“Italian Ecocriticism” Panel at the 2026 PAMLA Conference in Seattle, OR.12-15 November, 2026 in Seattle, OR.  Organizers and chairs: Vetri Nathan (University of California, Los Angeles) and Teresiana Matarrese (California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo)This panel intends to explore themes connected to ecocriticism and Italian literature, cinema, theater, music, art, and culture, thereby shedding light on how Italian cultural expressions engage with ecological concerns and contribute to broader discussions on environmental awareness. We welcome proposals both related to the conference theme, "Our Ruling Classes: Culture, Power, Conflict," and those not related. Ecocriticism has emerged as a field of inquiry, offering a lens through which to examine the intricate relationships between “nature,” society, and artistic representation. Through the exploration of Italian literary texts, cinema, and culture, this panel aims to delve into the ways in which environmental issues are depicted, interpreted, and contested within the context of Italian cultural production. By focusing on Italian literary texts, film, and culture within an ecocritical framework, the panel seeks to highlight how modern and contemporary Italian authors explore the root causes of the environmental challenges confronting humanity today, with a specific focus on their impact on Italy. The overarching goal of the panel is to scrutinize the worldwide phenomenon of environmental awareness from an Italian perspective, delving into how writers, artists, and scholars in Italy have grappled with the issue. 
 
Possible topics include, but are not limited to: Italian ecocritical narratives in literature, art, theater, and music; Material Ecocriticism and Ecopoetics; Environmental activism: issues of agency, environmental awareness, and ecocritical activism; Environmental ethics; Nature and technology; Spatiality and sense of place; Timescapes and notions of temporal continuity and/or rupture; Anthropocentrism, Anthropomorphism, and the Biosphere; Human, Nonhuman, and More-than-human relationships; Crosspollinations and interactions between literature and other disciplines (anthropology, biology, geography, engineering, computer science, etc.).Papers will be accepted in either English or Italian.Important Information:200-to-250-word abstract and 100-word biographical note via the online portal only at https://pamla.ballastacademic.com/Home/S/20090Deadline: May 25, 2026For questions: Teresiana Matarrese, tmatarre@calpoly.edu and Vetri Nathan, vnathan@humnet.ucla.edu