We invite proposals for the second HEL (History of the English Language) and Writing Studies thread at the 13th Studies in the History of the English Language (SHEL) conference at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey, October 17-20, 2024.

The HEL and Writing Studies thread will explore ways in which the study of language change and variation can contribute to rhetoric and writing studies, and vice versa. When proposing, keep in mind that the history of the English language extends from the origins of the language to very recent history, so proposals that engage contemporary language use through a historical lens are welcome. 

The Spanish I (Peninsular Literature before 1700) permanent section of the Midwest Modern Language Association seeks proposals for the upcoming MMLA conference in Chicago (November 14-16, 2024). Proposals on any topic related to Medieval and Early Modern Spanish Literature are welcome. Also, we seek proposals that specifically engage with the MMLA conference theme of “Health in/of the Humanities.” Please submit a 250-word abstract and a brief bio to John Giblin at john.giblin@uky.edu by April 15th, 2024. Papers may be in Spanish or English. 

Dear colleagues,

Please see the below CfP for the edited collection:

Neurodiverse Narratives in the 21st Century

Rachel Milne and Shelby Judge (eds.)

We are requesting papers for an international conference organized by the Laboratorio per lo Studio letterario del fumetto at Ca’ Foscari University and the International Comparative Literature Association Standing Research Committee on Comics Studies & Graphic Narrative.

The conference will be held at Ca' Foscari University, Venice, ITALY, 13-15 November 2024

Gender in Science Fiction Comics and Graphic Novels

Structurally, the book will be divided into themes that correspond to the most relevant aspects of the movie and the flexibility of our contributions. Following a “mixtape” model, this edited collection may present sections on episodes, keywords, geography, and intertextuality. Potential contributors are invited to consider their distinct vantage point on American Fiction  in a granular (episodic) or holistic (style) approach. Our model is supported by other book-length projects on television series highlighting that our interdisciplinary approach is valuable. 

121th PAMLA CONFERENCE (Pacific and Ancient Modern Language Association)

“Translation in Action” https://www.pamla.org/pamla2024/

November 6-10, 2024, Palm Springs, California“Drama and Society Panel” 

"Drama and Society" Panel

The intention of this book is to connect scholars, readers, and fans of FX’s Atlanta from inside and outside of academia. Between 2016 and 2023, Atlanta was a zeitgeist that inspired think pieces and water cooler conversations. As one example of its complexity, Atlanta often features re-imagined but true local news events that were so outrageous that audiences unaware of the original stories assumed they were fiction. We hope our book project bridges the gap between “everybody already knows this” to “why or how do we know this”? Or even more, “why don’t you know this?” There is a cultural knowledge about Atlanta that sings in the FX show – from lemon-pepper-wet wings to the parking madness of Atlantic Station –  that screams IYKYK.

December 2022 marked William Gaddis’s (1922-1998) centenary. Reputed during his lifetime for—in his characters’ words—being “difficult as I can make it,” or writing “for a very small audience,” the years since his death have nonetheless seen his work republished in increasingly wide-reaching editions and discussed in numerous online reading groups, with his unpublished archive increasingly studied and brought to public attention.

The present edited collection of academic essays seeks contributions that will challenge, update, expand, or surpass the extant understandings of Gaddis’s work, clarifying what it can offer readers more than a century after his birth.

Currently soliciting abstracts (approximately 250-300 words with additional 100 words of author bio) for an edited collection discussing the role of cultural trauma in early modern English society. I am interested in essays focusing on Shakespeare/early modern theater as well as other realms of early modern life – political, religious, etc. Of particular interest are projects focusing on the role of race/racism in making traumatic meanings on the early modern stage. Abstracts should specifically reference topic's connection to cultural trauma. Final drafts should be 5000 – 7000 words inclusive of notes/bibliography. Please send questions/abstracts to Devori Kimbro at devori-kimbro@utc.edu.

Faculty of Languages and Literature (FoLL), University of Central Punjab (UCP), Lahore, Pakistan is organizing a Two-day International Conference on Language, Literature, and Linguistics on the theme of Erasure, Resistance, and Innovation on June 6 - 7, 2024,(Online and In-person).  Political erasure of unwanted individuals, communities, cultures, identities, languages, and knowledge through forced and orchestrated collective amnesia has been endemic in human history. Power has always openly and surreptitiously been involved in deciding whose knowledge matters. Which language and meaning matter to be sensible? Who matters as a human? Whose sufferings matter as grievable?

Inviting proposals on confinement and freedom, prisons visible and invisible, in works by Lessing or in conversation with another 20th-C world writer. Papers may adopt various perspectives—theoretical, philosophical, political, allegorical. Send 250-word abstract and bio.

CALL FOR PAPERS – MLA 2025 – New Orleans 

The International Vladimir Nabokov Society seeks paper proposals for presentations on the following theme for the Modern Language Association’s Annual Convention (January 9-12, 2025, New Orleans, LA):  

Nabokov and Musicality 

Joseph Conrad: Tyranny and Revolution

Joseph Conrad Society of America (MLA Allied Organization) MLA 2025 New Orleans

Going to the Movies with C.S. Lewis, Call for Chapters

An edited collection tentatively titled “Going to the Movies with C.S. Lewis” is seeking chapter submissions.   

Having been born many years after C.S. Lewis died I of course never had the opportunity to watch a movie with the man. However, over the years I feel, as many others probably feel as well, like Lewis accompanies me as I watch movies, read books, attend church services, and make other daily pursuits. Lewis’ works shape my thinking on many theological, educational, and cultural matters like few other authors’ works do.