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Mormon Media Studies Symposium 2012

"Mormon Moment(s) and the Media"

Sponsored by BYU Department of Communications
Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA

November 8-9, 2012
Brigham Young University Conference Center
770 East University Parkway, Provo, Utah, USA

About the Symposium

The bi-annual Mormon Media Studies Symposium (MMSS), sponsored by the Department of Communications, Brigham Young University, is dedicated to encouraging scholarship in the field of Mormon Media Studies.

The Symposium provides a forum for rigorous, interdisciplinary academic study and discussion of all aspects of Mormons and the media, and fosters the development of a global community of scholars and practitioners around this issue. (See Symposium Vision Statement) The first-ever MMSS, held in 2010, was a great success (see 2010 Mormon Media Studies Symposium ), and we look forward to another interesting and informative conference in November 2012.

The Symposium will feature two full days of presentations and discussions including keynote and plenary speakers, academic paper presentations, panel discussions, film screenings; and more.

You’re Invited!

The Symposium is open to anyone who might want to attend. There is no charge, and preregistration is not required.*

2012 Conference Theme

Newsweek's June 2011 cover story was entitled "THE MORMON MOMENT." Recent media focus on Mormons and Mormonism has been intense. But there also have been many Mormon moments in the past. The Mormon Media Studies Symposium 2012 will focus on the interdisciplinary academic study of all aspects of Mormons and the media, in the present as well as the past. (The term "media" is used broadly to refer to books, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, electronic communications, film, etc.)

Highlights

• The Symposium will feature two full days of presentations and discussions by expert scholars and practitioners on key issues relating to Mormons and the media, especially in this "Mormon Moment" (see Schedule and Presenters ).
• Keynote speech by Dr. David Campbell (Notre Dame) on "The Mormon Dilemma: The Pros and Cons of Being a Peculiar People" (see Keynote Speaker tab).
• Roundtable discussion on "Religion in the 2012 Election" sponsored by The BYU Charles Redd Center for Western Studies. Participants will include Dr. David Campbell and other noted scholars
• Presentations and panel discussions on the "I'm a Mormon" advertising campaign, and The Book of Mormon the musical
• Media coverage of religion, Mormonism, and Romney during the 2012 campaign
• Free speech issues in the Book of Mormon; free speech and agency considerations among media practitioners
• Mormon uses of media in the past
• LDS Church websites; Mormon blogging and Internet use
• Media use in LDS families; Mormonism and media literacy; LDS anti-porn messages
• LDS Church PR in international contexts
• The use of crowdsourcing to index Mormon literature and creative arts
• LDS musicians, music, radio, and television; depictions of Mormons in film
• LDS–related documentaries and films including: Trapped by the Mormons, the classic 1922 anti-Mormon silent movie, with a new organ score by the renowned Blaine Gale; the history of the Homefront Jr. advertising campaign; Find Refuge in El Paso: The 1912 Mormon Exodus from Mexico; A Reel Legacy: Judge Whitaker & The History of the BYU Motion Picture Studio; and the complete on–line web series Pretty Darn Funny.
• And more...

Questions? Please contact: sherry_baker@byu.edu

*Symposium participants are required to maintain the standards of Brigham Young University while attending the program, including abstinence from tobacco, coffee, tea, alcohol, and harmful drugs while on the campus. The BYU dress and grooming standards require clothing that is modest in fabric, fit, style, and length.