Conference Wrap-up
Well, the last panel has wrapped up, and in alll the Media History conference was a rewarding one. I initially worried that too few of the papers were reflecting methodologically, but as the weekend went on, more and more papers not only reflected on film, television and media history but gave attendees a forum to discuss where they see themselves in the evolving disciplines and changing university environments.
One of the bigger shocks I've had is how identified "media history" at this conference has been with Wisconsin and Texas. Good reasons, for that, of course, but as someone doing history yet not emerging from a media history-oriented graduate program, it felt a bit like crashing someone else's party... fun, but a reminder that there is a subfield separate from film theory for largely institutional/subcultural reasons. That said, I've met a surprising number of kindred spirits, and seen some terrific papers.
One of the bigger shocks I've had is how identified "media history" at this conference has been with Wisconsin and Texas. Good reasons, for that, of course, but as someone doing history yet not emerging from a media history-oriented graduate program, it felt a bit like crashing someone else's party... fun, but a reminder that there is a subfield separate from film theory for largely institutional/subcultural reasons. That said, I've met a surprising number of kindred spirits, and seen some terrific papers.
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