International Conference

(19th, 20th, 21st December, 2023) on

Mapping the Marvelous

Mythopoeia, Multiverse &Fantasy across Literature (S), Films and Media

Organised By

Department of English University of Rajasthan Jaipur

International Conference

(19th, 20th, 21stDecember, 2023) Mapping the Marvelous

Mythopoeia, Multiverse & Fantasy across Literature (s), Films & Media

Beyond the bounds of reason lies a realm where imagination weaves marvels without surrendering its proximity to reality.

Fantasy literature serves as a vehicle to dive deep into such world(s) of wonder. As a "departure from consensus reality" or a deviation from the Aristotelian mimetic theory, fantasy literature transports the readers into the magical world of a mythical past, super/para natural terrain or anything conceivable. Abounded with superheroes and supernatural beings, this genre creates an invented version of the recollected past offering futuristic versions of the lived space. Weaving a rich tapestry of alternative universes- a universe of ‘willing suspension of disbelief’, it evokes a sense of wonder and awe in its audience through the diverse representational arenas of the marvelous. Premised on the supposition 'what if things were different?’ fantasy "attempts to create a space for discourse other than a conscious one.”

Etymologically, derived from the Greek words 'Phantazein' or 'Phantasia', the word fantasy means "to make visible.' Articulating and envisioning 'the unsaid and unseen of a culture' this genre remains vastly beholden to the myths, epics, folklores, and legends prevalent in the past. The preternatural dreamy canvas of fantasy literature gets its colours from the repository of fables, tales, and epics such as The Iliad(1598), Odyssey(1614), and Aeneid(19 BC), The Ramayana(8-3rd BC) and The Mahabharata(3-4th Century BC), Aesop's Fables (600 BCE), The Jataka Tales (300 BCE), The Panchatantra (200 BCE), Arabian Nights (226-641 CE), Beowulf(700-1000 AD?), the oldest surviving English epic poem, The Legend of King Arthur(12th Century), Baital Pachishi(11th Century), and The Faerie Queene(1590) and many more. In the continuum to these legacies, evolving from the oral traditions, fantasy writers render multiple re-imaginings and retellings to create incredible expanses of alternate universe(s) with their unique sets of setting and style employed across multiple creative media/mediums.

Tracking the fantasy trajectory down from Lewis Carol, marking the year with his 125th death anniversary, whose imagination spans centuries beyond life through Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865), not merely a children's fiction but this work transgresses one beyond the subjective bounds of

thoughts, defying the spatio-temporality of a reader or the writer. This leap from corporeality to surrealistic mindscapes is a by-product of the 'power' that language exerts through the choice of lexicon devised by the author for this genre. Even memory and dreams contribute to the phantasmagoria reeled in the mindscapes of human imagination, further yielding the creation of archetypes and recreation of myths. Tolkien coined the term "Mythopoeia" in 1930 for the narrative genre of fictional creation or recreation of myths through different literary forms.

JRR Tolkien, the father of modern fantasy literature, whose 50th death anniversary sets an impetus to this conference, contributed to the construction of such sets of lexicon required to serve the metaphysical functions meted in Legendarium(since 1914), the entirety of his works. His experimental use of the 'constructed languages' accentuates the fascination with his The Lord of the Rings (1954- 5), The Hobbit (1937), also of Jackson Film Trilogy based on his magnum opus, even in the contemporary times of streaming media. He appropriated this fantasy diction in creating new myths magnifying the existing wondrous in the world. This unfamiliar and alternative universe of fantasy lends a new lens for the readers to witness things, as Tolkien had said, 'apart from them' which proves 'cathartic' and therapeutic to them. Along with Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia series (1950-1956), and Ursula K. Le Guinn, author of The Earthsea Cycle (1968-2001); the film and web series such asHarry Potter(1997-21) andGame of Thrones(2011-19) also have contributed in shifting this peripheral medievalist fantasy to the mainstream.

In the modern times of post-truth the creation of counter-narratives to influence mass mentality comes as a powerful ploy in multiverse creation. Multiverses are parallel universes or alternative worlds (universe/s) geographically different from the familiar material realm. Heaven, Hell, Olympus, Valhalla, Elf land, fairyland, fantasy, and fantastic universes visualized by the imaginative faculty/fallacy of these authors have all expanded the diameter of the conventional universe to create a series of devious and atypical universes. In contemporary times, the social web has created a universe of alien subjects feeding on/up human curiosities, be it OTT platform series or the underworld of gaming, social media or the world of simulated reality and hyperspace, AI and other digital machinery, it is the time to explore the marvellous world of fantasy, myths, and multiverses through this conference.

Commemorating the 50th death anniversary of Tolkien, the father of modern fantasy literature, and the 125th anniversary of Lewis Carroll's death, the Department of English, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, offers an academic tribute to the pioneers and doyens of fantasy literature through this conference and seeks to examine the myriad narrative expressions of fantasy across media. It will also explore whether fantasy is subversion from reality or merely an alternative medium to present the veracious truth employing a hyperbolic license to reveal reality through phantasm. We will also trace the past(s), present, and future(s) of fantasy as the medium of artistic expression and creativity. This literary confluence will try to explore how has fantasy changed during and after the advent of machines and algorithms in our everyday lives, and what impact have they generated on the world around us. Since no future builds without a substantial past, the conference will also address how fantasy and the fantastic engage with past global traditions to seek and construct new myths relevant to the contemporary context.

