CFP: The Quest: Heroes (and Villains) on a Mission (6/1/15; 11/5-8/15)

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Quest: Heroes (and Villains) on a Mission

An area of multiple panels for the 2015 Film & History Conference: Journeys, Detours, Breakdowns

November 5-8, 2015

The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club

Madison, WI (USA)

DEADLINE for abstracts: June 1, 2015

AREA: The Quest: Heroes (and Villains) on a Mission

In our earliest films, we followed heroes (and villains) on their quests. In the course of their heroic journeys, heroes rescued people, fought fantastic creatures, and protected societies. Sinbad’s quest takes him to the Colossa to cure Princess Parisa,  Aladdin has to brave the Cave of Wonders and defeat the evil wizard, and Jafar, must save Princess Jasmine as well as all of Agrabah.

Examining these heroic journeys leads us to topics that conform to the classic monomyth of journeying into the unknown, defeating fantastic forces there and then returning to bestow boons on others. Alternatively, they also highlight themes that resist the traditional narrative, such as the heroine’s journey, the journey of inner healing, and the quest that bridges the masculine/feminine divide.  Along the way, some villains also become heroic (Maleficent) and those perceived to be heroes are actually villainous (Prince Hans). How do these heroic quests offer commentary on our contemporary values, identities, and shared hopes and fears?

The Quest area invites 20-minute papers that examine the constructions, understandings, and struggles as hero/ines quest to rescue, redeem, protect, serve and save. How are the often-shifting borders across and between heroism and villainy, good and evil? This area invites broad considerations of these conceptualizations and some topics to consider include:

• The villain as questing hero (Maleficent, Hannibal Lector, Dracula, V)

• Sacrificial Quests (Harry Potter, Bella)

• Redemptive Heroic Quests (Indiana Jones, Knights of the Round Table)

• Quests in the mundane world (Walter Mitty, Star Trek)

• Diversity in heroic quests: race, gender, age, and ethnicity (Clint Eastwood,

Machete, Hua Mulan)

• The villain as hero (Maleficent, Hannibal Lector, Dracula)

• Resisting the Momomyth (women as hero/ines, the journey within) 

Proposals for complete panels (three related presentations) are also welcome, but they must include an abstract and contact information, including an e-mail address, for each presenter. For updates and registration information about the upcoming meeting, see the Film & History website (www.filmandhistory.org).

Please e-mail your 200-word proposal by June 1, 2015, to the area chair:

Norma Jones

Kent State University

njones39@kent.edu