Entries are invited for the 2024 Forum Essay Prize, on the subject of: ‘The Art(s) of Delight’

Forum for Modern Language Studies are looking for bold, visionary and persuasive essays that use academic research to pursue innovative questions. The winning essay will be that judged by the panel to have best addressed the topic with flair, ambition and resonance.

The topic may be addressed from the perspective of any of the literatures and cultures normally covered by the journal: Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Submissions in comparative literature and literary translation studies are also welcomed, as are those dealing with visual art, film and the performing arts. Forum for Modern Language Studies aims to reflect the essential pluralism of research in modern languages and to provide a forum for world- wide scholarly discussion.

We are seeking submissions that focus on literature, film, art, or other cultural outputs that manifest delight in their content or form and/or which provoke us to find joy in how we read, write, research and teach in our discipline(s). Possible approaches to the subject include, but are not limited to:

• reunions, parties and celebrations;
• epiphanies and happy ends;
• welcome discoveries;
• difficulties resolved;
• moments of astonishment;
• sensory delight;
• the pleasure(s) of the text;
• new life and the joy of (artistic) creation;

The competition is open to all researchers, whether established or early career. Previous competitions have been won by scholars in both categories.

The winner will receive:

1. Publication of the winning essay in the next appropriate issue of Forum for Modern Language Studies
2. A prize of £500

A panel of judges will read all entries, which will be assessed anonymously. At the judges’ discretion, a runner-up prize of £200 may be awarded. The Editors may commission for publication in Forum for Modern Language Studies any entries that are highly commended by the judges.

• Entry requirements and Submission details for the Forum Prize 2024:
• The closing date for entries is 31 August 2024.
• Entries must be written in English, be between 6000 and 8000 words in length (including notes), should conform to MHRA style, and must be accompanied by an abstract (approx. 150 words) summarizing the principal arguments and mak- ing clear the relevance of the essay to the competition subject.
• Essays should be submitted online at https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/fmls, be flagged as Forum Prize entries, and follow the journal’s Instructions to Authors. For initial queries and questions about the Forum Prize, contact Prof. Jeremy Hicks (j.g.hicks@qmul.ac.uk, GE Forum Prize).