Read more… or Read more right here… »

Here’s some of the questions and topic areas they are planning to cover…

* What is the changing role of celebrity/stardom in the 21st Century and is it similar to/different from earlier periods?
* How important are celebrities to the contemporary global media industries?
* What new academic paradigms are needed to consider the commercial and symbolic significance of celebrities in an era of increasing inter-media connections?
* What can we learn from studying audiences’ relations with celebrities?
* How do celebrities articulate constructions of ethnic/national identity, gender, age, class and sexuality?
* How do celebrities/stars perform and how can we analyse their performances?
* To what extent is the political now mediated through celebrities and celebrity discourse?
* What is the historical importance of celebrity figures, and have they replaced traditional role models?
* How do celebrities function as brands, and how important is celebrity sponsorship of public causes?
* Has celebrity journalism changed contemporary news production?
* What is the contemporary star system in Hollywood?
* How do celebrities control their Intellectual property rights?
* What has been the effect of celebrity biography on publishing?
* How important are celebrities to a sense of national/cultural identity?
* Are there alternative forms of celebrity/fame?

We would particularly welcome themed panels in addition to independent papers. Panel topics might include:

* film stars
* television personalities
* pop stars
* literary biography
* sports heroes
* celebrity journalists and interviewers
* celebrity in the academy / the public intellectual / ‘talking heads’
* star authors
* the political economy of celebrity
* celebrity and intellectual property
* celebrity performance
* digital/cyber-celebrities
* local and global celebrities
* fans and stardom
* celebrity worship
* privacy and intrusion
* ‘ordinary people’ as celebrities
* reality television and the ‘manufactured’ celebrity
* celebrity documentary
* political celebrity
* child stars
* the production of celebrity
* dead celebrities

« Hide it

Read more… or Read more right here… »

“A central aspect of the conflict between the two people arises from the distance and alienation between them. Common sense dictates that the more we know each other the less we will hate, be angry at and fear each other. A large portion of each of the two populations does not know the other side at all, except for what they learn through the local media, which do not always paint a picture truly reflecting the other side. In fact, the media generally emphasize only the negative aspects. Showing the true face of each side will assist in grappling with these obstacles, which have been built up over the years of the conflict, and will assist in opening hearts towards the better days to come.

One of the items most lacking in the Middle East is hope. The loss of hope is also the greatest threat to both peoples. Both populations have undergone periods almost impossible to bear in recent years, and many people have ceased believing that the situation can change. The existence of a sane voice, which invites its listeners to become part of an involved group of citizens who are not willing to forgo a better future, can assist by serving as the ray of light at the end of the tunnel.

Even if today, at the height of the bloody conflict between the two peoples, it seems as if the current reality will never change, we must not forget the possibility of another alternative – a more optimistic one, which sees the possibility of an end to the conflict. Therefore, it would be most proper to prepare both peoples for the morning after the conflict. After all, genuine peace will be achieved and based on a strong bond between both peoples and not their leaders – and this bond must be established and strengthened already today.”

« Hide it

Read more… or Read more right here… »

There won’t ever be a standardized hourly rate that everyone charges. And there certainly won’t ever be the ideal client/agency situation we all hope for.

What’s more, there are two sides to every coin. Step back for a minute then, and examine the second side of the coin: Pricing decisions faced by the client. Take a look at this example: University of Hawaii logo critique at HOW Forums. The short and the long of it? The university paid $82,000 for logo redesign, and the islanders despised the work the mainland agency produced (among other things). Frankly, after seeing the logos, I don’t blame them.

Contrast that with CD design from Disc Makers. The exact opposite of the premium pricing charged by the unnamed agency above, one might argue that Disc Makers’ “low-ball pricing” scars the industry. But is it really low-ball? After trolling through their portfolio you might be inclined to instead call it a darn good deal.

Let’s face it, crew — the design industry isn’t perfect. There is no flawless pricing model. And perhaps there shouldn’t be. Examine the car repair industry, for instance. I pay $82/hour when I take my ’95 Land Rover Discovery in for service. Yet when I take my ’88 Jeep Cherokee in for service, I pay $40/hour. A 205% markup in pricing for essentially the “same” service? What gives? Why not pay just one labor rate for both? Perhaps I should take both to the same shop. Why don’t I? Good question.

But wait, $70/hour for graphic design by Jill Y? And only $20/hour for the “same”design by Joe X? What gives? Why not the same rate? And why go for $70/hour when I can get $20/hour?

Seems there’s an interesting dichotomy at hand. But honestly, I welcome the dichotomy. If a client’s top priority is price, I have no qualms about referring them to LogoWorks.com (I’ve done so before) or StockLayouts.com. If that’s all they think their budget can afford, I waste little time convincing them otherwise. However, if price is only one of several priorities on the list, I’m all ears.

So at the end of the day, you charge what you need to charge. I’ll charge what I need to charge. Let others charge what they need to charge. And allow the market to weed out those who fail to differentiate their services and justify their pricing.

« Hide it