Aims and Scope

Popular Entertainment Studies is a peer-reviewed, inter-disciplinary eJournal dedicated to the exploration of all aspects of popular entertainment. Its aim is to stimulate international debate and the exchange of ideas in a field whose meaning and definition remain widely contested. Indeed, the field still retains pejorative connotations that are at odds with its transnational significance. It has suffered from scholarly neglect, possibly because the field's very ephemerality makes documentation and analysis extremely difficult. The journal is set up to address these issues and invites contributions from scholars and practitioners with interests in the history of popular theatre forms, performance studies, the moving image, fine arts, music, health, psychology, economics and cultural studies. It would also welcome an input from performing arts curators and archivists.

The fully peer-reviewed journal is committed to scholarly excellence. The editorial board brings together practitioners and researchers from performance studies, music, creative writing, dance, theatre and cultural history. The contributing editors enrich the scope of the journal and include experts in such areas as music composition, spectatorship and audience reception, folk and community theatre, physical theatre and circus, variety, as well as music and theatre in the 17th and 18th centuries. All submissions that pass editorial screening and are considered for publication will undergo a rigorous peer review process, on an anonymous basis, by two academic readers, where possible with specific expertise in the relevant subject. We will do our best to advise potential contributors of our decision (inclusive of recommendations for alterations if required) within ten weeks of receipt. Submissions should conform to the journal's submission guidelines.

The eJournal format is intended to ensure the widest possible international access and participation and make best possible use of the internet as a global publishing medium. We aim to publish 2 issues a year, but there is scope for special issues that reflect the particular interest of researchers and/or conference proceedings where appropriate.

Popular Entertainment Studies is based at and supported by the School of Drama, Fine Art and Music, University of Newcastle, Australia.