May, 2001

Edited by Dan Pence, Ph.D., Kenny Laundra Ph.D. and Stephen Roberds, Ph.D.
Department of Social Sciences
Southern Utah University

The coeditors and University of Utah Press seek contributors to a new anthology examining the intersection of Mormonism and popular culture. We are currently seeking essays that illustrate, explore, or analyze various ways in which cultural referents related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) or Utah culture in general, are or have been expressed through popular cultural arenas. These essays need to be scholarly, lively, and accessible to a wide readership. This reader is intended for use at the undergraduate level in social science courses involving social problems and popular culture.

Popular culture, as examined here, refers to any contemporary or historic representations of Latter-day Saints or Utah culture or its ideology through organizational activities, events, or media portrayals. We intentionally define popular culture broadly and interdisciplinarily in an effort to be inclusive of a wide variety of cultural expressions. Examples of topics include, but are not limited to, documentaries by or about LDS culture; social norms, events, activities, or representations of LDS culture and ideology; news accounts, songs, or films about Utah culture; or political cartoons, political activities, or public opinion representations related to Mormon culture. Papers submitted are not limited to popular culture within Utah and may include national or international expressions. Personal narratives will also be considered, including first-person accounts, stories in literature, and journalistic investigations of popular culture and Mormonism.

There are four ways that you can contribute to this reader. Any or all of these are welcome!

1. Write an original article: Send a completed draft describing your topic and tentative title, and whether the piece is theoretical, research-oriented, or essay/narrative.
2. Submit a previously published article you have authored: Articles must be submitted by the deadline noted below and must not be restricted by copyright laws.
3. Submit titles (or copies) of articles that you know of or have used in courses that you think would be appropriate for this reader: We hope this reader will meet a range of needs and interests. If you have successfully used articles or have found articles that might be appropriate to this anthology, send them along or let us know the title and source for consideration.
4. Solicit others to contribute: You may know colleagues, students, or others who have written on topics covered in this anthology. Please encourage them to send us their manuscript or proposal for consideration.

Stephen Roberds
Department of Social Sciences
Southern Utah University
Cedar City, UT 84720