Essays
The essays in Aperture explore how all forms of media (television programs, radio, podcasts, video games, cinema, digital and internet media, etc.) are understood, and what they reveal about human life and expression. Essay submissions should offer novel perspectives informed by various academic fields. Potential paper types may include, but are not limited to:
- Critical analysis of media works from philosophical, psychological, anthropological, and sociological perspectives
- Historical commentary on media works supported by primary or secondary research
- Theoretical formulation about the creation and reception of media and its desired outcomes
- Submissions should be between 1500 and 5000 words, formatted in MLA documentation style. A 75-word abstract should precede the essay in the same document. Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of the online format of the journal and include images or videos in the essay.* Any incorporated media should be included in the document, not attached separately.
Screenplays
Aperture welcomes screenplays with strong original voices and compelling stories or concepts and strives to provide a space for screenwriters to exhibit pieces that have not yet been produced. Screenplays must be the original work of the applicants. If it based on another’s life story or is an adaptation of another work, applicants must attach a statement attesting to their rights to make such adaptations. Neither the publication nor its jurists investigate or attest to the authenticity of an applicant’s statement of authorship or rights. Submissions may be any number of pages and should be formatted according to current industry standards, barring the inclusion of name and personal information (to avoid jurist bias). Applicants should include a 50-word synopsis of the screenplay in the screenplay PDF. Writers may also submit an optional 300-word statement to accompany the script explaining the significance of his or her creative choices.
New Media
The New Media section of Aperture provides a venue for media in modes unsuited for Final Cut Film Festival, especially where the content’s significance comes from a written supplement by the artist. This includes video art, podcasts or other audio-based projects, experimental and avant-garde films, film essays, and experimental web-based projects. Aperture also provides an outlet for re-appropriation of existing media in ways that give rise to unique and interesting ideas in combination with the artist’s response.* Audio and film-based projects should be no longer than 6 minutes. In line with the stated mission of Aperture, the focus of the New Media section is scholarship. A 250 to 500-word statement from the artist or curator should accompany each submission. The statement should contextualize the media and provide new and interesting insights on the topic. The project should be posted to an anonymous video channel (such as Vimeo or YouTube). The statement and a link to the project should be sent together in a word document.
Submission Process
Submissions are accepted from both undergraduate and graduate students from all departments and may include projects created for classes. Essays and screenplays should be submitted individually with the documents in PDF format. The first page of the file must bear only the paper’s title, and the name of the writer should not appear anywhere in the file, as to avoid jurist bias. Applicants may also choose to submit an optional headshot (or multiple if there are multiple applicants). Headshots should be square, in JPEG format and no larger than 200×200 pixels.
ONE accompanying image should be included with each submission for display use on the blog.
Media should conform to the Media Arts Department’s selection, viewing, and creation policy. Up to two individual submissions per student will be considered for publication, but this limit may be exceeded by one submission in cases of collaboration. Please direct questions to the Head Editor at aperturebyu@gmail.com.
- The author is responsible for obtaining permission to use copyrighted material, either by permission of the original creators or under the auspices of Fair Use.