Open Philosophy invites submissions for the topical issue “Ethics and Politics of TV Series,” edited by Sandra Laugier (Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, ERC DEMOSERIES), prepared in collaboration with the European Research Council project DEMOSERIES.

TV series are increasingly recognised in current research. However, their aesthetic potential for visualising ethical issues and developing a collective inquiry into democratic values has not yet been fully appreciated. Because of their format (weekly/seasonal regularity, home viewing) and the participatory qualities of the Internet (tweeting, chat forums), series allow for a new form of education by expressing complex issues through narrative and characters.

In France, the UK, Germany, the US, Israel, and many other countries, the number of films and television series revealing what happens ‘behind the scenes’ of democratic regimes faced with terrorist threats or other threats (environmental, technological, sanitary) is growing. These works reveal a moral state of the world. They may be analysed as ‘mirrors’ of society, or as ideological tools. But they can also be understood as new resources for the education of their audiences; as the emergence of a form of ‘soft power’ that can serve as a resource for public policies and democratic conversation.

This topical issue invites scholars in philosophy, film and media studies, sociology, political science, cultural studies etc. to explore popular TV series’ capacity to raise ethical and political issues, to build forms of awareness necessary for the safety of individuals and societies, and ultimately, to create shared and shareable values.

Authors publishing their articles in the special issue will benefit from:

  • transparent, comprehensive and fast peer review,
  • efficient route to fast-track publication and full advantage of De Gruyter’s e-technology,
  • free language assistance for authors from non-English speaking regions,
  • no publishing fees.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Submissions will be collected from October 1, 2020 to January 31, 2021. There are no specific length limitations.

To submit an article for the special issue of Open Philosophy, authors are asked to access the online submission system at: http://www.editorialmanager.com/opphil/

Please choose as article type: Ethics and Politics of TV Series

Before submission the authors should carefully read over the Instruction for Authors, available at: cstonline.netwww.degruyter.com/view/supplement/s25438875_Instruction_for_Authors.pdf

All contributions will undergo critical review before being accepted for publication.

Further questions about this thematic issue can be addressed to Sandra Laugier <sandra.laugier@univ-paris1.fr> and to ERC Demoseries <contact@demoseries.eu>. In case of technical questions, please contact journal Managing Editor Katarzyna Tempczyk <katarzyna.tempczyk@degruyter.com>.