Gender and Sexuality in the Fantastic

March 14-18, 2007

Wyndham Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel

The focus of ICFA-28 is on issues of gender and sexuality, long a concern of the fantastic in literature, film, and other media. Given the oft-marginalized status of science fiction and fantasy in relation to mainstream literature and culture, it’s not surprising to see fantastic works considered in the light of queer theory and feminist approaches. Fighting females show that the hero doesn’t have to be a guy, but it’s just as rewarding to examine the construction of the masculine hero in space opera, sword-and-sorcery, and superhero comics. In graphic novels, book cover illustrations, and art, the gendered Other is the BEM, the elf, the alien, the vampire. Awards such as the Tiptree and the Lambda, and the success of WisCon, speak to the importance of this theme to the communities of the fantastic. We look forward to papers on the work of Guest of Honor Geoff Ryman, author of the Tiptree Award-winning Air; Guest Scholar Jane Donawerth, author of Frankenstein's Daughters; and Special Guest Writer Melissa Scott, winner of the Lambda Award. As always, we also welcome proposals for individual papers and for academic sessions and panels on any aspect of the fantastic in any media.

The deadline for submission of proposals is 30 November 2006.

(Earlier submissions are encouraged)

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

In order to be considered for the 2007 program, your proposal to (1) read a paper, (2) recruit and chair a paper session, or (3) organize and chair a panel discussion must be date-stamped no later than November 30, 2006; electronic correspondence is welcome. Proposals must be sent to the appropriate Division Head (addresses below). Advise the Division Head if you would like to volunteer to chair a paper session. Proposals must include a 500-word abstract and appropriate bibliography indicating the project's scholarly or theoretical context. Presenters must be members of IAFA at the time of the conference. Be sure to indicate all audio-visual equipment needs in this initial proposal; later A/V requests cannot be guaranteed.

The Fantastic in CHILDREN’S & YOUNG-ADULT’S LITERATURE & ILLUSTRATION [All aspects of the fantastic in work aimed at children and young adults]. Division Head: Joe Sutliff Sanders, Dept. of English & Philosophy, Hearnes Hall Room 300, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, MO 64801 (DR.JOESS@GMAIL.COM).

FANTASTIC LITERATURE IN ENGLISH [All aspects of the fantastic in British, American and Commonwealth literature]. Division Head: Charles W. Nelson, Humanities Dept., Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931 (CWNELSON@MTU.EDU).

THE FANTASTIC IN FILM & MEDIA [All aspects of the fantastic in television, video, and film]. Division Head: Susan A. George, Gender & Women's Studies, University of California, Berkeley, 3326 Dwinelle Hall, Berkeley CA 94720-1070 (SAGEORGE13@SBCGLOBAL.NET).

COMMUNITIES & CULTURE IN THE FANTASTIC [formerly PCVA: All aspects of the fantastic in fan cultures and communities, including fan fiction, comics/graphic novels, filking, conventions, hypertexts, viral marketing, RPG]. Division Head: Barbara Lucas, VIS, 31225 Bainbridge Rd, Suite M, Solon OH 44139 (BARBEDWRITING@YAHOO.COM).

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS [formerly PCVA: All aspects of the fantastic in live drama, music, dance, sculpture, body art, and photography and digital imagery]. Division Head: Stacie Hanes, Kent State University, 46 Pinehurst Ave, Youngstown, OH 44512-1516 (SHANES1@KENT.EDU).

HORROR LITERATURE [All aspects of horror in mainstream and popular literature, including literary traditions, aesthetics, psychological constructs, and comparative influences]. Division Head: Stephanie Moss, 10032 N. 52nd. Street, Tampa, FL 33517 (SMOSS@CAS.USF.EDU).

INTERNATIONAL FANTASTIC LITERATURE [All aspects of the fantastic in international and comparative literature]. Division Head: Dale Knickerbocker, Department of Foreign Languages, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858 (KNICKERBOCKERD@MAIL.ECU.EDU).

SCIENCE FICTION LITERATURE & THEORY [All aspects of science fiction literature, history, and theory]. Division Head: Sherryl Vint, St. Francis Xavier University, PO Box 5000, Antigonish NS Canada B2G 2W5 (SVINT@STFX.CA).

Look for Conference Information and Updates at the IAFA website!

http://www.iafa.org