An interdisciplinary one-day conference, Engaging Media Cultures: Films and beyond, has issued a call for papers to scholars and practitioners in the areas of film and media studies. Specific questions the conference is looking to explore include:

1) How are media cultures engaging film?
2) How do media culture scholars trace/engage with these activities?
3) How do media and culture researchers and producers engage in media cultures?

Abstracts of 200-205 words are due to j.scott[at]leedstrinity.ac.uk by 30 March 2013. Paper presentations should be 20 minutes in length. Accepted presenters will by notified by 19 April.

"The academic programme at Loncon 3, the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention, is offering the opportunity for academics from across the globe to share their ideas with their peers and convention attendees. To reflect the history and population of London, the host city, the theme of the academic programme is ‘Diversity’. We will be exploring science fiction, fantasy, horror, and all forms of speculative fiction, whether in novels, comics, television, and movies or in fanworks, art, radio plays, games, advertising, and music."

Submissions are due 1 October 2013 with notification by 31 December 2013. A 300 word abstract should be sent to emma.england[at]loncon3.org.

The University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield, England, will be hosting Doctor Who: Walking in Eternity, an academic conference celebrating the 50th anniversary of global phenomenon from 3-5 September 2013. The interdisciplinary conference, a joint venture between the university's School of Creative Arts and School of Humanities, will bring together scholars and creative professionals to "explore Doctor Who's universal and timeless appeal." Professional and student registration rates are available.

M/C Journal (formerly "M/C - A Journal of Media and Culture") is soliciting papers for an upcoming issue focused on 'remix', a topic that intersects with many fannish practices. From the official call:

"This issue of M/C Journal addresses the range of cultural practices characterised by remix, and the social, cultural, aesthetic, and legal contexts in which they operate. Areas for consideration include, but are not limited to:

• Interrogating the boundaries of remix: when did remix 'start'? What of homage, pastiche, and the cover version? How are the boundaries between reference and appropriation established, and to what ends?
• Architectures and infrastructures of remix production and distribution: cracked software, Youtube, SoundCloud, peer-to-peer
• The norms, aesthetics and interactions of remix communities of practice
• Formats, code, and the role of the medium in remix
• Fan vidding, trailer mashups, anime music videos, and machinima
• Fanfiction, slash and textual innovation
• Music sampling, DJ and producer cultures and aesthetics
• Retro, revival, nostalgia, and the affect of remix
• Remix playbour in the social factory
• Originality, plagiarism, derivative work and the ethics of appropriation
• Copyright strike, corporate power, and the legal contexts of remix
• Fair use, open content licensing and other intellectual property doctrines
• Brandalism, copytheft, and cultural activism

Prospective contributors should email an abstract of 100-250 words and a brief biography to the issue editors. Abstracts should include the article title and should describe your research question, approach, and argument. Biographies should be about three sentences (maximum 75 words) and should include your institutional affiliation and research interests. Articles should be 3000 words (plus bibliography). All articles will be refereed and must adhere to MLA style (6th edition).

Details
Abstract deadline: 1 March 2013
Article deadline: 21 June 2013
Release date: 21 Aug. 2013
Editors: Andrew Whelan and Katharina Freund
Please submit articles through this Website. Send any enquiries to remix [at] journal.media-culture.org.au."