The Poetry and Poetry Studies area at the Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association (MAPACA) seeks creative and critical proposals for this year’s conference in Philadelphia from November 6-8, 2025.

The Poetry and Poetry Studies area welcomes presentations examining all aspects of poetry, including critical perspectives on poetic craft and creative readings of original works. This area encourages diverse and interdisciplinary approaches that expand our understanding of poetry’s impact on modern culture, and presentations are welcome to explore numerous styles and subgenres of poetry, such as ecopoetics, spoken word, visual poetry, received forms, and others. Topics include but are not limited to:

• The portrayal of poetry in popular culture and media
• Modern reception of older works
• Pedagogical approaches to poetry
• The influence of theory on craft and creative practice
• Readings or performances of original poetry
• Poetry and publishing/print culture 

Single papers, panels, roundtables, and alternative formats are welcome. Proposals should consist of an abstract of 300 words or fewer submitted through MAPACA’s website. Questions about Poetry and Poetry Studies can be directed to area chair Jessica Guzman at jbguzman@widener.edu, while general questions about the conference can be directed to mapaca@mapaca.net. This year's conference will be held in Philadelphia, PA at Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square, and the deadline for proposals is July 31, 2025.