Abstract:This roundtable explores contemporary directions in life writing, biography, and memoir, with a particular interest in how we narrate the self amidst evolving issues of identity, culture, and power. We welcome both traditional scholarly essays and creative nonfiction/memoir submissions accompanied by a brief meta-analysis. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, autoethnography, digital self-representation, intersectional approaches to life writing, and the emerging impacts of technological shifts—such as generative AI—on authorship and equity.

Session Details:
How do we articulate, preserve, and present our lived experiences in an era marked by rapid cultural and technological change? Aligning with the conference theme, “Our Ruling Classes: Culture, Power and Conflict,” this roundtable invites participants to investigate the shifting landscape of life writing across textual, digital, and visual formats. To foster a vibrant, multi-voiced dialogue, we encourage submissions from a wide range of perspectives, including traditional literary criticism, biographical studies, and creative pieces that feature a reflective or meta-analytical component. Presenters will deliver brief, 10-to-12-minute talks to maximize time for collective discussion.

 Submit your abstract here: https://pamla.ballastacademic.com/Home/S/20174

Note:

The 2026 PAMLA conference will take place fully in-person in Seattle, WA from November 12 through 15.
For 'Narrating Lives Today', abstracts will be accepted till June 30. Early submissions are encouraged.

For any further questions and clarifications, please reach out to the undersigned:

Dr. Meghna Gangadharan
Presiding Officer, Roundtable Session: "Narrating the Self Today: Contemporary Directions in Biography, Memoir, and Life Writing"
email: phd1901261010@alum.iiti.ac.in; meghna.gdharan@gmail.com