Call for Papers: Celebrating 40 Years of Desperately Seeking Susan
The ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is pleased to announce an international conference commemorating the 40th anniversary of Desperately Seeking Susan, the iconic film directed by Susan Seidelman that redefined female friendship on screen.
This event will take place on Thursday, April 10 , and Friday, April 11 2025, at the University’s Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea. It will bring together scholars, creatives, and fans to explore the film’s cultural legacy and the often-overlooked portrayal of female camaraderie in visual media.
In cinema, stories of male friendship often steal the spotlight, glorified through emotionally charged or adventurous narratives. Yet, the same attention has rarely been given to female friendships, which are equally dynamic and deeply transformative. Desperately Seeking Susan broke that mould, presenting a joyous and layered depiction of women forging connections, reclaiming agency, and challenging societal expectations.
ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø lecturer and conference organiser Rebecca Ellis said:
“We are proud to be hosting this conference to celebrate female friendship in film – a rarely explored topic within academia. We are excited to (virtually) welcome director Susan Seidelman (Desperately Seeking Susan, Sex & The City) to introduce new insights into the film as it celebrates it’s 40th anniversary.
“We’re thrilled to honour this ground-breaking film and welcome contributions from voices around the worldâ€
Scholars, researchers, and practitioners are invited to submit abstracts of no more than 250 words, accompanied by a short biography of up to 150 words. Submissions should explore topics such as:
- Representations of female friendships in film and television, past and present.
- Underappreciated works by female directors.
- Case studies of Desperately Seeking Susan and similar female-driven narratives.
- Analyses of Madonna’s performance, star persona, and the film’s soundtrack.
Abstracts must be submitted by Friday, 17 January 2025. Notifications of acceptance will be issued by Wednesday, 20 February 2025, and final presentations are due by Tuesday, 1 April 2025. All submissions should be directed to Rebecca Ellis at r.ellis@uwtsd.ac.uk
Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to delve into the ground-breaking cultural contributions of Desperately Seeking Susan and celebrate the enduring power of female friendship in storytelling.
For further details, please contact Rebecca Ellis at r.ellis@uwtsd.ac.uk
Further Information
Lowri Thomas
Principal Communications and PR Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: lowri.thomas@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07449 998476