twentieth century and beyond

This issue explores storytelling as a discursive practice that reimagines underground waterscapes imaginaries. In an era of rapid urbanisation, overextraction, and environmental degradation, attention to the subterranean is no longer optional but critical—both imaginatively and materially. Groundwater already supports the livelihoods of more than 1 billion urban residents in Asia and 150 million in Latin America, including those in megacities such as Beijing, Jakarta, and Mexico City, yet it remains underacknowledged and increasingly imperilled (British Geological Survey 2). Across Europe, over 15% of mapped aquifers are classified as overexploited or contaminated, representing 26% of aquifer surface area (Sentek et al.).

This special issue of Frontiers investigates how feminism, even as a discourse of resistance, participates in hegemonic projects. We invite papers that examine the connections between feminism, conservatism, and conservative ideologies during the long twentieth century within the context of the Americas (including North, Central, and South America, the Caribbean, as well as indigenous lands and communities). We welcome crosstemporal and transgeographic approaches, since we aim to put together a comparative, humanistic interdisciplinary analysis that explores how culture articulates and mobilizes notions of femininity, conservative politics, and complex ideological affiliations in transnational, local, border, and/or oceanic frameworks.

As technological, ecological, and sociopolitical transformations challenge traditional notions of human identity, the posthuman paradigm offers a framework for exploring how literature and culture imagine, negotiate, and problematise the boundaries between humans, nonhumans, and their surroundings. This conference seeks to critically examine established notions of a posthuman future/present and its representations in contemporary narratives across literature, cinema, advertising, video games, and other media forms. The seminar examines the concepts of authority, marginality, and ambiguity within dystopian and utopian literary visions of posthumanism.

American Literature Association: 37th Annual Conference
May 20-23, 2026
Chicago, IL

The Comics Arts Conference is now accepting 100 to 200 word abstracts for papers, presentations, and panels taking a critical or historical perspective on comics (juxtaposed images in sequence) for a meeting of scholars and professionals at Comic-Con International, in San Diego, CA, July 23–26, 2026.  We seek proposals from a broad range of disciplinary and theoretical perspectives and welcome the participation of academic and independent scholars.  We also encourage the involvement of professionals from all areas of the comics industry, including creators, editors, publishers, retailers, distributors, and journalists.  The CAC is presently scheduled to take place in person and does not accept virtual presentations.  The CAC is designed to bring together

European Journal of Theatre and Performance (EJTP)

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Mobilising Heritage: Dance, Theatre, and Performance in the Age of (In)Tangibility

Guest editors:

Timmy De Laet, Franz Anton Cramer, Vicky Kämpfe, and Dunja Njaradi

(proposal deadline: 25 January 2026)

Special Issue for LIT / The Anger Issue: Women’s Writing and Anger in Ireland

Deadline for full essays: July 15, 2026

The historical relationship between Muslims and Christians dates back to the seventh century C.E., when Islam began to spread throughout the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent; by the early eighth century, parts of Europe were under Muslim control. Consequently, this Special Issue seeks to understand Christian–Muslim interactions over the centuries. Recent studies of Syriac texts reveal early interactions between Christians and Muslims, the beginning of centuries of Christian–Muslim dialogues, debates, and perspectives that continue into the present day.

I seek submissions for a Critical Insights anthology, under contract with Salem Press. The volume will explore quite possibly the greatest female American novelist of the mid-twentieth century, Shirley Jackson. Known and renown for her gothic horrors and suspenseful mysteries, Jackson (1916-1965) may be best remembered for her shorter works such as “The Lottery,” “The Summer People,” and We Have Always Lived in the Castle as well as her landmark and frequently adapted novel The Haunting of Hill House.

The London Journal Early Career Publishing Workshop

The London Journal is committed to supporting early career scholars develop work into a publishable journal article. To this end, we are hosting a free workshop to provide practical advice and support on developing research (which might include thesis chapters or conference papers) into publishable, full-length journal articles.

Narrating Conflict:

Ethics, Identity, and the Stories We Tell

4/2026

Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Philologia

philologia.studia@ubbcluj.ro

Guest editors

Amelia Precup (Babeș-Bolyai University) amelia.precup@ubbcluj.ro

June 2026 Graduate Symposium on the Work of D.H. Lawrence

The DHLSNA plans to host a day-long symposium for graduate students on 12 June 2026. The symposium will consist of panels of micro-papers (5-7 minutes), a plenary dialogue between a senior Lawrence scholar and graduate student respondents, and an ac/alt-ac professional workshop.

Perennially understudied, Eurasia – as both a geographical and conceptual constellation – opens up a novel and fertile space for scholarly contributions. This call for papers invites submissions that engage with the region’s alternative media, information, and communications histories, bridging past and future frameworks, methodologies and forms.

For Critical Insights volume under contract:

Madness in Literature

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: January 9, 2026