JAMS@MAGS

Interested in bringing your music, gaming, or fan studies research to MAGFest? The Journal of Anime and Manga Studies(JAMS) andSuper MAGFest have partnered together to bring you JAMS@MAGS, a public scholarship symposium focused on gaming, music, and fans! The symposium will run during MAGFest, from January 7 – 10, 2027 at the Gaylord National, National Harbor, MD. This symposium presents an incredible opportunity to connect fans of all ages directly to scholars researching and writing about gaming, music, and media. Only papers related to video games and/or music will be accepted.

JAMS@MAGS has space for nine exceptional scholars to present on three panels research related to music and gaming.

The JAMS@AX26 welcomes all papers taking a scholarly perspective on video games, tabletop games, music, and their histories.

Interested academics should submit a title, 250-word abstract, and bio through the form below. 

Submissions are due by: September 23rd, 2026

Submit through this link: https://forms.gle/9QrpkcP8DPUJxymy7 

Questions can be sent to: Billy Tringali, animestudiesjournal@gmail.com 

Notes to submitters:

The JAMS@MAGS Conference is held in the late-morning through late-afternoon over multiple days of Super MAGFest and is open to all attendees.

Presenters will have roughly 15 minutes to present in their session, and will be paired with two additional presenters. Sessions will run for roughly one hour, with time divided between presenters, with additional time for questions following the session.

All accepted presenters will be given complimentary weekend badges to Super MAGFest.

Co-authored presentations will only receive one complimentary badge.

Example Title and Abstract:
The Power of Anime In STEM: Using Anime As a Vehicle for Science Education and Outreach

“Anime is arguably more popular than ever before in the United States. A study by Wong and Fernandez (2024) revealed that members of Gen-Z in the United States watched more anime than football, with 42% watching it weekly. Yet, using popular culture as a vehicle in science education hasn't progressed much beyond Kakalios’ seminal 2005 text 'The Physics of Superheroes.' Our science education panel, 'The Physics of Anime', has run for three years at North America's largest anime convention, Anime Expo. Filling the lecture hall three times, with a waiting line stretching across the Los Angeles Convention Center, this year we surveyed attendees about how anime might ignite their interest in science, or ease their science anxiety. Pre- and post- “Physics of Anime” panel surveys conducted at the Journal of Anime and Manga Studies (JAMS) academic symposium at Anime Expo revealed a preference for teaching Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) concepts using anime as an introduction and discussion device.

Additionally, anime as a STEM discussion device appealed to individuals from the current target demographic (20–30 year olds). Overall, the majority of survey participants expressed greater comfort with the subject matter. Specific details of the survey are the subject of this exciting presentation.”

Academic Showrunners: 

Billy Tringali

Editor-in-Chief - Journal of Anime and Manga Studies

Faculty Librarian at Indiana University - Indianapolis

Javon Goard

Board of Directors and Department of Head for MAGES

Jamal Jones

Department of Head for MAGES