May 4-5, 2023

University of Bologna, Department of Arts (Italy)

Deadline for proposals: 29 January 2023

Call for Paper and Panel Proposals

Website: https://eventi.unibo.it/creative-korea 

Result notification: 15 February 2023

In recent years, Korean cultural industries have established themselves as among the most dynamic and successful at the global level, both artistically and commercially. Supported by a series of worldwide successes in different areas, the Korean Wave has become one key example of non-Western cultural production that was able to engage global audiences and to influence the way in which they consume pop culture. In this process, Korean cultural production has been able to diversify its offer and to adapt to the transformative changes brought by new social and digital media technologies. 

The conference will focus on exploring the different aspects of contemporary Korean cultural production, with an inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary perspective, including the many different sectors that compose the Korean Wave: film and TV production; music; performing arts; visual art; comics, graphic novels and webtoons; animation; videogames and e-sports; fashion and food. The aim is analyzing the multiple factors that have made this growth possible, the specific characteristics of cultural industries and cultural production in the Korean context, the different influences that shaped this production and how Korea’s success is now influencing other contexts, the historical development and changes of the Korean Wave, the socio-political and economic effects and impact of the spread of Korean cultural products both inside and outside Korea. In particular, we welcome contributions dealing with recent developments and changes in Korean cultural production, the post-pandemic challenges and opportunities for cultural industries, the integration of culture and technology, new trends in the development of cultural production.

Submissions should include an abstract (300 words) and a short bio (100 words) and be sent to creativekorea2023@gmail.com before 29 January 2023. 

Proposals from PhD students, early career researchers and independent scholars are welcome. 

Publication plan: at the end of the conference, we will look for an opportunity to publish an edited volume.

Enquiries can be directed to: Dr. Mary Lou Emberti Gialloreti, University of Bologna, marylou.emberti@unibo.it

The event is funded by the Academy of Korean Studies.