The ICFA welcomes papers on any aspect of the fantastic – including fantasy, science fiction, weird fiction, horror, gothic, and fairy tales.
This year, we are particularly interested in topics related to our theme, The Scientific Imagination. Join us as we explore the possibilities and intersections of science and imagination—from Faust and Frankenstein, through the Golden Age and the New Wave, to steampunk and mash-ups—in all their guises, including fiction, film, television, music, theater, comics, visual art, and social media. Papers might explore topics such as rationalism vs. belief, science for good and ill, alternate and speculative technologies and biologies, futurism, imaginary sciences, time travel, and the tensions inherent in discovery, among other topics. We welcome papers on the work of our guests: Guest of Honor James Morrow (winner of the Sturgeon Award, the World Fantasy Award, and two Nebula Awards), Guest of Honor Joan Slonczewski (winner of two Campbell Awards), and Guest Scholar Colin Milburn (author of Nanovision: Engineering the Future).
The Visual & Performing Arts and Audiences (VPAA) Division accepts papers on
- visual arts such as comic books, paintings, architecture, sculpture, photographs and illustrations;
- the performing arts, including (film, TV, game, pop/rock) music, dance and theater;
- games, including fanfic, fan artwork and cosplay;
- transformative texts, both fan and professional, including mashups and viral marketing;
- and audience/reception studies concerning audiences for any medium or genre of the fantastic.
The VPAA Division Head is Isabella van Elferen. Queries can be sent to I.vanElferen@Kingston.ac.uk or I.A.M.vanElferen@gmail.com. Further contact information can be found below.
Our submissions portal will open soon to receive proposals: http://www.fantastic-arts.org/annual-conference/submissions/. The deadline for submitting proposals is October 31.
