Conference ThemeKenneth Burke, the Humanities, and Agency in the Era of AI

Daniel Plate and James Hutson argue that we must view AI “not merely as a technological tool, but as a powerful extension of our symbolic lives, with profound ethical implications” (“Reclaiming the Symbol: Ethics, Rhetoric, and the Humanistic Integration of GAI: A Burkean Perspective,” p. 69). They view AI as an extension of human symbolic action and argue for a balanced approach to its use, which can potentially bridge the divide between humanistic inquiry (what Burke advocates) and continuing digital innovation. Is it possible to view AI as anything other than an adversary of the humanities (especially since AI isn’t going anywhere soon)? Plate and Hutson argue that it is possible to develop a more nuanced understanding of AI by viewing this technology specifically within the context of Burkean rhetorical theory. The LLMs that fuel generative (and textual) AI may enable contextually coherent and persuasive or informative predictions, so how might this generative capacity be differentiated from what Burke calls the entelichial nature of language, our efforts to track down the implications of a terminology (dramatism, terministic screens), or the idea that language does our thinking for us. What might Burke have thought of the technological, linguistically infused golems of generative AI? How does or might generative AI transform (for better or worse) the understanding and value of the humanities? What’s the difference between human and AI agency? What acts might human-AI agency or agents perform? This theme welcomes presentations that offer Burkean readings of AI, which collectively may attest to the importance of the humanities in guiding our ethical and creative uses of AI technology.

“I expect AI to be capable of superhuman persuasion well before it is superhuman at general intelligence," ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman tweeted on X (formerly Twitter) in October of 2023, "which may lead to some very strange outcomes." We welcome proposals for individual presentations, panels, flash talks, Film Festival entry, critical AI projects installations, games, BAHFest presentations, or seminars that explore them:

• What strange outcomes might those be? 
• What does AI have to do with Kenneth Burke?
• How might dramatism (Burke) differ from pattern recognition (AI)?
• How does AI complicate our understanding of Agency? Act? Scene? Agent? Purpose? Attitude? 
• In what ways might generative AI and its superhuman persuasion/rhetoric function as a counter-statement to traditional principles of rhetoric? 
• For Burke, pure persuasion is a motive. Can AI simulate pure persuasion? Agency?
• How does generative AI reinforce or challenge systemic racism, ableism, sexism, classicism, and the intersectional nature of identity and identification?
• How might a Burkean rhetoric of ecological action illuminate the material and economic impact of AI?
• In the era of AI, why/how does rhetoric matter? 

As with prior KBS conferences, we also welcome proposals from all disciplines—and all students and scholars of Kenneth Burke’s work.

Throughout the conference, a combination of keynote speakers, featured presenters, and performers will explore these topics and more. Keynote speakers will be announced in April 2025.

We invite proposals for individual presentations, panels, flash talks, Film Festival entries, critical AI projects installations, games, BAHFest presentations, or seminars exploring the above ideas and concerns. Proposals should be submitted in Submittable HERE. The submission window opens January 21, 2025, and closes Sunday, April 20, 2025, at midnight wherever you are. Proposals for individual presentations, flash talks, short films, critical AI projects, installations, performances, or BAHFest presentations should be no more than 250 words. Proposals for panels with multiple presenters may be up to 500 words. Acceptances will be announced on a revolving basis.

Fast Facts 

Conference Dates: May 23–25, 2025 
Location: Online in Zoom, Gather, and New Art City
Proposal Submission Deadline: 20 April 2025. Submit proposals here.
Proposal Acceptance Notifications: running, but no later than 22 April 2025.
RENEW A MEMBERSHIP OR JOIN THE KENNETH BURKE SOCIETY HERE (All presenters must be current members of the Kenneth Burke Society)

Registration

Attending KBS 2025 will be free for all attendees. Presenters must be members of the Kenneth Burke Society. Not yet a member? Student memberships are only $10 annually, and regular memberships are only $25!

>> Join the Kenneth Burke Society (KB Journal)

For more information about the conference, including details about the inaugural Kenneth Burke Film Festival, please visit the following page for the KB Journal.