Call for Papers
50th Annual Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture
February 20-21 (Virtual) – 23-25 2023
Featuring Keynotes by Stephanie Burt, Jennifer Egan, Merve Emre, & Fernando Operé
Societies in Residence at the LCLC include E. E. Cummings Society, International Lawrence Durrell Society, T. S. Eliot Society, Iris Murdoch Society, Charles Olson Society, International Harold Pinter Society & International Virginia Woolf Society
Critical papers may be submitted on any topic that addresses literary works published since 1900, and/or their relationship with other arts and disciplines (film, journalism, opera, music, pop culture, painting, architecture, law, philosophy, history, performance, digital media, and theatre). Work by creative writers is also invited. We also accept critical-creative panel submissions that address issues of poetics, craft, or writing practice. The title of panel should highlight the issue addressed. Submissions in English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish are invited. Panels addressing the conference’s topics (or creative writing) on world/global literatures in other languages are also welcome. We prefer proposals comprised of participants who reflect a diversity of institutional affiliation, academic rank, and disciplinary background (and we will also work to reflect this diversity in panels formed from individual submissions).
Deadline for submissions is 11:59 P.M. EST October 10, 2022.
Critical panels
Pre-organized panel proposals are to be emailed to submissions@thelouisvilleconference.com with two attachments in pdf, rtf or doc format. The first attachment is to include: (a) copy of each abstract including titles; (b) rationale for grouping papers, including a suggested title and four keywords identifying themes of the panel; and (c) name, address, email address and phone number of panel organizer and/or panel chair. The second attachment is to contain a cover sheet for each participant featuring a brief biographical note. The panel presentation should be designed for a 90-minute time slot.
Critical-creative panels
We accept critical-creative panel submissions that focus on issues of poetics, craft, or writing practice. These pre-organized panels are meant to embody the spirit of critical and creative intersections integral to humanistic studies. Panel proposals should follow the format for critical panels (see above), though keywords are unnecessary. The panel title should clearly identify the issue of poetics, craft, or writing practice being addressed.
Critical paper submissions
Send an email to submissions@thelouisvilleconference.com with two attachments in pdf, rtf, or doc format. The first attachment is to consist of a 300-word anonymous abstract (double spaced), complete with a title and four keywords identifying the themes of the paper. The second attachment is to contain a cover sheet (details provided below). Previously presented or published papers are not eligible.
Creative reading submissions
Send an email to submissions@thelouisvilleconference.com with two attachments in pdf, rtf, or doc format. The first attachment is to contain poetry or short fiction/nonfiction selections suitable for a 20-minute reading. The second attachment should contain a cover page. Submitter’s name should appear on the cover page only (details below). Creative submissions may be published or unpublished works.
Submitter’s abstract is not to include identifying information of the author.
Submitter’s cover page is to include: Name (as it will appear in the program); address (home or institutional); e-mail address (necessary to confirm your acceptance); academic affiliation (if applicable); title of paper/work/seminar (as it will appear in the program); national origin/genre of work discussed (please be specific); personal biographical note for each participant (100-150 words).
Group Societies
Organizers should email proposals to submissions@thelouisvilleconference.com as an attachment in pdf, rtf, or doc format. The attachment is to include: (a) abstracts and titles for the papers to be presented; (b) a suggested title for the panel; and (c) the following information for each presenter and for the panel organizer or chair: name (as it will appear in the program), address, e-mail address, academic affiliation (if applicable). The panel presentation should be designed for a 90-minute time slot. Please include the society name in the subject line of the e-mail submission.
Conference registrants may participate in up to two, but not more than two, of the following activities: (1) a critical, critical-creative, or group society panel; (2) a creative session; (3) a seminar. Registrants may also chair one or more panels. Submissions are limited to one entry in each category.
Panel Chairs
Submitters (as well as guests) are encouraged to chair a session(s) (at no additional charge). Please contact the Director (Matthew Biberman smbibe01@lousiville.edu) if interested.
Seminar Program
Prospective conference participants are invited to propose an LCLC SEMINAR. Limited to at most 15 participants, LCLC SEMINARS feature 120 minutes of informal conversation (to be moderated by the seminar leader) on the announced topic of the seminar. Approved seminars will be posted in advance of the issuing of acceptances. Conference participants will then be able to sign up for 1 of the approved seminars.
Prospective seminar leaders should send an email to submissions@thelouisvilleconference.com with two attachments in pdf, rtf or doc format. The first attachment should contain the title of the proposed seminar and a 300-word summary of the seminar’s theme(s) and purposes, suitable for posting on the conference website. The second attachment should contain a submitter’s cover page (as detailed above).
Our Esteemed Colleague, Dr. Janna Tajibaeva, always responds to your e-mail that she has received your submissions. IF you don’t hear back from her in 7-10 days, check your junk mail folder for an e-mail from submissions@thelouisvilleconference.com (sometimes junk and spam filters don’t like our address). If you don’t see anything in those folders, please e-mail submissions@thelouisvilleconference.com to confirm receipt.