Current Calls for Papers
CFP for "The Beyonce Effect: Gender, Race and the Body Politics of the Worlds Biggest Pop Star. (Rowman and Littlefield) Abstracts due 7/15-Details below.
This edited volume presents a multi-layered portrait of the music and persona of Beyoncé. Since her introduction as a member of Destinys Child during the pop music scene of the late 1990s, Queen B has been a lightning rod for praise and criticism from scholars and critics alike. While some see Beyoncé as an empowering presence and in every way celebrating the independent women she praises in her music, others view her as detrimental to womens rights and identities. This book will serve as a collection of essays which explore all aspects of Beyoncé, those that are perceived as positive as well as those that are perceived as negative. For example, recently feminist theorist and writer, bell hooks, during a talk at The New School in New York City, referred to Beyoncé as a terrorist, anti-feminist and connected her music videos to that of being a slave. The response from the feminist community and music community to hookss words was overwhelming and critical with most feeling that Beyoncé represents a new face of feminism, one that forms their own opinions and actions regarding gender equality. Additionally, an academic course has been taught at Rutgers which relates Beyoncés songs to poetry and prose written by many Black scholars and activists and Beyoncés philanthropy to help women and girls has been housed in the non-profit project Chime for Change."