This seminar invites scholars to explore the complex and often contentious representations of addiction in U.S. media through a cultural studies lens, while critically questioning the vocabulary surrounding addiction itself. Our focus will be on how various forms of media—literature, film, music, television series, advertising, journalism, and social media—construct and disseminate discourses about addictive commodities such as tobacco, opioids, and cocaine, and the racialized and gendered identities associated with the label of "the addict." This panel aims to interrogate how these cultural productions reflect and reinforce broader social narratives, particularly within the context of capitalism. What roles do these representations play in shaping public perceptions of addiction and drug use? How do they contribute to the stigmatization of substances and the individuals who use them? And what is the relationship between these portrayals and broader patterns of consumption in capitalist society?

A critical component of this seminar will be an examination of the very language used to describe addiction. How does the terminology—such as "addict," "dependency," or "substance abuse"—shape cultural understandings and perpetuate certain stereotypes? Does the language itself reflect societal biases, and how might shifting this vocabulary open space for more nuanced interpretations?

We will also consider the intersections of race, gender, and class in media portrayals of addiction. How are these intersecting identities implicated in cultural narratives around drug use and dependency? We seek to explore alternative ways of representing addiction that challenge existing stigmas and offer more empathetic, multi-dimensional understandings.

We invite submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following questions:

- How does U.S. media portray the effects and consumption of addictive substances?

- In what ways do these representations stigmatize both the substances and the individuals who use them?

- How do racialized and gendered notions of "the addict" emerge in media narratives, and what are their implications?

- How does the vocabulary of addiction itself contribute to these portrayals, and what might alternative terms or frameworks reveal?

- What is the relationship between media portrayals of addiction and broader capitalist modes of consumption?

- How can alternative forms of representation disrupt or reframe the dominant narratives around addiction?

Submission Guidelines:

Interested participants should submit a 300-word abstract detailing their proposed paper, along with a brief bio, by November 17, 2024. Submissions should be sent to Fernando Esquivel-Suárez at fesquiv@spelman.edu. We welcome contributions from scholars across disciplines, including but not limited to media studies, cultural studies, literature, sociology, and gender studies.