The 2026 Northeast Popular Culture Association (NEPCA) will host its annual conference this fall as a virtual conference from Thursday, October 15th through Saturday October 17th.
We are looking forward to another engaging and rewarding conference for new and seasoned members alike. We are seeking proposals for panels and presentations for this year’s conference, including proposals for the Gender, Sex, and Sexuality Area.
Entertainment media and pop culture have always been fertile ground for examining cultural conceptualizations and perceptions of the fluidity, diversity, and multifaceted nature of gender, sex, and sexuality. This area welcomes proposals for all academic and methodological perspectives that explore how stories and media represent the vibrant and pluralistic potential of identity and interrogate how so-called notions of “normality” are socially constructed. Possible topics include but are not limited to:

• Queer Theory and Feminist Theory
• LGBTQ+ and Womxn Representation across any medium (e.g., literature, film, television, comics/graphic novels, poetry, anime and manga, video games, tabletop role-playing games, etc.)
• Queer Joy
• Queer Coding
• Womxn and LGBTQ+ Writers, Filmmakers, Artists, Actors, and Other Creatives
• LGBTQ+ and Womxn Activism
• How history and media depict Womxn and LGBTQ+ Historical Figures
• Fanfiction and Fandom as Inclusive Spaces
• How concepts of Masculinity, Femininity, and Androgyny are constructed, presented, and challenged

The call will be open until Monday, June 15 by 5pm EDT. You can submit your proposal at NEPCA Call for Proposals for 2026 Fall Virtual Conference