Keynotes:

  • Dr Lisa Glebatis Perks, Merrimack College
  • Dr Tanya Horeck, Anglia Ruskin University

Binge-watching is a term that, by now, encompasses a number of shifts in contemporary television culture, from changing modes of viewing, to variations in the way television on streaming platforms organises itself, to developments of narrative structures in ‘bingeable’ series. This workshop aims to explore the ongoing significance of binge-watching to contemporary television studies, with a view to expanding current research on viewing behaviour, textual structures, and transnational and national broadcasting. As a field, television studies is exploring these shifts from different angles, but inevitably has to realign itself to conceptualise these new understandings. This workshop aims to develop broader frameworks to deal with some of these issues for contemporary television studies.

This workshop will bring together different research questions linked to binge-watching and contemporary television. As a workshop, it is deliberately designed as an event to develop ideas in collaboration rather than the traditional conference format. Because of this, only 20 spaces are available to participate in this workshop. All academics are welcome, but preferential treatment in the selection process will be given to Early Career Researchers (defined as within the first three years of the first substantial appointment) and late stage PhD students. Ideally, the ratio between ECRs and more senior academics will be 2/3 to 1/3.

The initial workshop will take place on 13-14th of September 2018 for two days to share poster presentations on existing research and develop plans for collaborative research in various research strands, to be written up within the next year. The second part of the workshop will be a one-day symposium in September 2019 (date to be announced), at which different research strands share their work. Results will be published in the format of an edited collection.

Themes of the workshop can be, but are not limited to:

  • Binge-watching and narrative structures
  • Binge-watching and algorithmic culture
  • Binge-watching and issues of representation
  • Binge-watching and platforms
  • Binge-watching audiences
  • Binge-watching and Public Service Broadcasting
  • Binge-watching and genre
  • Binge-watching historical television
  • Binge-watching and transnational television
  • Binge-watching and ephemeral television

Please send proposals for position papers on research you are conducting on a specific area of binge-watching to bingewatching.workshop@gmail.com. Proposals should be 300 words in length and include biographical information (particularly highlighting ECR status). Proposals will be used as a basis to organise participants in groups of specific research strands in which collaborative research will be conducted. The deadline for proposals is: 31st May 2018.

This workshop is organised by Dr Mareike Jenner and will be held at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge. The workshop is funded by the British Academy and attendance is free of charge.