Call for Papers. Exploring the Diversity of Representations of Islam in Film and TV Series

JRFM 2025, 11/2 (November 2025); Deadline submissions: 15 February 2025

Exploring the Diversity of Representations of Islam in Film and TV Series

This issue of JRFM examines the diversity of media representations of the rich and varied world of Islamic traditions and practices. We recognize that Islam and film interact on many levels, in particular as this medium provides a space for exploring contentious themes, for challenging stereotypes, and for experimenting with imagination. A fresh and unjudgmental approach to this topic is all the more necessary because of the one-sided depiction of Islam and Muslims evident in many film productions – we think here in particular of the stereotypical portrayal of Muslims in relation to national or international security and even terrorism following the events of 9/11. This one-sided representation has had a profoundly negative impact on the perception of Islamic traditions and practices in the West. This issue of JRFM will counter this propensity by specifically exploring the breadth and depth of the relationship between varied practices and traditions of Islam and audiovisual media, particularly films and TV series.

Contributions might include, but are not limited to, topics such as:

- the representation of the diverse and multifaceted traditions and practices of Islam in films and TV series;

- how religious patterns associated with Islamic traditions determine film characters and plots;

- how critical debates on Islam shape and are shaped by media production;

- the tension between modernity and tradition, particularly in filmic representations of migration, gender relations, expectations for women, and intergenerational interactions;

- the analysis of elements of Islamic traditions that so far have found little attention in media representations, such as Sufi mysticism or minority traditions.

We invite contributions from scholars from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, including – but not limited to – religious studies, Islamic studies, diverse theologies, media studies, sociology, digital anthropology, film studies and cultural studies.

The issue also includes an open section for articles on other topics related to the profile of the JRFM. The deadline for all submissions is 15 February 2025. Contributions should be between 5,000 and 6,000 words (including notes and references) in length. They are to be submitted for double-blind peer-review through the journal homepage, www.jrfm.eu. We ask authors to register and follow the instructions for submitting contributions, including taking note of the style guide (https://jrfm.eu/index.php/ojs_jrfm/style). Publication of this issue is scheduled for 15 November 2025. For any questions about the issue or possible contributions, please contact the issue editors: Prof. DDr. Franz Winter (franz.winter@uni-graz.at) and Prof. Dr. Martina Bär (martina.baer@uni-graz.at).