The Shared Language of Sex and Violence in Literature
The Shared Language of Sex and Violence in Literature
2024 Acacia Group Annual Academic Conference
California State University, Fullerton
March 15-16th, 2023
Why do sex and violence show up so often in literature, film, and music? And, more specifically, why do these topics regularly seem to share a descriptive vocabulary? Why is sex so often depicted using words of force and aggression while the language of violence is often lascivious and even orgasmic? Further, in the context of popular media, this subject matter is usually regarded as titillating, salacious, or taboo and tends to be dismissed as little more than an exploitative marketing strategy to sell a TV show or movie. The presence of sex and violence is often viewed as a cheap means of gaining and retaining a mindless audience. But do more conventionally “literary” texts not commodify these topics in a similar manner? And more confoundingly, in both popular media and highly regarded literature, why are these two taboos so often characterized using overlapping terminology?
This conference will facilitate conversations about how sex and violence are represented in literature, film, and music in order to explore this curious – and often troubling – linguistic connection. We are inviting scholars who are interested in either sex, violence, or their intersection to share their research on these subjects, whether the use of overlapping language is the explicit focus of the work or not. This conference will examine matters of sex and/or violence in a variety of textual formats in an effort to discover together why representations of these two cultural taboos seem so related when they should, in theory, serve such different functions on an interpersonal level. We are open to creative and critical submissions that explore these themes of shared language between sex and violence in either the literary or pop media realms. We are excited to see your research and hope to foster productive discussions surrounding these two topics through this conference.
Submitting Abstracts
For academic presentations, please send a 200 to 300 word abstract as a .doc or .pdf attachment to theacaciagroup.csuf@gmail.com by Friday, February, 16th 2023. In your email, please include your name, institution, and academic standing (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral student, professor, or independent scholar). Please include a brief third person bio of up to 50 words. If your abstract is accepted, you will be asked to confirm your commitment to attend the conference and, at least ten days before the conference, to email a draft or outline of your presentation to your panel coordinator. Each presenter will be given 10 to 12 minutes to present at the conference. To propose a panel, please send a 200 to 300-word panel explanation as a .doc or .pdf attachment, including its title, topic, and format, as well as the abstracts for each presentation, listing each presenter’s name, institution, and academic standing.
About the Acacia Group:
We are a California State University, Fullerton organization designed specifically for students pursuing graduate studies in English. Throughout the year we host academic/pedagogical development workshops, informative panels from alumni and professors, writing group sessions, and our annual academic conference every Spring. The Acacia Group works to offer opportunities for students to obtain invaluable information that will facilitate their educational experience and help build their academic curriculum vitae. While you do not have to be a member to participate in our conferences or other events, social membership with the Acacia Group offers additional distinction and discounted access to merchandise/conference food. If you are a CSUF English graduate student interested in joining, please email theacaciagroup.csuf@gmail.com. Thank you!