Call for Papers: Forms of Suffering: Literary Tragedy in an Age of Political Violence

This panel seeks to explore the evolving nature of literary tragedy in response to the escalating political violence witnessed across the Globe. We invite submissions that examine how contemporary literature deals with these crises and, in turn, how the tragic genre itself is undergoing transformation.

We are looking for papers that delve into various aspects of this intersection, including but not limited to:

• The representation of political violence and its human cost in contemporary tragic narratives.

• New forms or adaptations of the tragic hero/heroine in the face of modern political conflicts.

• The role of tragedy in fostering empathy, understanding, or resistance in volatile political climates.

• How literature from different cultural contexts (specifically the US, Southeast Asia and Middle East, though not exclusively) reflects unique perspectives on suffering and tragedy.

• Theoretical approaches to understanding the redefinition of tragedy in a politically charged world.

Submission Details:

This is a just-in-time session for the 2026 MLA Annual Convention in Toronto. We welcome proposals that respond to current events, recent publications, or new directions in the field of literary tragedy.

Please submit your proposals by September 1st, 2025.

For inquiries, please contact Manzar Feiz at Manzar.Feiz@utdallas.edu