In 2020, the Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled for the first time in its 65-year history in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Its return in 2021 is hotly anticipated by fans around the world, but with travel restrictions and social distancing in place, the planned event is already looking vastly different to any that preceded it.
On the eve of Eurovision 2021, we ask how will the experience of 2020 change Eurovision? This anticipated event brings together scholars and fans from around the world to share their experiences of the Eurovision Song Contest, their views on how it might now operate in a post-COVID world — and their predictions for the 2021 event.
To receive the Webinar link and password please register.
Date: Friday 14 May 2021
Time: 4-7pm
Venue: Zoom Webinar (please register to recieve the Webinar link and password).
Respondent
Dr Jess Carniel is Senior Lecturer in Humanities in the School of Humanities and Communication at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ). The author of Understanding the Eurovision Song Contest in Multicultural Australia: We Got Love and co-editor of Eurovision & Australia: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Down Under, Jess is a passionate advocate for bangers over ballads.
Speakers
Dale Roberts and Mike Jones, Aussievision
Dr Catherine Baker, University of Hull
Professor Anika Gauja, University of Sydney
Dr Jamie Halliwell, Manchester Metropolitan University
Associate Professor Julie Kalman, Monash University
Dr Zoë Jay, University of Helsinki
Dr Paul Jordan, Dr Eurovision
Associate Professor Celia Lam, University of Nottingham Ningbo, China
Professor Alison Lewis, University of Melbourne
Dr Nina Marković Khaze, Macquarie University
Danie Tregonning, Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l'Eurovision (OGAE) Australia
Alan Tubery, Eurovision DJ Alan T
Dr Dean Vuletic, University of Vienna
Chair
Dr Chris Hay is Senior Lecturer in Theatre History and ARC DECRA Fellow in the School of Communication and Arts at the University of Queensland. The co-editor of Eurovision & Australia: Interdisciplinary Perspectives from Down Under, Chris is an Australian theatre and cultural historian whose Eurovision fandom was forged in the passionate embrace of Cezar Oatu and Petra Mede.