Flow Volume 26 Special Issue

Deadline: August 26, 2019

The summer of 2019 has seen a variety of news reports and stories  announcing and celebrating the accomplishments of diversity,  inclusivity, and socio-political progress across the entertainment  industries. Examples include Ali Stroker’s monumental win at the Tony  Awards (as the first wheelchair user to win an award); the casting of  Halle Bailey in Disney’s live-adaptation of The Little Mermaid; Marvel  Studios’ casting of Simu Liu, Salma Hayek, and Mahershala Ali in lead  roles as well as the hiring of non-white and non-male directors for  Phase 4 projects; the announcement that the 007 role in the James Bond  franchise will now be played by Black woman, Lashana Lynch; the  development and production of a queer-centered superhero television  series in the upcoming Batwoman on The CW; and the critically-acclaimed  and fan-lauded careers of musicians like Lil Nas X and Lizzo taking  center stage in the music industry. 

This inaugural issue of Flow’s twenty-sixth volume, “New Faces, New  Voices, New Bodies: Current Thoughts on Media Representations,” asks  cultural and media scholars to consider these recent developments from  historical, industrial, political, economic, cultural, and national lenses. Arguably, this phenomenon has occurred before (to name a few,  the ‘70s with Blaxploitation, socially “relevant” TV programming, and  the popular embrace of funk and soul; the late ‘80s and early ‘90s with  Hollywood’s New Black Wave, the flood of Black sitcoms on network  television, and the mainstream success of hip-hop and rap; and the late  ‘90s and early ‘00s with the rise of Latinx stars in pop music,  “multiculti” ensemble casts, and the appearance of LGBTQ characters  in  primetime). This special issue seeks to understand: What is new about  this moment? How can we discuss these developments without losing sight  of the economic motives of conglomerates? How can we define and discuss  this current wave of diversity, inclusivity, and progressive action in  the industries? And to what extent are these industry strategies of  diversity and inclusivity sustainable?

Possible topics include, but are  by no means limited to: 

• LGBTQ identities in contemporary fiction and non-fiction media 
• Effects of trailblazing texts and figures on the media industry 
• Discourses of authenticity, sincerity, progress, and pandering 
• Late-night television, political comedy, and the Trump administration 
• Cultural and political responses to casting and production  announcements 
• Genre-specific examinations of identity and representation 
• Comparative analyses of historical precedents and contemporary  resurgences 
• Conglomeration, technology, and regulation as pressure points for  diversity and inclusivity, particularly in corporate diversity  initiatives and campaigns 
• Global perspectives of identity and representation 

To be considered for this timely issue, please submit a completed short  essay of 1200-1500 words, along with at least three images (.png),  video, and/or new media files (GIFs, etc.), and a short bio, to Rusty  Hatchell and Selena Dickey at flowjournaleditors@gmail.com  by Monday, August 26th, 2019. The Special 

Issue will be published at flowjournal.org  on Monday, September 16th, 2019.