Call for Papers: Buffy and Beyond at the Southwest Popular / American Culture Association (SWPACA)

45th Annual Conference, February 21-24, 2024

Albuquerque, New Mexico

http://www.southwestpca.org

Submissions open on September 1, 2023

Proposal submission deadline: October 31, 2023

Proposals for papers and panels are now being accepted for the 45th annual SWPACA conference. One of the nation’s largest interdisciplinary academic conferences, SWPACA offers nearly 70 subject areas, each typically featuring multiple panels.  For a full list of subject areas, area descriptions, and Area Chairs, please visit http://southwestpca.org/conference/call-for-papers/  In addition, please check out the organization’s peer-reviewed, scholarly journal, Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy, at http://journaldialogue.org

CFP DETAILS: 
We invite paper or panel proposals on any topic related to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and/or affiliated works, which may include media with a shared creator(s), actor(s), writer(s), or other creative(s); narrative elements, themes, rare/unique production elements; or the same for any of the primary media shows most commonly affiliated with Buffy (Angel, Firefly, and Dollhouse).

Possible topics may include (but are in no way limited to!) explorations and/or comparisons with any of the following:

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Angel
• Firefly/Serenity
• Dollhouse
• Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog
• Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Cabin in the Woods
• Works associated with affiliated creatives such as David Greenwalt (e.g.: Grimm, etc.); Marti Noxon (e.g.: Sharp Objects, Fright Night, etc.); Tim Minear (e.g.: Wonderfalls, American Horror Story, etc.); Jane Espenson (e.g.: Once Upon a Time, The Nevers, etc.); or Joss Whedon
• Works associated with affiliated actor(s)
• Narrative or thematic elements
• Production elements
• Socio-cultural-historical analyses
• Representations of identity (gender, race/ethnicity, sexuality, socioeconomic status, disability, etc.)

Any and all topics will be considered. We encourage all proposals to demonstrate awareness of the large body of existing scholarship in this area.

DEADLINE:
The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2023.  

HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL:
All proposals must be submitted through the conference’s database at http://register.southwestpca.org/southwestpca

For details on using the submission database and on the application process in general, please see the Proposal Submission FAQs and Tips page at http://southwestpca.org/conference/faqs-and-tips/

Individual proposals for 15-minute papers must include an abstract of approximately 200-500 words. Including a brief bio in the body of the proposal form is encouraged, but not required.  

For information on how to submit a proposal for a roundtable or a multi-paper panel, please view the above FAQs and Tips page.  

STUDENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
SWPACA offers monetary awards for the best graduate student papers in a variety of categories. Submissions of accepted, full papers are due January 1, 2024.  SWPACA also offers travel fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students. For more information, visit http://southwestpca.org/conference/graduate-student-awards/

REGISTRATION AND TRAVEL INFO:
Registration and travel information for the conference will be available at http://southwestpca.org/conference/conference-registration-information/

For 2023, we are excited to return to the Marriott Albuquerque (2101 Louisiana Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110), which boasts free parking and close proximity to dining, shopping, and other delights.

CONFERENCE FORMAT:
This will be a fully in-person conference. If you’re looking for an online option to present your work, keep an eye out for details about the 2024 SWPACA Summer Salon, a completely virtual conference to take place in June 2024. However, do keep in mind that the Summer Salon is a smaller conference with limited presentation slots and no student funding assistance.

QUESTIONS:
If you have any questions about the Buffy and Beyond area, please contact its Area Chair, Tamy Burnett, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and SWPACA Executive Team, tburnett@southwestpca.org. If you have general questions about the conference, please contact us at support@southwestpca.org, and a member of the executive team will get back to you.

We look forward to receiving your submissions!