CALL FOR PAPERS:
A Companion to the Gangster Film, edited by George S. Larke-Walsh PhD, (University of North Texas)
This volume will explore the gangster genre as a global phenomenon; what makes it so distinct from other crime films and what makes it so appealing to twentieth and twenty-first century audiences. To that end I am seeking new scholarship on the gangster film not only in America, but also across the globe. I am primarily interested in work on films from the UK, France, Italy, Russia, India, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea, but I am also open to other suggestions.
The book is already under contract with Wiley-Blackwell and I have divided it into four key areas of study, each consisting of approximately 5-6 essays at 8-10,000 words each. These areas are each designed to encourage contributors to consider their topics from a global perspective. Please consider the sub-headings as opening guidelines to help you position your topic.
Part One: Gangsters in the Industry: Production, Distribution and Reception
Censorship: Hollywood (Effects on Classical or Post-classical films)
Creating the Gangster (cross-cultural influences on the development of Gangster identities, iconography and ideology)
Fandom (can be about distribution of films and popularity)
Beyond the Frame (merchandising, spin-offs – such as The Godfather phenomenon)
Distribution (cross-cultural influences, political or financial influences)
Part Two: Mythologies of the Mafia
New Russian Heroes (films of the 90s and beyond)
Italian-American influences (on American film, or internationally)
Hong Kong Gangster films (cross-cultural influences)
British Gangsters (gangland mythology – any era)
Myths versus realities
Part Three: Politics of Organized Crime
Organized crime as Capitalism: a celebration or critique
Mafia as an organization and its effect on the wider community
Corruption narratives
Class (social order, criminal hierarchies)
Socio-cultural Traditions that influence organized crime (roots, causes of crime)
Part Four: Gangster Identities
Cross-cultural influences
Ethnicity (The ambiguities of ethnic identity within particular cultures)
Exclusive societies and/or the dispossessed
Concepts of Heroism or Villainy as a gangster identity
Gangsters on the edge of organizations (assassins, street guys etc)
Please send an abstract of your topic (approx. 300 words) to larkewalsh@unt.edu by November 14th 2014. If you have any specific questions about the volume or your contribution do not hesitate to contact me before the deadline.?