The Cinematograph

The Cinematograph is fielding submissions for its second fall edition, 2.1. We invite current undergraduate and graduate students studying film and media studies (major, minor or certificate), or with an interest in the field, to submit their work. We are also accepting works from students that have recently graduated (at least a year prior to the publication date). Any major and year from any state or country is welcome to submit. Special consideration will be given to students from Washington University, Saint Louis University, Webster University, Lindenwood University, University of Missouri – St. Louis, Harris-Stowe State University and other universities in the St. Louis metropolitan region. The journal encourages new and/or relevant insights from emerging film and media scholars in St. Louis and around the world. Essays that expand upon current scholarly discussions, revitalize films or topics previously explored, or seek to explore topics that have been overlooked or simply not evaluated in scholarship are highly encouraged. We invite new interdisciplinary perspectives that may challenge or confront contemporary scholarship or understandings of films, film history, film production, distribution, exhibition, genres, global cinematic trends, representations of race and gender, etc. We also invite reviews on relevant books or films, preferably those that were published within the last two years of the publication date, or are timely thanks to an actor, director, theme, etc. Video essays are welcome! Works will be evaluated based on the interdisciplinary nature of their approach, if they respond to current/relevant scholarship, or provide new and interesting perspectives on relevant works. We are looking for long-form and short essays, interviews, book/film reviews, and video essays. Book/film reviews, interviews and op-eds should be between 1,000-2,000 words (1-3 pages double spaced), short essays should be kept to a minimum of 2,500 words (5-6 pages double spaced), while longer essays should reach between 5,000-10,000 words (10-30 pages double spaced). Video essays should range from 5-20 minutes. Submissions should be written in English, formatted in either MLA or Chicago, double-spaced, and have proper citations and footnotes. Film titles should be italicized, and timestamps given where necessary. Images are permissible, and ought to be captioned, though they should be obtained in a way that ensures proper copyright. If you have questions about the copyright of an image, please contact the Scholarly Communications department at Olin Library. Submissions should be received by Monday, October 2nd, 2024 for consideration in issue 2.1, scheduled for publication in December 2024. Feel free to use the submission tab at the top of the home page of The Cinematograph website to begin. If you are submitting more than one work for consideration, please create one submission form per work. Please do not link more than one submission into a single form. Once submitted, the essay will go through an initial screening before moving into a two-stage peer review process. Authors of accepted works will be expected to work closely with the editorial board to revise their pieces prior to publication, if necessary.

The Cinematograph is also looking for students majoring in film and media studies or a related field to volunteer as editors for the Fall 2024 semester. Students must be upper-level undergraduates (junior year or above), graduate students, or recently-graduated students (at least a year since their graduation date) from Washington University, or any other accredited university in St. Louis. Students interested will have the opportunity to review and edit scholarship from St. Louis’s emerging film scholars, and will play a pivotal role in launching a brand new academic journal. Feedback and cooperation from editors will play a major role in shaping The Cinematograph in the long run. Editorial positions are a semester-long commitment. The experience is designed to be minimally-invasive, no more than 5-10 hours a week maximum so as to not interfere with classes or other responsibilities. The position will run from September 23rd, 2024 to the end of the Fall semester in December. Editors will spend their first week training on the Janeway publication software. The main weeks of review/editing will be between mid-October and early November, between Fall Break and Thanksgiving. From late November to early December we will format the articles and prepare them for online publication for the tentative publication date of December 20th. Editors will also have the option to submit their own essays for consideration. To keep the editing process fair for everyone, double-blind reviews will be conducted for all, meaning no names or markers of affiliation will be present on essays determined eligible for review

If you have any specific questions about the journal, eligibility, or the submission process, please email Clinton Barney (b.clinton@wustl.edu), editor-in-chief.

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