CfP: Breaking and the Olympics (Special Issue of Global Hip Hop Studies)

Breaking and the Olympics (Global Hip Hop Studies)

Deadline: 31.05.2021

The recent announcement of breaking in the 2024 Paris Olympics has stirred a substantial response from within and outside of hip hop culture. This special issue of Global Hip Hop Studies (GHHS) is positioned to not only explore contemporary debates about breaking in the Olympics, but also to develop critical discourse that can offer insight to practitioners, cultural organizations and the IOC. We are especially interested in research projects that engage in local, regional and national perspectives and can provide useful resources transnationally for those involved in this milestone cultural moment. To this end, the issue will be published a year in advance of the 2024 Olympics in 2023.

Breaking’s introduction into the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic games roused similar debate within breaking communities across the globe, prompting concerns regarding the dance’s misrepresentation and possible exploitation. New tensions between breaking veterans, activists, the general public and corporate interests have emerged already in the lead up to 2024. Despite this, many veterans and community leaders who are responsible for breaking’s introduction into the Olympics also believe the dance has much to gain from its formal elevation and subsequent mainstream rediscovery. This Special Issue will critically assess the potential benefits and dangers for breaking communities worldwide and shed light on the various competing interests vying to authenticate and/or leverage breaking’s new global attention. This is also a good moment to reflect back on the relationship between breaking and the Olympics, starting with the 1984 breaking performances at the closing ceremony in Los Angeles, and the rise of international competitions with events such as Redbull BC One, Battle of The Year, R16, World Bboy Series, Notorious IBE, Silverback Open Championships, Freestyle Session and Outbreak Europe.

Submissions

To be considered for this Special Issue, please submit the following via this Google Form by 31 May 2021:

an abstract of 150–250 words (plus references, if necessary);
author name(s);
institutional affiliation(s);
contact details;
and a brief bio of no more than 150 words (which includes the author’s positionalities in relation to their topic).

Guest Editors
Mary Fogarty, York University, Canada
Jason Ng, University College Cork, Ireland

Email: breakingintheolympics @ gmail.com