SOJC to host conference on “Cross-Border Cultural Production” in April 2006

Scholars, students, industry, labor and government representatives will meet on the UO campus to explore the economic, political and cultural implications of cross-border cultural production as the SOJC joins forces with other UO and community organizations to host “Cross Border Cutural Production:  Economic Runaway or Globalization” in April 2006.  The conference will focus on the decentralization of television and film production as many producers eschew Hollywood in favor of Canada and other U.S. locations.

Janet Wasko, the SOJC’s Knight Chair in Communication Research, is coordinating the conference, which will be funded by a grant from the Canadian Embassy, along with representatives from the UO’s Canadian Studies Consortium, the Department of English, the Labor Education Research Center, the Film and Media Group, and the Mid-Oregon  Production Arts Network (MOPAN).

“The issue of cross-border cultural production—what Hollywood calls “runaway production”—is an interesting issue that attracts a lot of attention and conflict,”  Wasko says.  “We hope to provide a forum for many different perspectives.”

Wasko says in her view the issue is not only one of “runaway production” but of larger issues such as cultural representation and globalization. 

A call for papers has been issued; anyone interested in attending or participating in the conference should contact Wasko, jwasko@uoregon.edu or (541) 346-4174 for more information.