10th Biennial Graduate Student Conference
Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
DATE: October 26-27, 2023
IMPENDING CATASTROPHES THROUGH THE AGES: LITERATURE AND THE ARTS IN THE CONTEXT OF DOOM
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Amanda Smith
Associate Professor, University of California, Santa Cruz
The persistent theme of imminent cataclysm has shaped our past, present, and potential futures. We invite graduate students and emerging scholars in the fields of French and Hispanic studies to participate in this stimulating hybrid international event that aims to explore the intricate cultural, philosophical and artistic relationship between humans, the more-than-human world, and the existential anxieties of humanity.
Literature and the arts have played a profound role in capturing, examining, and responding to these existential crises, offering glimpses into our collective imagination, fears, and hopes in the face of imminent catastrophes. From ancient tales of doomsday to contemporary fiction reimagining our futures, literature has been instrumental in responding to environmental degradation, technological upheaval, and societal collapse, offering narratives that provoke thought, inspire resilience, promote activism and challenge our perceptions.
This conference seeks to delve into the rich tapestry of apocalyptic tensions, and we invite participants to explore diverse perspectives that reflect on various aspects of this theme, including but not limited to:
- Representations of natural disasters, societal crisis and cosmic threats
- Articulations of resistance, healing, and coping strategies
- The role of emotions, affects and sensory elements
- Environmental Humanities and ecocritical artifacts
- Premonitions, prophecies, symbolism and warnings
- Tragedy, gothic, dystopia, horror, fantasy, science fiction, and other genres
- Race, gender, 2SLGBTQ+ and intersectionality
- Indigenous cultures and decolonial frameworks and methodologies in (post)colonial settings
- The configuration of collective consciousness, cultural responses and memory
- Mythologies, folklore, storytelling and orality
Call for Contributions:
The 10th edition of the biennial Graduate Student Conference (GSC) is an international conference organized by graduate students in the Department of French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies (FHIS) at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. This year’s conference will be in hybrid format. Its aim is to promote the works of young scholars and to generate ample discourse, debate, and dialogue on French and Hispanic literature, linguistics, culture, and other related fields of study. We encourage the submission of abstracts for panels of presentations.
Abstract Guidelines:
- Contributions in English, French, and Spanish will be considered.
- 250 words maximum (in word or pdf formats)
- Should include the paper title, your academic affiliation, your contact information and your preference between in-person and on-line presentation
- Should include a short bio (research interests, level, possibly publications)
- Must be submitted to the FHIS GSC Organizing Committee by September 4, 2023 to the following address: fhis.gsc23@gmail.com.
- Individual presentations should be no longer than 15 minutes in duration.
Important Dates:
- Abstract Submission Deadline: September 18, 2023
- Notification of Acceptance: September 23, 2023
- Conference Dates: October 26-27, 2023
Please submit your abstracts and inquiries via email to fhis.gsc23@gmail.com. For more information and updates regarding the conference, please visit our website https://fhis-gsc2023.github.io/
- The Graduate Student Conference Organizing Committee
Emmy Issartial, Fabiola del Rincón Fernández, Mirella Reichenbach Livoti, Sarah Revilla-Sanchez and Daniel Fernando
Pazmino