The "Animals & Culture" Area of the Northeast Popular Culture Association's call for papers for our 2026 virtual conference is live!   See our details below (or at https://www.northeastpca.org/conference-areas): 

The "Animals & Culture" area explores the complex and multifaceted intersections between animals, animal representations, society, and popular culture.

Animal symbolism has appeared in human culture since the earliest cave paintings, and feature​s significantly throughout popular culture. In many cases, humans are more likely to interact with visual and material animals than actual animals their living counterparts. These mediated representations have been found to influence, not always positively, how living animals are perceived and treated. Interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged, and possible topics could include (but are not limited to):

• Animals as companions to humans ​

• Therapy animals

• Animals in literature​, art, & other media

• Wildlife genre & documentary

• Symbols & caricatures

• Celebrity animals & animal performers, including online presentations

• Commodification of animals

• Animals in advertising, branding, & commercial franchises

• News coverage of animals & animal issues

• Animal memorialization

 Area Chair:

Kimberly Poppiti, St. Joseph's University, kpoppiti@sjny.edu