The San Francisco State University CINE Colloquium is proud to announce the call for papers for Chronically Online, the 27th Annual Graduate Research Conference, hosted by the San Francisco State University CINE Colloquium. Submit your work and join us April 24th and 25th, 2026 in person and online for a multidisciplinary deep-dive into all things nerd. See below for conference description and instructions to submit proposals.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Proposals must be submitted by January 9th, 2026 to be considered.

⸻

People have always been fans of something, but modern fan culture in the US began in the mid-20th century with the hyper-popularization of media like Star Trek and Star Wars. People would see films multiple times in theaters to create screen accurate costumes, wrote and sent zines by mail (where you would order your fanfiction via subscription), and created conventions to build micro communities around the things that they enjoy. Despite widespread popularity, the culture around these and other pop culture media was relegated to the underground, deemed too “nerdy” for mainstream engagement. When home computers became commonplace, it created plentiful avenues for people to engage with fan culture, including multicultural fandoms from all over Asia. People began creating websites and forums to share fandom and fannish content with others. In the late 2010s, fan culture has exploded across the mainstream, with fashion companies and streaming services alike taking advantage of the vast marketability. However, racism, homophobia, transphobia, fatphobia, and gendered and linguistic violence don’t go away, even in fan spaces. Stalking, parasocial behavior, and doxxing — of actors and other fan creators — is unfortunately common as well. Even with the downsides, it is possible to find common ground. When you enter a fandom space, you know that you will have at least one common interest with everyone around you. Spotting someone with merch, a photocard on their bag, or even a recognizable quote at a protest provides a sense of comfort in knowing that you aren’t alone. 

⸻

Proposals are not limited to only papers. You are welcome to submit presentations and/or video essays that explore the ideas under the umbrellas of Culture and Place and Platform, which may include but are not limited to:

Culture

Independent/Fan-made Content, Fan Dubbing/Abridged Series, Gaming (streaming, ttrpg/actual play, video games, etc.), Fanfiction Across Platforms (Tumblr big bangs, kinktober, AO3 top 100, etc.), ‘Shifting’, Fandom Fashion/Geek Chic, Cosplay, Fandom and GenAI, Participation, ‘Shipping’, Trolling, Cringe Content, Parasociality/Parasocial Behavior, Stan Culture, Race and Gender in Fandom Spaces, Bullying and Linguistic Violence, Fanart

Place and Platform

Tumblr, Dreamwidth, Livejournal, Archive of Our Own/Organization for Transformative Works, Conventions (NY/SDCC, GalaxyCon, Emerald City, etc.), Online Communities, YouTube, Streaming Services, TikTok, DeviantArt, Flight Rising, Reddit, Silver Snitch, Mirrormere, Fanfiction.Net, Quotev, Buzzfeed, The Graham Norton Show, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Social Media, Online Archives, Fandom Wiki, Forums

We are also open to roundtable session proposals with 4-5 participants per panel.

To submit your proposal, please email sfsuconference@gmail.com by January 5th, 2026 that includes:

• A brief bio of about 100 words with name, institution, and any connection to this year’s topic (cosplay page, tumblr, AO3 handle if you’re feeling brave, etc.)

• A list of 5-7 keywords regarding your research (e.g. Tumblr, online spaces, fanfiction, the ‘sexyman’ archetype, participatory culture)

• The title of your presentation

• A 300 word abstract outlining your research aims/goals, analytical framework, and methodology

• If you are able to present on site or must present virtually (if you are not able to attend in person or not will not affect the selection process)

Selected proposals will be notified January 14th, 2026.

We look forward to reading your work, and hope you’ll join us!

—The SFSU CINE Colloquium Committee