[Air-L] CFP - Game Studies: 2012 PCA/ACA National Conference

[Gerald Voorhees]

The Game Studies area of the National Popular Culture Association and the
American Culture Association Conference invites proposals for papers, panels
and completed papers on games and game studies for the Popular Culture
Association/American Culture Association National Conference to be held
Wednesday, April 11, through Saturday, April 14, 2012, at the Boston
Marriott Copley
Place<http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosco-boston-marriott-copley-place/>in
Boston, MA.

Below, please find:

I. Topics of Interest

II. Submission Process

III. Information about the Conference

IV. Contact Information

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*I. Topics of Interest*

The organizers seek proposals and papers covering all aspects of gaming,
gaming culture and game studies.  Proposals can address any game medium
(computer, social, console, tabletop, etc) and all theoretical and
methodological approaches are welcome.

Possible topics include but are not limited to:

-- new game mediums and platforms (Facebook, iPhone/iPad/iPod, etc)

-- representation or performance of race, class, gender and sexuality in
games

-- gaming culture, game specific cultures, and multicultural and
cross-cultural issues

-- game development, design, authorship and other industry issues

-- game advertising, reviews, packaging, promotion, integrated marketing and
other commercial concerns

-- political and legal entailments such as regulation, censorship,
intellectual property

-- ludology, textual criticism, media ecology, narratology, etc as paradigms
for games studies

-- player generated content in MUDs and MMORPGs, Mods, maps and machinima

-- game genres, platforms, consoles, console wars and connections to other
media

-- serious games for education, business, healthcare, (military) training,
etc

-- space and place in games, play spaces, virtual/physical communities,
mobile gaming and localization

-- digital literacy, discourse practices, social norms and norming, the
politics of play

-- public discourse/controversy over violence, militarism, sex, criminality,
racism, etc in games

*II. Submission Process*

The Game Studies area of the National Popular Culture Association and the
American Culture Association Conference, which began as the Video Games
Studies area in 2003, has the most enduring footprint of any North American
academic organization that gives serious attention to the social and
cultural impact of games and gaming. The area continues to grow and this
year offers three avenues for scholars to participate and present their
work. Please email all paper and panel proposals to
digitalgames.pcaaca at gmail.com.

*A. Paper Proposals*

For individual paper proposal submissions, please submit a 250-word
(maximum) abstract by *December 23, 2011*.  At the top of your proposal,
please include the title of the paper, your name (and the name of any
co-presenters), affiliation, mailing address, and e-mail address. This
information will be used in the program and to mail your conference
materials. At the end of your abstract, please include a list of 3 to 5
keywords. Submissions may also be made online at
http://ncp.pcaaca.org.  Detailed
instructions for using the online submission system can be found at
http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/instructions.php.

*B. Panel Proposals*

For panel submissions, please submit a 250-word panel abstract, as well as
100-word abstracts for each individual presentation, by December 23, 2011.
Be sure to include the proposed title of the panel, the organizer’s name,
affiliation, mailing address, and email, as well as this information for all
panelists. Panel submissions may take the form of debates, dialogs,
roundtable discussions, thematic panels, (or other format,) and should be
designed to last approximately eighty minutes. Submissions may also be made
online at http://ncp.pcaaca.org.  Detailed instructions for using the online
submission system can be found at
http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/instructions.php.

*C. Completed Papers*

In an effort to reward the many promising scholarly offerings evident at
this conference, the area will award a Game Studies area Top Paper (for
faculty and professional members) and Top Student Paper (for graduate
students).  To facilitate this, we are requesting complete papers to allow
for a blind review process which can be completed in time for the conference
itself.  If you are interested in being considered for this award, please
submit a 3000 – 4500 word paper by *December 04, 2011*.  Complete paper
submissions should have a title page with a 250 word (maximum) abstract and
3 to 5 keywords. To facilitate blind review, please ensure there is no
author identifying information in the paper or title page. In a separate
document, include the title of the paper, your name (and the name of any
co-presenters), affiliation, mailing address, and e-mail address. Students
should clearly indicate on the title page that the paper is authored solely
by a student or students. Those who elect to submit full papers should also
consider submitting their work for other awards at the conference as noted
below.

