspectives.We encourage chapters that go beyond textual analysis to incorporate historical, political, and social contexts, emphasizing how Neshat functions as an artist within society and her broader societal impact. Chapters focusing on single artworks, including feature and short films, video installations, and photography, or her work?as a whole?are welcome. We are particularly interested in chapters that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
Gender and identity in Neshat’swork
The impact of political and historical contexts on her work
Memory and history in her films
Religion and its influence on her work
Nation and subjectivity in her work
Transnational and intercultural dialogue in her work
The role of exile and displacement in her works
Adaptation and intertextuality in her art
The role of poetry and literature in her work
Aesthetic strategies and visual symbolism in her work
Feminism and the representation of women in her work
Multimedia projects: blending film and visual art
The role of sound and music in her work
Neshat as a multidisciplinary artist
Distribution, exhibition, and reception of her work
Audience reception and interpretations of her work
Comparative studies with other contemporary visual artists
Please send your 350–400-word proposal and a 100-word bio to both editors of the volume, Maryam Ghorbankarimi and Mazyar Mahan, by 15 September 2024 at the latest. Final submissions will be between 6,000 and 7,000 words, in English, and referenced in Chicago endnote style. Our volume will be published by the University of Edinburgh Press in the ReFocus series on international directors. Series editors are Robert Singer, Gary D. Rhodes, and Stefanie Van de Peer.
Deadline for proposals: 15 September 2024
Notification of acceptance: 30 September 2024
Deadline for chapters: 15 January 2025
Please direct any inquiries or questions to:
Maryam Ghorbankarimi — m.ghorbankarimi@lancaster.uk.ac
Mazyar Mahan — mazyar.mahan@utdallas.edu
MAZYAR MAHAN