War, Shakespeare, Frankenstein, MasterChef, Royal wedding fashions, Toy Story and James Bond will be discussed at a popular culture conference beginning this week in Auckland.
On Wednesday the Popular Culture Association of Australia and New Zealand (PopCAANZ) is holding its first New Zealand conference in Auckland.
PopCAANZ president Dr Toni Johnson-Woods of The University of Queensland said academics from the United Kingdom, Russia, the United States, Australia and New Zealand would gather to consider a diverse range of topics.
War is a major conference theme this year.
University of Auckland academic Maartje Abbenhuis will examine the Nazi impact upon various popular culture formats, Matthew Allen of the University of Wollongong will consider the Pacific War and its representations at the Australian War Memorial (Canberra) and the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, while Michael Austin (Macquarie University) will discuss Australasian popular fiction in a post-9/11 world.
Internationally acclaimed UK scholar Pamela Church Gibson will examine the media’s intense focus on the dresses of the recent royal wedding, while Anne Cecil (Drexel University USA) will consider the complex relationship between death and fashion.
Other topics include dressmaking at home in the 1950s, fashion and street style blogs, and designing summer clothes for a skin-cancer society.
Film and television academics will examine New Zealand’s Masterchef, Shakespeare in Tibetan film, and The King’s Speech.
Foodies are in for a treat as scholars explore Auckland’s famous White Lady Pie Cart, 1950s Melbourne cafés, Greek cafes, and food writers.
Comics scholars will present papers on Wonder woman’s costume, justice, and manga. Popular music buffs expound upon the latest research of movie soundtracks, surf music, and NZ’s Nature’s Best.
Toys enthusiasts should be pleased to hear papers on the Toy Story franchise, James Bond and boys’ toys, and computer gaming.
The University of Queensland’s Stephen Gil will consider Frankenstein and its cultural legacy.
The highlights of the conference will include a roundtable on science and popular culture “Do these genes make my butt look fat” with scientists including Australian National University’s L M Bailey and QUT’s William B Lott.
Media: For further information please contact Popcaanz president Dr Toni Johnson-Woods (University of Queensland Australia) email t.johnsonwoods@uq.edu.au; mobile mobile 61 + (0) 402422112; Langham Hotel 379 5132.
