Aims and Scope

Journal of Aesthetics & Culture is a peer reviewed Open Acces journal that aims to develop inter-disciplinary theoretical models as applied to human science research on aesthetic questions, understood in their broadest meaning, as a means to transcend traditional subject boundaries and to integrate regional, national, international and global perspectives; and finally, to also bridge the gaps between art and technology, between high brow culture and popular culture, and between aesthetics and politics.

The journal publishes high quality original research articles as well as reviews of current research and editorials that reflect over the state of knowledge within the research field. Contributions covering a wide range of subject areas are welcome, as well as both empirical and theoretical investigations within specific subject areas. Contributions can embark from historical or contemporary perspectives, as well from more overarching research into aesthetics and culture from a philosophical/scientific/theoretical point of departure, or based on the role aesthetic phenomena play within the production of culture at large.

Among the primary subject areas covered by the journal’s overarching aims are: architecture, aesthetics, film science, art theory, cultural theory and cultural studies, litterature studies, music studies, fashion studies and drama. Even subjects such as ethnology, philosophy, gender studies, history of ideas, history, linguistics, media and communication studies, religious studies, social anthropology or sociology may be equally of relevance for publication when they address the essential issues treated in the journal.

Journal of Aesthetics & Culture occasionally publishes thematic clusters. Calls for papers on these themes will be announced on the journal website.

Section Policies

Editorials

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Invited Editorials

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Original Articles

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Book Reviews

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Essays

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Peer Review Process

Papers submitted to Journal of Aesthetics & Culture are subject to rigorous peer review so as to ensure that the research published is 'good science'.

Manuscripts are sent out for review electronically, and all correspondence takes place via e-mail. Although the peer review process is accelerated by the use of electronic communication, traditional, high-quality peer-review standards are applied to all manuscripts submitted to the journal. The fact that Journal of Aesthetics & Culture is an Open Access journal does not mean that the papers published therein have not undergone peer review.

Papers are sent to at least two independent referees. Journal of Aesthetics & Culture has a 'double blind' review process: Authors are not told who reviewed their paper, and reviewers are not told who wrote the paper. Peer reviewers are informed of the identity of the authors immediately after the manuscript is either accepted or rejected. The peer referees’ identity remains unknown to the authors although it is up to the referee if he/she wants to contact the author at a later stage and reveal his/her identity.

Peer reviewers are asked to give their opinion on a number of issues pertinent to the scientific and formal aspects of a paper, and to judge the papers on grounds of originality and urgency. All relevant information will be forwarded to the author(s).

Peer reviewers will have six possible options, for each article:

1. Accept manuscript (i.e. no need for any revision)
2. Accept after revision (i.e. accepted if the author makes the requested revisions)
3. Revise and resubmit (i.e. accepted or rejected after revisions have been made - paper will be sent out for another peer review round)
4. Submit elsewhere (i.e. if the manuscript is better suited for another journal)
5. Reject manuscript (i.e. if the manuscript is substandard)
6. See comments (i.e. if the reviewer cannot choose from any of the above)

In addition, papers may be rejected directly by the Editors if judged to be out of scope or if scientifically or linguistically sub-standard.

When asking for revisions, reviewers have two possible goals: to ask authors to tighten their arguments based on existing data or to identify areas where more data are needed. Even formal revision may be required if the language or style is sub-standard. To facilitate rapid publication, authors are given a maximum of 4 months for revision. After 4 months, revised manuscripts will be considered new submissions.

Publication Frequency

All articles are posted online immediately they are ready for publication. All articles will be assigned a DOI number (Digital Object Identifier) whereby they become searchable and citeable without delay.

Open Access Policy

Journal of Aesthetics & Culture is published under the Open Access model and is therefore free for anybody to read and download, and to copy and disseminate for educational purposes. Articles will be published immediately after the final corrections of the master proof have been made. When posted online, articles will be assigned a DOI number (Digital Object Identifier) whereby it becomes possible to search and cite them without delay.

The Open Access model used for Journal of Aesthetics & Culture implies that production costs are partly covered by publication fees normally paid for by the author’s institution or funding agency. The total sum will be charged to the author(s) upon acceptance of his/her article. Author from institutions which have difficulty in paying may be eligible for a full or partial waiver of the publication fee. The Publisher would be happy to provide more information or discuss individual cases. The ability of authors to pay remains unknown to the Editors prior to possible acceptance.

Journal of Aesthetics & Culture is accessible via the journal’s website at http://www.aestheticsandculture.net as well as via international search engines such as Google Scholar.

Under the Open Access model authors retain copyright. See copyright section.

Archiving

This journal utilizes the LOCKSS system to create a distributed archiving system among participating libraries and permits those libraries to create permanent archives of the journal for purposes of preservation and restoration.

In addition, all files will be archived with CLOCKSS and Portico.

Author Self-Archiving

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post items submitted to this journal on personal or institutional websites, prior to and after publication (while providing the bibliographic details of that publication)

Publication fee

For 2011 and 2012, publishing in the journal is free thanks to a generous grant from the Swedish Research Council and Department of Cinema Studies, Stockholm University. However, if the author's university or institute officially maintains a central fund to cover costs for Open Access Publishing, or the article describes results from research funded by a positive Open Access funder, a publication fee will be charged as follows:

Publication of an Article (up to 8 typeset A4 pages) €1,000, excl. VAT (Europe), $1362 (rest of the world). Articles exceeding 8 typeset pages incur an additional charge of €45/$62 per page.

The publication of a Short Communication (up to 4 typeset A4 pages) incurs a charge of €675, excl. VAT (Europe), $930 (rest of the world). Articles exceeding 4 typeset pages may incur an additional charge of €45/$62 per page.

For a list of universities/institutes and funders supporting Open Access publication, please see here. Additional information on how to claim reimbursement/support for publication fees can be found here.

Indexing

Journal of Aesthetics & Culture is indexed/tracked/covered by the following services: Art & Architecture Complete, Art & Architecture Index, DOAJ, Google Scholar, Intute Creative and Performing Arts, JournalSeek, MLA Directory of Periodicals, MLA International Bibliography, Open J-gate, ProQuest Summon, Scopus, Ulrich's Periodicals Directory.

Material in JAC is also further distributed by EBSCO, one of the worlds largest content aggregators and research database providers.

Commercial Reprints and Advertising

If you wish to purchase reprints or advertise in JAC, you are welcome to contact:

Caroline Sutton, Sales & Marketing Director

Email: caroline.sutton@co-action.net
Tel (SkypeIn): +46 18 495 11 26
Tel (cell): +47 90 69 05 06