In an increasingly globalized yet hierarchically structured world, the questions of whose voices

are heard, and through what forms of representation, have never been more urgent. Within global

academic and cultural discourses, East Asian perspectives continue to negotiate their positions, seeking

to assert and articulate their own voices rather than being defined through dominant paradigms of

knowledge and interpretation.

We are pleased to invite submissions for the upcoming graduate symposium, “Margins,

Metaphor, and Medium: Subaltern Voices in East Asia,” organized by graduate students from

the Department of East Asian Studies at McGill University. This symposium seeks to foster

interdisciplinary dialogue on how East Asian societies, cultures, histories, and intellectual traditions—

often situated at the margins of global academic discourse—are articulated, represented, and transmitted

across diverse historical, linguistic, and media contexts.

The theme invites participants to reconceptualize margins not as static zones of exclusion, but as

dynamic sites of creativity, negotiation, and resistance, particularly in relation to East Asia’s positioning

within global and Western academic discourses. It further encourages reflection on metaphor as both a

rhetorical and conceptual strategy through which East Asian voices articulate meaning, assert agency,

and reimagine dominant epistemological frameworks. Finally, it highlights the role of medium, from

textual and visual traditions to contemporary digital forms, as the material and technological site where

East Asian perspectives are mediated, transformed, and circulated within and beyond the boundaries of

the prevailing academic discourses. In exploring these dynamics, we invite discussion and inquiry into

how East Asian voices—historical, literary, artistic, social and political—are articulated and transformed

across linguistic, cultural, and disciplinary boundaries? How do voices from the margins engage with

and reshape dominant traditions of knowledge? And how might “margins,” “metaphor,” and “medium”

together form a framework for reimagining subaltern voices within and beyond East Asia?

Many graduate students and emerging scholars in the humanities continue to face challenges in

articulating, discussing, and disseminating their own experiences and cultural perspectives within the

hierarchical structures of academic discourses. These challenges are not merely linguistic, but are shaped

by broader systems of authority that determine whose voices and forms of expression are recognized as

more legitimate knowledge. By encouraging participants to engage critically with questions of voice,

translation, and representation of East Asian cultures, the event aims to empower students—especially

those working across cultural and disciplinary boundaries—to articulate their research and perspectives

with greater confidence and visibility. Through the framework of Margins, Metaphor, and Medium, the

symposium highlights the creative and intellectual potential that emerges from marginal positions while 

aspiring to cultivate a more inclusive and dialogic academic environment where diverse modes of thought

and expression can coexist, interact, and flourish.

This symposium welcomes submissions from graduate students across all disciplines and

institutions worldwide. It will be held on April 24, 2026, at McGill University (the exact on-campus

location will be announced later). The event will adopt a hybrid format, combining in-person and virtual

presentations to ensure engagement from attendees who may not be able to join physically. The

conference will also include a lunch break and a group dinner to provide opportunities for informal

discussion and networking among participants.

Submission Guidelines:

Please submit a 250 - 500 word abstract in either .docx or .pdf format via email to

eas.symposium@gmail.com. The document should also include: (1) Your name; (2) Program and

institution; (3) Title of the presentation; (4) Contact information.

Deadline for submission: January 5, 2026, Notification of acceptance: January 30, 2026

For any inquiries, please email us at eas.symposium@gmail.com. We thank you in advance for your

interest and contributions, and sincerely look forward to your participation in this year’s symposium.