Submission Information

ASSEMBLAGE is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to scholarly video essays as a form of academic research and critical inquiry. The journal recognizes audiovisual media not merely as illustration, but as a primary mode of argumentation and knowledge production. 

The journal publishes work that advances research through the integration of image, sound, and editing as analytical tools, particularly in fields such as film and media studies, visual culture, digital humanities, and related disciplines. 

A scholarly video essay is understood as:  

  • A research-driven audiovisual work presenting a clear argument, question, or intervention 

  • A form in which editing, juxtaposition, rhythm, and sound contribute directly to meaning 

  • A work grounded in existing scholarship, theory, or critical discourse 

The journal supports experimentation in audiovisual research methods, while maintaining standards of scholarly rigor. We encourage submissions that explore new forms of argumentation, narration, and critical practice.  In this vein, ASSEMBLAGE also publishes video essays that are explicitly artistic in their subject matter and execution.  

ASSEMBLAGE welcomes contributions in English and French languages and in the languages of First Nations and diasporic communities.   

Submission Requirements

Authors will submit both a video essay and a creator’s statement on the online submission portal. 

Technical specifications for the video: 

  • Length: typically 5 – 20 minutes  

  • Format: .mp4  

  • Resolution: minimum 1080p 

  • Clear, balanced audio 

  • Additional Files: transcript in language of origin and thumbnail image (.jpeg) 

Each submission must include a list of 3 – 7 keywords, an abstract (50 –100 words), and a creator statement (500–1000 words) that: 

  • Articulates the research question and methodology 

  • Situates the work within relevant scholarship 

  • Reflects on the relationship between form and argument 

  • Includes a bibliography  

All sources—both academic and audiovisual—must be properly acknowledged. 

Scholarly video essays must demonstrate transparent and rigorous citation, which may include: 

  • On-screen text citations 

  • End credits or annotated references 

  • Citations in the written component 

Use of copyrighted materials must comply with fair dealing or licensed permissions.