M/C Dialogue is the newest of the M/C publication where researchers interview prominent cultural thinkers about their work. The tone is accessible but intelligent; informal but informed. M/C Dialogue offers an up-to-date summary of the recent work of important thinkers; as well as showing the human side of these public figures.
M/C Dialogue serves a number of important purposes:
- It presents an accessible introduction to the thinking of important figures in the analysis and understanding of culture.
- It shows that ideas are always produced in a social context. The voices of theorists, producers, intellectuals or artists are not abstract and reified. They are embodied and tied up in emotions and interpersonal interactions.
- It provides an invaluable opportunity for young academics to network with senior figures in the field, giving them the perfect excuse to call people up and introduce themselves.
The format of M/C Dialogue
- The criteria for choosing the interviewees is simply that the interviewer judges them to be an important thinker. They might be a theorist, a cultural producer (such as a television producer or an artist) or an intellectual.
- The interviewer will be well-informed about the subject’s ideas and work, and develop questions that will allow them to explore their ideas, and explain their recent thinking and work.
- The interviews can be transcribed, email interviews, or audio or audiovisual pieces. In all cases, they will be presented with a short introductory paragraph giving the context for the interview. Length between 30 minutes to one hour of interviewing, or around 3000-4000 words.
- Submissions are peer-reviewed according to criteria of:
- Is the interview entertaining and challenging?
- Does the human relationship between the interviewer and the interviewee come out in the interview?
- Does the interviewee make interesting points about media and culture?
- Do they provide useful material for debates about media and culture?
- Does the interviewer challenge any tendentious or problematic statements made by the interviewee?
M/C Dialogue Interactive
The dialogue invites further contributions and comments. The interviewer can update the interview at a later date; or readers can post contributions to the discussion that begins with the interview.