Thinking about the special issue as a scholarly format

As demonstrated, the Special Issue is an important aspect of knowledge exchange and mobilisation. Looking back across the Visual Studies Archive, the variety and scope of the topics at hand, the methods in use and the polyvocal range of ideas often belie their sometimes-modest title. Special Issues are opportunities for scholarly networking that may lead to more impactful work in the future as well as a neat and timely resource for students and researchers alike. They provide opportunity to bring people, professions, locations and institutions together that otherwise might never meet. In doing so, Special Issues are fertile grounds for collaboration and new knowledge as collections.