[Air-l] CALL FOR BOOK CHAPTERS

[Denise Carter]

CALL FOR BOOK CHAPTERS:

Images Of Difference And Different Images: Social Minorities And The Media



The following is a call for book chapters to be included in a book on social
minorities and the media, edited by Ruth Butler and Denise Carter.



This edited text draws together ongoing and new research from across the
social sciences, which focuses upon the complex interactions of minority
social groups with different medias, for example newspapers, music,
advertising, film, internet and TV. One of the most recently formed study
groups of the British Sociological Association has been the 'Sociology of
Media', reflecting the growing levels of research and teaching within this
area. In Human Geography there have been a number of conference sessions,
special journal issues and texts on specific medias. In some centres
Journalists are coming together with Sociologists under the fundamental
premise that journalism could benefit from a sociological perspective which
seeks to reduce cultural biases, and that sociologists can learn much from
journalists about communicating important information. At the same time,
constructionist models of social minorities - disabled, gay and lesbian,
gender, youth, child and race - continue to point to the need for social
change and education as a necessity for greater integration and tolerance.
However, although this need is often identified as a research conclusion
there is relatively little comment on how such change and education may be
achieved.



We are looking for book chapters (5000 words) that explore various
approaches to this analysis of the relationship between the media and
minority groups. In particular we are looking to arrange the book in three
sections:-

1.The same old stories: perpetuating stereotypes

The media has been noted as being a powerful adversary to minority groups.
Its role in perpetuating the stereotypical images of disabled people, ethnic
minorities, women and youths for example are well documented.

2. Spaces of escape/equality/disembodiment

New communications technologies may be seen to facilitate unlimited access
to new social arenas that are disconnected from the traditional referents of
age, race, gender, and so on. Equally the authorship of texts under
pseudonyms, has at times been used to deliberately hide the gender or other
factors in the social background of writers.

3. Radical voices: a space to speak.

Different medias can offer a space to speak, a political platform, a space
to present new images and depictions of misunderstood or previously silenced
minorities. The use of music in the Black Rights movement, and the
significance of recent TV programmes by gay and disabled script writers and
producers are just two examples.

Chapter proposals and a brief academic biography should be sent to one of
the editors at the address below by 29th March. If you would like to discuss
an idea informally or have any queries we will also be happy to hear from
you.

A timetable for submission of final work will be established in the near
future.



Denise Carter

Lecturer in Sociology and Anthropology

d.carter at hull.ac.uk

Tel: 01482 465024

Ruth Butler

Lecturer in Applied Social Research

r.e.butler at hull.ac.uk

Tel: 01482 465788



CASS,

University of Hull,

Cottingham Road,

Hull.

UK.

HU6 7RX