Writing the Self and Society: Existential and Cultural Narratives in Lusophone Literature (issue of Romance Notes Journal)
Romance Notes, a peer-reviewed journal published by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (available on Project MUSE: https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/588), invites submissions for a special issue on “Writing the Self and Society: Existential and Cultural Narratives in Contemporary Lusophone Literature.” This issue seeks to examine how contemporary Lusophone writers from diverse regions (Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, and beyond) explore themes of existence and identity in their fiction and poetry, particularly through their intersections with societal issues and collective struggles influencing their countries. We are especially interested in articles that analyze how these authors engage with political instability, cultural transformations, spiritual or existential discontent, and the correlations between writing and lived experience.
We welcome submissions that investigate how contemporary Lusophone authors explore the human condition, engaging with the influences of writers such as Clarice Lispector, whose works push the limits of self and language; Chico Buarque, whose fiction interconnects personal narratives with Brazil’s socio-political setting; Jorge de Sena, whose poetry and prose address themes of exile and cultural identity; and António Lobo Antunes, whose stream-of-consciousness style explores the psychological and historical difficulties of post-imperial Portugal. Contributions may also examine themes such as existential complexities in contemporary Lusophone fiction, representations of political instability, authoritarianism, or post-colonial transitions, the role of memory, trauma, and history in personal narratives, and the influence of historical Lusophone intellectuals on modern literary aesthetics.
Papers should be around 5000 words, follow MLA style, and include an abstract of 150–200 words. Submissions can be written in any Romance Language are due by [August 30]. Please submit manuscripts via the Romance Notes submission portal on Project MUSE (https://muse.jhu.edu/journal/588) and indicate that the submission is for the special issue on “Writing the Self and Society.” For inquiries, contact Paulo Rodrigues Ferreira (paulorf@email.unc.edu)
https://ojs.oasis.unc.edu/index.php/Romance-Notes