This panel seeks to bring together contributions which reflect upon transnational entanglements in the entertainment industry. The accelerated development of modern mass culture, and its growing cross-border circulation, made this sector a hotspot of the wave of globalization which characterized the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this time, artists and performers became mobile on a global scale, as transnational and trans-imperial touring circuits were established. New formats and genres of mass culture circulated across borders and were appropriated in different places, a trend that was fueled by increasing transnational capital investments and business cooperation. These shows and offerings included exotic and cosmopolitan themes, providing spectacular images, sounds and tastes of the wider world.
Recent research has increasingly focused on the forms and mechanisms of transnational connections in the business networks, performances and imagery of modern entertainments. However, we are still lacking an overview of the various forms of transnationalization in the sector. With our panel, we intend to reflect on the patterns and logics of cross-border interaction in different branches of the cultural economy.
We are interested in the wider spectrum of commercial entertainments in the public sphere – ranging from theater, dance halls, music or circus performances to exhibitions and amusement parks, but also including spectacles and amusements that were offered in resorts or shopping arcades, on trains and ships, at racing events, tourist attractions and festivals, and in conjunction with gambling and prostitution. These new forms of mass culture were closely connected to various forms of catering. Although food and drink formed an important, if not essential part of going out and consuming modern entertainment, their role has thus so far not been systematically researched. Therefore, we are also interested in papers which address the nexus of food and drink in conjunction with the entertainment business, i. e. early forms of entertained dining, but also catering at international exhibitions, in casinos, music halls etc. Entertainment venues were places of consumption in many respects and we are interested in the ways that viewing, listening, dancing and eating and drinking were linked and experienced together.
Contributions could address the following aspects:
- Transnational networks and connections did not develop evenly across genres, regions and branches of the entertainment industry. What channels, hubs, arenas and hierarchies of cross-border interaction were established?
- How was the entertainment sector affected by historical ruptures and upheavals? How did political conflicts, economic crises, social and cultural change and the emergence, transformation or end of empires or nation states influence the transnational exchanges, cosmopolitan imagery and cross-border business organization of particular branches of the industry?
- Modern mass entertainments were not only cosmopolitan and transnational, but at the same time promoted local branding, nation building and regional differentiation. How did these different orientations interlink or come into conflict?
- Who were the actors supporting, managing or preventing transnational exchanges in the entertainment industry, and what were their motives and strategies?
Please send your proposals (including a short CV, title and abstract of 100-300 words) to Maren Möhring (maren.moehring@uni-leipzig.de) and Antje Dietze (adietze@uni-leipzig.de) by the 10th of June 2016.