The University of Arizona presents: POINT BLANK: TOUGH GUY FILM & CULTURE a national conference May 18-20 The University of Arizona Tucson, AZ http://conferences.arizona.edu/PointBlank The "tough guy" persona in film is one that has crossed genre and generation, leaving a heretofore underappreciated trail of characters, personalities, and films in its wake. Edward G. Robinson's middle-class patriarch, the bulldog attack of Lee Marvin, Ida Lupino's street-smart slap, the hang-dog down and out determination of Warren Oates ... what role will these characters serve as the history of film plays out? The University of Arizona Extended University and The University of Arizona Department of Media Arts present Point Blank: Tough Guy Film & Culture, a national film conference for academics and the general public, May 18-20, 2000 in Tucson, Arizona. The focus of the conference will be films dealing in such "tough guy" imagery, examining themes of violence, masculinity, and class in cinema. Areas of interest include the tough guy role in genre-filmmaking, the B-film, relationships between hard-boiled fiction and "tough guy" film, gender and sexuality, the tough guy's influence in foreign popular culture, an appreciation of the role of the character actor in "tough guy" cinema, and more. The conference will feature a dynamic blend of academic discourse and unabashed cinephilia, scholarly discussions and screenings, bringing together some of the creators of the genre with the scholars and public who appreciate them. Themes and topics for exploration will include but are by no means limited to: The Role of the Character Actor Tough Women in a Tough World Masculinity in Gay Cinema Japanese Cowboys and French Gangsters: Foreign Interpretations of the Tough Guy Issues of Race in Tough Guy Film The Tough Guy in Literature and Pulp Fiction The Tough Guy in Genre Film CALL FOR PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS! The conference will feature papers, poster sessions, and panel discussions. Abstracts are being accepted, with a target length of 250-500 words and a deadline of December 15, 1999. Remit abstracts to Noah Lopez via e-mail at [log in to unmask], or by fax at 520-621-3269. FOR MORE INFORMATION, INCLUDING SPECIAL GUESTS, PROGRAM COMMITTEE AND SCHEDULE AND PROGRAM UPDATES...PLEASE VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT: http://conferences.arizona.edu/PointBlank ---- Online resources for film/TV studies may be found at ScreenSite http://www.tcf.ua.edu/ScreenSite