*III. Information about the Conference*

*A.* So that there will be ample time for discussion, each individual paper
presentation should be designed to last approximately fifteen minutes (there
will be four presentations per session with time for Q&A).

*B.* Technology for use during presentations may be limited. More
information about the conference can be found at http://www.pcaaca.org/**

*C.* Please also note that presenters will be required to join either the
Popular Culture Association or the American Culture Association prior to
attending the conference, as well as pay a registration fee for the
conference. Information about these fees can be found at
http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/membership_registration.php.

*D.* Awards and Travel Grants are offered, on a competitive basis, by the
National Popular Culture Association / American Culture Association

1. Travel Grants

The *Michael Schoenecke Travel Grant for Graduate Students* to the National
Conference (for 2011, 32 grants @ $300 each). For application requirements,
please visit http://www.pcaaca.org/grant/schoenecke.php

The *Peter Rollins Travel Grant for Early-Career Faculty* (for 2011, 12
grants @ $500). For application requirements, please visit
http://www.pcaaca.org/grant/rollins.php

The *Madonna Marsden International Travel Grant* for Individuals presenting
at the National Conference (for 2011, 10 grants @$500 each). For application
requirements, please visit http://www.pcaaca.org/grant/marsden.php

*2. Graduate Student Awards*

*William E. Brigman Award for the Outstanding Graduate Student Paper* presented
at the National Conference in a specific year. Applications go to Brigman
Award, c/o Gary Hoppenstand, *Journal of Popular Culture*, 4C Morrill Hall,
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 . Please send three hard
copies of the paper (without author's name), as well as a copy on disc and
photocopy of your student identification card. Those concerned for their
privacy may obscure the Social Security number should it appear on the card.
Please also include a copy of the acceptance letter/email from the PCA area
chair who accepted the paper for presentation in the national conference.
Papers should address popular culture and be accepted for a PCA panel.
Submissions must be received by January 7th of the year the conference is
held. The winning paper must be presented at the upcoming PCA/ACA meeting in
the year it is accepted. Should the winning paper not be presented in
person, the award will be forfeited. The winning author is invited to submit
the essay to *The Journal of Popular Culture* and work with the editor
toward its publication. This award is selected by a panel chosen by the
editor of the journal. The winner receives a $500 travel award to attend the
national conference in the year the paper is selected.

*William M. Jones Award for the Outstanding Graduate Student
Paper*presented at the National Conference in a specific year. Entries
are
submitted to Amy Dudley, Editorial Assistant, William M. Jones Graduate
Student Paper Award Selection Committee, the* Journal of American Culture*,
Virginia Wesleyan College, 1584 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk, VA 23502. Papers
must be submitted by January 7th of the year the conference is held. Three
copies of the paper, as well as a photocopy of the applicant's student
identification card must be submitted. Papers should address American
culture. The winning paper must be presented at the PCA/ACA conference. The
winner receives a $500 travel award to attend the national conference in the
year the paper is selected. Should the winning paper not be presented in
person, the award will be forfeited. The winning author should also submit
the essay to the* Journal of American Culture* and work with the editor
toward its publication. This award is selected by a panel chosen by the
editor of the journal.



*IV. Contact Information*

Questions and concerns can be sent to digitalgames.pcaaca at gmail.com, or may
be directed to one of the area chairs listed below.

*Katie Whitlock*, Theatre Department, California State University, Chico

klwhitlock at csuchico.edu**

*Gerald Voorhees*, School of Art and Communication, Oregon State University

gerald.voorhees at oregonstate.edu**

*Joshua Call*, Department of English, Grand View University

jcall at grandviewl.edu

*Tony Avruch*, American Culture Studies Program, Bowling Green State
University

avruch.pca at gmail.com