In the Shadows: Illuminating Monstrosity in Children’s and Young Adult Literature and Culture

Call for Paper Proposals

Deadline for submission: February 28th, 2018

A peer-reviewed graduate student conference on children’s literature, media, and culture University of British Columbia – Friday May 11th – Saturday May 12th, 2018

In the Shadows: Illuminating Monstrosity in Children’s and Young Adult Literature and Culture is a two-day conference on May 11th – 12th 2018 showcasing graduate student research in children’s literature. You are invited to submit a proposal for an academic paper that contributes to research in the area of children’s and young adult literature, media, or cultural studies. Submissions of creative writing for children and young adults are also welcome. We are particularly interested in research and creative work that draw on the broadly interpreted theme of monstrosity–including research on narratives that feature monstrous figures and the monstrous side of humanity.

Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Literature from the genres of horror, gothic, mystery, or science fiction
• Post-humanism/trans-humanism
• Narratives of physical or emotional trauma, scars, disfigurement, etc.
• Themes of fear, captivity, empathy/apathy
• The uncanny and the sublime
• Narratives focussing on the duality of human nature
• Themes of survival, lost innocence, or childhood innocence
• Experiences of marginalized groups, otherness, and social outcasts
• (Mis)representations of people as “monsters”
• Government atrocities, tragedies, and other perspectives on historical events
• Analyses of monstrosity from critical or theoretical perspectives (e.g. psychoanalysis, post colonialism, feminism, etc.)
• Adaptations, bringing a narrative to life in a new story or medium
• Stories of real-world monsters, such as bullies or personal, inner demons
• Narratives featuring monsters, vampires, werewolves, zombies, ogres etc.
• Villains and beasts from fairy tales, folktales, or mythology
• Friendly monsters or imaginary friends (e.g. Pokémon, The BFG, Monsters Inc.)
• The allure and romanticism of monsters (e.g. Twilight)
• Papers related to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, in honour of the 200th anniversary of publication
The topics above are a guideline for the proposals we would like to see, but we are eager to receive paper proposals on any facet of monstrosity in children’s and young adult texts.

Academic Paper Proposals

Please send a 250-word abstract that includes the title of your paper, a list of references in MLA format, a 50-word biography, your name, your university affiliation, email address, and phone number to the review committee at submit.ubc.conference@gmail.com. Please include “Conference Proposal Submission” in the subject line of your email.

Creative Writing Proposals

Submissions of creative writing for children and young adults in any genre are welcome, including novel chapters, poetry, picture books, graphic novels, scripts, etc. Please send a piece of work no longer than 12 pages double-spaced. (Anything shorter is welcome– poetry, for example, might only be a page). The submission should include the title of your piece, a 150- word overview of your piece (describe age group, genre, and links to the conference theme), a list of references in MLA format (if you have any), a 50-word biography, your name, your university affiliation, email address, and phone number. Please send your submission to the review committee at submit.ubc.conference@gmail.com. Please put “Creative Conference Proposal Submission” in the subject line of your email.

Out of Province/Country Submissions

For those who may need extra time to plan their travels please put “Travel” in the email subject line and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

For more information, please contact ubc.conference.2018@gmail.com.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you this spring!