Many fictional works tackle ethical challenges regarding human relationships with emergent technologies. Specifically, fiction presents issues about generation (invention and use of technologies), regeneration (cloning, simulated people and realities), and degeneration (collapsing of virtual worlds, discarding of clones and simulations). Novels such as Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (2005) and Huxley’s Brave New World (1932); short stories such as Bradbury’s “The Pedestrian” (1951) and Howard Fast’s “The Cold, Cold Box” (1959); films such as Don’t Worry, Darling (2022) and The Matrix franchise (1999-2021); and the series Black Mirror (2011-2025) are examples of works that invite conversations regarding the ethics that meet at the junction of humanity and virtuality.

This panel invites papers that explore the generation, regeneration, and/or degeneration of humanity via current or near-future technologies in fiction and film. Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

-The question of sentience in simulated individuals

-Depersonalization, emotional disconnection, and isolation

-Discarding/destroying/abandoning simulated individuals

-Reproduction of humans in terms of cloning or consciousness

-The erosion of privacy and the blurring of private and public arenas

-The blurring of reality and simulation

NeMLA"s 57th Annual Convention takes place March 5-8, 2026, in Pittsburgh, PA. Paper proposals are accepted through September 30, 2025. Abstracts are 200-300 words in length, and titles should not exceed 100 characters. Please submit your abstract at the session’s portal: https://cfplist.com/nemla/Home/S/21661

Modality: This session is in-person only.

For more information on the conference and to view NeMLA’s guidelines for abstracts, visit https://www.buffalo.edu/nemla/convention.html

Questions regarding the panel may be addressed to Lori Newcomb, LoNewco1@wsc.edu