Latest Conference Updates 1/31

We want to thank everyone who submitted abstracts and proposals for the 2015 Humanities Conference, "Speculative Humanities: Steampunk to Afrofuturism," scheduled for March 11-12, 2015. Many outstanding proposals came in from all over the country as well as overseas, and we have made notifications to those individuals whose abstracts have been accepted.

We are extremely excited by the number of proposals that focus on the works, legacy, and influence of the late, great science fiction writer, Octavia E. Butler. Ayana E. Jamieson, founder of the Octavia E. Butler Legacy Network, and Natalie Russell, project curator of the Butler Archives (housed at The Huntington Library in California), are scheduled to participate via Skype. We will be posting the conference schedule later this week, along with recommended readings, related links, and biographies of our conference participants.

In addition to the daytime panels scheduled for Wednesday, March 11 and Thursday, March 12, there will be a special presentation of playwright Joslyn Housley-McLaughlin's "The Silver Thread," performed by the New York City-based Liberation Theatre Company on Thursday evening at 7:00 pm in the Mary Burch Theater. This performance, which is being co-sponsored by the Student Life and Activities Office, is free and open to the public, and will feature a "talk-back" session with the actors after the show. Please contact this year's conference co-chairs, Prof. Jennifer Wager (jwager@essex.edu) and/or Prof. Rebecca Williams (wrebecca@essex.edu) for more information.




 

2015 Conference: Abstracts due Sunday, January 18, 2015

Octavia E. Butler, 1947-2006

The submission deadline for panel and individual presentation abstracts for the 2015 Humanities Conference is Sunday, January 18, 2015. Please email abstracts (250-300 words) to both of the conference co-chairs: Prof. Jennifer Wager (jwager@essex.edu) and Prof. Rebecca Williams (wrebecca@essex.edu) by Sunday, January 18, 2015.

Call For Papers
On March 11-12, 2015, the Humanities Division at Essex County College will host its Spring 2015 Conference, “Speculative Humanities: Steampunk to Afrofuturism.” This two-day conference offers space for writers, musicians, artists, and academicians to explore, expand upon, and rethink the implications of speculative humanities. This year's conference will feature a special emphasis on the life, work, and influence of Octavia E. Butler.

Speculative humanities encompasses a diverse array of works, from the  18th century mysticism of Swedenborg to the 20th century spiritual teachings of Gurdjieff, along with the 19th century texts of authors such as Mary Shelley, Samuel Butler, and Jules Verne to the 20th and 21st century works of H.G. Wells, Octavia E. Butler, Margaret Atwood, Samuel Delany, Cormac McCarthy, and L.A. Banks. The revolutionary wave sweeping across Europe during the 19th century along with the publication of texts such as The Communist Manifesto influenced generations of writers to produce works featuring both urban utopias and dystopian metropolises. Historical and fictional texts include post-apocalyptic narratives, invasion literature, steampunk, Afrofuturism, fantasy, fan fiction, fabulist, anime, horror, and what was once categorized as science fiction. 

Von Holst illustration from 1831 edition of Frankenstein.

Open to all humanities disciplines--literature, music, history, religion, philosophy, art, architecture, theater, dance, and media--we invite papers, panel presentations, screenings, and performances of works that can be included in the admittedly broad category of “speculative humanities.” We welcome interactive, unorthodox panels, screenings, exhibits, musical performances, and other presentations related to our central theme. Papers on the works of Octavia E. Butler are especially encouraged for submission.

Please email (abstracts of 250-300 words) for panels and individual presentations to both of the conference co-chairs: Prof. Jennifer Wager (jwager@essex.edu) and Prof. Rebecca Williams (wrebecca@essex.edu) by Sunday, January 16, 2015.