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*Apologies for cross-posting*<br>
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M/C Journal Special Issue: 'Marriage'<br>
<p> The question of what 'marriage' is, and what it is capable of
becoming, has increasingly become a hot topic across many
countries. In Australia, a key turning point occurred when the
then Howard goverment amended the Marriage Act to explicitly
restrict marriage to the union of one legally recognised man to
one legally recognised woman (a fact that has significant
implications for those whose natally-assigned identity does not
accord with their actual identity, as well as 'same-sex' couples).
In response to this, and echoing successful (and unsuccessful)
movements in other countries, legislation is now being presented
to both State and Federal Parliaments seeking to allow same-sex
(or 'gay,' in some popular iterations) marriage to be legalised in
Australia. </p>
<p> This restriction on, and petition for access to, marriage in
Australia highlights something of the polarised nature of debates
over marriage in this country. This plays out in many ways across
a range of communities, such as when political parties take
positions on what marriage is or ought to be - and on whether it
is a matter of public morality or individual conscience. In
regards to those excluded from marriage, some lobby governments
for access to marriage, whilst others critique such lobbying for
failing to challenge the privileging of particular kinds of
relationships in regards to, for example, the racialised, classed,
sexed, sexualised and normalising effects of marriage. And of
course some (typically religious) groups lobby governments to
maintain marriage as a heterosexual, reproductive institution, the
alleged cornerstone of a stable society. </p>
<p> At the same time as these polarising debates go on, weddings and
marriages remain sites of intense affective and consumerist
investment. Pop culture continues to return to engagements,
marriages and weddings, often thereby revealing contemporary
anxieties about sex, gender, love, intimacy and relationships. The
wedding industry has taken off, with large sums of money spent in
producing one 'perfect day'. In the cultural imaginary, marriage
remains, at least ideally, a key step in the imagined trajectory
of an individual's life. </p>
<p> This issue of <em>M/C Journal</em> seeks to provide a forum for
accessible but critical discussions of the current imagining of
marriage. Papers might seek to provide an account of the current
'marriage equality' movement in Australia or elsewhere, critical
engagements with such movements, discussion of the interplay
between the institutional and personal investments in concepts of
marriage, discussion of marriage's current form as depicted in
filmic, televisual or other texts, discussion of the continuing
affective investment in marriage, or any other critical reading of
marriage and the debates that surround it in Australia. </p>
<p> 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). </p>
Details<br>
<ul>
<li>Article deadline: 12 Oct. 2012<strong> </strong></li>
<li>Release date: 12 Dec. 2012</li>
<li>Editors: Jess Cadwallader and Damien Riggs</li>
</ul>
<p>Please submit articles through the website: <a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://journal.media-culture.org.au/index.php/mcjournal">http://journal.media-culture.org.au/index.php/mcjournal</a>.
Send any enquiries to <a
href="mailto:marriage@journal.media-culture.org.au">marriage@journal.media-culture.org.au</a>.</p>
Cheers,<br>
<br>
Jess and Damien<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
_________________________
Dr Jessica Robyn Cadwallader
Postdoctoral Researcher
Theory and History of Psychology Research Group
Department of Psychology
Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences
University of Groningen
Grote Kruisstraat 2/1
9712 TS Groningen
Ph: +31 (0)50 363 9605
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.rug.nl/">www.rug.nl/</a>
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