Hollywood films have dominated the world’s silver screens since World War
I. Endeavoring in the shadows of Hollywood; global cinemas have employed
myriad economic and aesthetic strategies to compete with Hollywood’s
hegemony. Likewise, national cinemas with government support have attempted
to foster domestic film production as a method of combating imported mass
culture and its effects on national identity. However, the intervention of
international capital, technology, and personnel has affected the purity of
national cinemas. This conference will explore questions of cultural
identity within the transnational contexts of film production,
representation, and reception, both historically and currently.

Call for Papers

The conference solicits a broad range of papers representing diverse
geographical focuses and methodological approaches. Papers which
problematic notions of national and regional cinema are especially
encouraged.
Possible topics include, but are not limited to the following: National
cinemas, representation, and the construction of national identity
Transnational film stars and directors
Reception of Hollywood and/or national cinemas abroad National cinemas and
propaganda during wartime and peace Transnational racial discourses and
global cinemas Subcultures and national cinemas

Please submit abstracts of papers (250 words) and of panels, including
abstracts of each paper no later than November 19, 1999, to Brian O’Neil
Department of History
The University of Southern Mississippi
Box 5047
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-5047
Telephone: (601) 266-4333
Fax: (601) 266-4334
Email: brian.oneil@usm.edu
Final program decisions will be made by December 6, 1999. Selected
conference papers will be published in a special issue of The Southern
Quarterly.