The Journal of Beatles Studies

Issue One CALL OUT

Navigating and Narrating the Beatles: A Research Agenda for the 21st Century

The prodigious interest in the Beatles and continued industry devoted to the group is exemplified by the forthcoming release of Peter Jackson’s Get Back, a revision of 1970’s Let It Be. To be screened by Disney in late 2021, the size and scope of the project is signalled by an emphasis on Jackson’s three years of labour and access to 60 hours of archive footage not seen for half a century. The perceived public appetite is measured in the results of this work which reworks Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s lean 80 minutes into six hours of documentary to be revealed over three days in a global televisual event.

Jackson asserts how this is not a nostalgic exercise, but a new contribution to a necessary understanding of the band: ‘it’s raw, honest, and human. Over six hours, you’ll get to know The Beatles with an intimacy that you never thought possible.’ Alongside such officially sanctioned exercises, a myriad of other activities that express similar objectives and a fascination with every aspect of the group continue to emerge. These include films like Meeting the Beatles in India (2020, Dir. Paul Saltzman); The Beatles in India, (2021, Dir. Ajoy Bose and Pete Compton), exhibitions and heritage events, podcasts, musical performances, memoirs and popular studies and creative speculations (Daniel Rachel’s Like Some Forgotten Dream: What if the Beatles hadn't split up? (2021); Yesterday, (2019, Dir. Danny Boyle). Likewise, a breadth of scholarly research is devoted to the group and its myriad meanings, spanning disciplines and contributing to an ever-expanding field of activity.

The Journal of Beatles Studies aims to bring together research and conceptions of the group, to place into dialogue scholars across fields in the arts, humanities, social sciences and beyond, including popular music studies, sociology, cultural history, musicology, heritage studies and museology, archive studies and cultural policy.

This inaugural issue underlines the intention of the journal to navigate the historical and contemporary attention to the Beatles. It seeks to assess the variety of ways in which the meanings of the group are investigated and narrated, of the scholarly frameworks brought to bear on the band and the purposes to which they have been enlisted.

We invite original contributions of 6-8,000 words that set out empirically informed ideas for a future-facing agenda for the study of the Beatles, identifying existing paradigms and suggesting new directions, agendas and methodologies for research.

Proposals for papers are invited that concern (but are not limited to):

Abstracts of 500 words inclusive of an indicative bibliography and short biography should be submitted to the editors by SEPTEMBER 30 2021 via Holly Tessler and Paul Long.

Notification of invitation to authors to submit to the inaugural edition will be sent by OCTOBER 31 2021
Deadline for submission of papers: February 2022
Notification of revisions: April 2022
Deadline for completion of revisions: June 2022
Publication: SEPTEMBER 2022

Co-Editors

Holly Tessler, University of Liverpool
Paul Long, Monash University

Editorial Board

Christine Feldman-Barrett, Griffith University
Richard Mills, St. Mary's University

The Journal of Beatles Studies publishes peer-reviewed articles drawn from leading interdisciplinary and international research on the subject of The Beatles encompassing criticism, historical and textual scholarship, legacy and influence.

The journal aims to bridge the gap between the study of The Beatles across disciplines such as musicology, cultural studies, history, sociology, music and creative industries, and fan studies, providing a focal point outlet for research undertaken to the very highest standards from around the world. Without privileging any particular critical approaches, methodologies, or theories, the journal welcomes all contributions that throw light upon The Beatles, their works, world, in their time and through to the present day.

In addition to publishing articles of original scholarship, the journal also offers an extensive range of performance and exhibition reviews covering productions from around the globe, reviews of recent books, blogs, podcasts as well as a dedicated section for critical debates and state-of-the-field surveys.

Each volume also contains special issues compiled by guest editors drawing together scholarship on a particular theme or topic. Proposals for such special issues are welcomed, and should be emailed to the permanent editors.

Sections

Editors’ notes
Research articles
Special editions
Reviews - inclusive of scholarly books, trade publications, documentaries, podcasts, cultural events, exhibitions and festivals.

Special section - ‘Across the Universe’

ATU invites a range of creative perspectives on the study of The Beatles from a variety of constituencies in and out of academia. This section invites creative contributions, critiques of the band and the scholarly approach, reflections on memory and The Beatles, imaginative speculations on worlds without The Beatles, commentary on contemporary releases/events/news, etc.

To submit a paper please contact the Co-Editors:
Holly Tessler, University of Liverpool and Paul Long, Monash University

Please click here for the journal's style guide.

Articles will be made open access immediately upon publication, whereby an author publication fee (APC) is charged after acceptance. The publication fee is £500/$750 for each published article.

Institutions are able to become JBS ‘members’ for £2000/$3000. A membership entitles scholars at a member institution to publish five articles in the journal (equivalent to a saving of £500/$750) without time limit, provided those articles pass rigorous peer review. VAT will be added where applicable.

To express an interest in becoming a JBS member, please email Clare Hooper.

Co-Editors

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