Not being seen for who one is has always been a problem in society; conversely, having difficulty seeing what is hidden beneath surface appearance is a constant challenge. This traditional session will explore how characters’ identities are both concealed and revealed in literature, television, and film. A variety of approaches are possible, including (but not limited to) the questions that follow: When/why do characters find it difficult to let themselves be seen for who they are? When do plots rely on a character’s mysterious identity, and how do both characters in the story and the audience discover (some) of the hidden truths? How do minoritized characters, including LGBTQ+ characters, navigate the challenges of identity politics, and how can identity politics be problematic when interpreting a character’s full identity? What types of diversity are more difficult to see, and how do they affect stories? For characters who are not technically present in the story (deceased, missing, etc.), how can that unseen presence (from memory of a person to an actual ghost) affect or “haunt” the story? By June 1, please submit an abstract (200-300 words), a brief bio, and any A/V or scheduling requests to Devon Fitzgerald <chrome_annotation data-index="35" data-data="2175fbbc-dd41-4b3b-8cf3-466eccb2e72e" data-annotation="fitzgeraldd@winthrop.edu" data-type="EMAIL" role="link">fitzgeraldd@winthrop.edu).