Call for Papers: Special Issue of Porn Studies

Political Theory, Sexuality Studies, and the Politics of the Body: Honouring the Legacy of

Shannon Bell

300-word abstract and a bio by April 15, 2025

Porn Studies invites submissions for a special issue honouring the intellectual legacy of Shannon

Bell (Professor of Politics, York University)—a brazen feminist scholar whose work has

redefined feminist political theory, cyberpolitics, and sexuality studies. From her radical

engagements with pornography and performance philosophy to her interventions in feminist

materialism and the aesthetics of the body, Bell’s scholarship has left an indelible mark. Co-

edited by Kyler Chittick and Ela Przybylo, this special issue will capture the historical

significance and enduring impact of Bell’s contributions, particularly her work on embodied

theory, “fast feminism,” and the intersections of law, sexuality, and political philosophy. We

welcome contributions that critically engage with her work in relation to broader debates on

pornography, feminism, and performance.

Article topics include, but are not limited to:

1. Embodied political theory and performance philosophy, including the influence of “fast feminism” on contemporary continental, feminist, and/or queer thought.
2. Pornography and the law: revisiting Bad Attitude/s on Trial: Pornography, Feminism, and the “Butler” Decision (1997/2017), R. v. Butler (1992), and R. v. Sharpe (2001).
3. Cyber politics, digital bodies, and feminist materialisms.
4. The aesthetics and politics of transgressive sexuality, including female ejaculation and bodily fluids.
5. Sex work, kink/BDSM, and radical feminist ethics.
6. Queer and post-pornography studies.
7. Transnational and intersectional critiques of Bell’s work.

We encourage submissions from scholars across disciplines, including political theory, feminist

studies, philosophy, media studies, performance studies, and sexuality studies. We are especially

interested in collaborating with those involved in the theory and practice of porn-making and sex

work. Contributions may take the form of traditional research articles, theoretical essays, auto-

theoretical reflections, creative-critical engagements, or hybrid pieces.

Submission Guidelines:

Please submit a 300-word abstract and a bio to Kyler Chittick, Ph.D. Candidate in the

Department of Political Science at the University of Alberta (kchittic@ualberta.ca), and Ela

Przybylo, Associate Professor of English and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Illinois

State University (emprzy1@ilstu.edu) no later than April 15th, 2025. Final manuscripts should

be between 6,000 and 8,000 words (with references). Please follow the Porn Studies formatting

and citation guidelines. Full papers due by August 31st, 2025. For inquiries, contact the guest

editors via email.