TV-Philosophy

This seminar aims to explore TV-series at their intersection with philosophy. As a newer sibling to the sub-discipline of film-philosophy, TV-philosophy neither reduces television series to illustrations of pre-existing ideas, nor does it simply offer a ‘philosophy of’ a given series by exploring it from a range of philosophical angles. It rather sees TV series as capable of expressing thought through their specific forms.
As such, TV-philosophy has recently emerged through the work of Lorenz Engell (Germany), Sandra Laugier (France), Martin Shuster (U.S.), and Ted Nannicelli (Australia), among others. It responds to a form of TV-series ushered in around the turn of the 21st century by such shows as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Sopranos, with important predecessors such as Twin Peaks. This emergence owes its existence to two major developments: the technological developments that have decisively altered the conditions of the medium of television like streaming and online services, and a surge in TV viewership, largest since its peak in the1950s. In this new modality, TV series are treated as complete works in themselves in lieu of a discontinuous episodes.

Given the material and discursive shifts in television over the past decade, we invite papers that explore topics at the intersection of TV series and philosophical thought. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to:

ontological reflections on the medium of (post-)TV
moral ambiguity in contemporary TV-series
the concept of series and the serial form
intricate temporal structures of this serial form
new televisual genres and forms
Political and aesthetic interventions specific to TV series
The evolving nature of TV genres and their fluid boundaries
The treatment of identity, gender, and queerness as metaquestions or conceptual frameworks within TV series

We encourage submissions that examine diverse TV series in active dialogue with philosophy. Papers may also consider the interaction between TV series, film, and other art forms, taking into account audio-visual aesthetics, intricate storytelling techniques, and critical issues of cultural representation. Inquiries into specific genres or particular series are highly welcome.