Call for Papers

Abstracts not exceeding the limit of 250 words are invited for presenting a full paper at the conference, along with a 100 word bio note of the author or presenter. The abstracts typed in Times New Roman, font size 12 points, double spaced, and adhering to MLA 9th Edition shall be sent in a word format to:

Email address: mappingthemarvelous@gmail.com Suggested themes but not limited to:

1. History, Myths, Folklore, and Oral Traditions

2. Utopias and Dystopias

3. Society, Culture, Power, and Fantasy

4. Defactualisation and Post- Truth

5. Sci-fi, Cli-fi and Phantasm

6. Mythopoeia, Multiverses, and Mindscapes

7. Marvel in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Media

8. Fantasy in Cinematic Scapes

9. De-Territorialization and Corporeality

10. Spaces, Identities and Expression

11. Children’s Literature ,and Dream world

12. Language Construction and Tolkien

13. Gothic and Phantasm

14. Gender and Stereotyping in Fantasy Literature

About the City

Jaipur is hailed as one of the first and best -planned cities of modern India. Beautiful architecture, planned growth, and cosmopolitan fervor have endowed the city with exclusivity in India's urban setting. Jaipur being the capital of Rajasthan is strategically located with the capital of India, Delhi at 258 km and Agra at 232 km, where the city meets both to form the famous Golden Triangle. Jaipur was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh Il (the king and astronomer) based on the principles of the ancient architectural manual Shilpa Shastra and town planning, Architect Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya planned the city on the grid-iron pattern. Nine square grids were modified by the terrain conditions of stabilized domes. The city centre or the “walled city” marked with its pink- colored buildings is the reason that the city is also celebrated as a “pink city”. At the center of its stately street grid (notable in India) stands the opulent, colonnaded City Palace complex, with gardens, courtyards and museums, part of it is still a royal residence. Other heritage sites are the best specimens of Rajput architecture and most visited palaces and forts of Amer, HawaMahal, the Chandra Mahal, Jaigarh, Nahargarh and Moti Dungri. Jantar Mantar and Albert Hall are other famous monuments and museums respectively. The Univeristy of Rajasthan is located around the centre of the city just next to tourist attractions like Birla Temple and Moti Dungri.

Jaipur, only 4 hours away from the national capital Delhi, is well connected through bus, train, and air services. University of Rajasthan, Jaipur is situated only 7 km away from the Airport & RSRTC Bus stand and it is only at a distance of 5 km from the Jaipur Junction.

About the Department

The Department of English was established in 1961. The eminent Yeatsian scholar Ms. A.G. Stock from Ireland was the founder and Head of the Department. The Department continues to cherish and carry forward the legacy of Ms. Stock. The Department of English with its dedicated team of faculty members is committed to maintaining high standards of scholarship and research and has been working consistently towards the academic up-gradation at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The Department excels in qualitative teaching and there is a periodical revision of syllabi to keep pace with the proliferation of new areas of knowledge and research. The Department has qualified faculty with specializations in areas such as Postcolonial Studies, Feminist Writing, Language Studies, American, Canadian, Australian, and African Literature, Literature and Films, Indian Writing in English, Gender Discourse, Cultural Studies, and many more. The Department has a rich library dedicated to Prof. A.G. Stock with over 5,000 holdings as endowments from various sources. There is a well-equipped Language Lab to enhance the communication skills of the students and a Counseling Cell to empower and support the students both academically and emotionally. Admission to all the courses offered is through an entrance examination. To promote interdisciplinary ethos, the Department offers admission to students from all disciplines. The alumni association of the Department keeps the ex-students bridged with the department even after passing out.

Departmental student magazine ‘Alph’ and research journal ‘RUSE’ provide a creative and academic space to students and faculty regularly. Adding to the academic ambiance, renowned academicians have set the legacy of excellence through their delivered talks in the A.G Stock Memorial Lecture and R.K Kaul Memorial lecture which are held annually in the Department.

Important Dates

Conference Dates: 19, 20, 21 December 2023 Abstract Submission: 20 October 2023 Early Bird Registrations: 25 October 2023

Delegates and Academics: Research Scholars: Students:
International participants:

Venue

Department of English University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

Registration Fee*

Till 25 October, 2023

2500/- INR 1200/- INR 1000/- INR 70 USD

On the Spot

3000/- INR 1500/- INR 1200/- INR 100 USD

*The participants are to bear the expenses of travel and accommodation on their own, however suggestions regarding accommodation and stay may be provided on request.

Link of Registration and Mode of Payment: Links and information to be shared shortly.

Patron

Prof. Alpana Kateja Hon’ble Vice Chancellor

Convener

Prof. Sunita Agarwal Head, Department of English

Organizing Secretary

Dr. Preeti Choudhary

Co-organizing Secretaries

Dr. Sanju Choudhary Dr. Aditi Kalra Dr. Mohit Jingar Dr. Pooja Joshi

Organizing Committee

Dr. Arun Singh Dr. Shweta Meena
Dr. Priyanka Meena Dr. Shankar Lal Jhanjhnodia

Prof. Rajul Bhargava Prof. Sanjeev Bhanawat Prof. Archana Shrivastava

Advisory Board

Prof. Deepa S.P. Mathur Prof. Arvind V. Singh Prof. Nasira Baseri

Prof. N.K pandey Prof. Manju Singh Prof. Rashmi Jain