A Panel Discussion on Transnational Stardom

Abstract

No collection of essays can adequately address the multiplicity of ideas and avenues of inquiry associated with a particular topic. And while we feel that the chapters in this volume offer a wide-ranging set of case studies of the transnational circulation of stars and celebrities, such research cannot entirely convey the rich and nuanced issues that scholars today are grappling with in their understandings of transnational stardom. In order to offer a glimpse into some of these issues and debates, we have assembled a small panel of scholars who work on stardom and transnational cinema, and organized a live, online discussion of the topic. Moderated by Raphael Raphael, the panel includes Mary Beltran, Corey Creekmur, and Sangita Gopal, who are introduced more thoroughly at the start of the discussion. While by no means a comprehensive overview of all the relevant debates within a critical understanding of transnational stardom, the discussion helps illustrate some of the key concerns of scholars in the field and suggests important areas of future research. The transcript that follows has been edited in minor ways to ensure clarity while maintaining the flow of the original live discussion.