ICAF invites proposals for scholarly presentations for its twentieth meeting, to be held on  the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia on the Northwest Coast of Canada.

ICAF welcomes original proposals from diverse disciplines and theoretical perspectives on any aspect of comics or cartooning, particularly studies that reflect international  perspectives. Studies of aesthetics, production, distribution, reception, and social, ideological, and historical significance are equally welcome, as are studies that address larger theoretical issues linked to comics or cartooning, for example in image/text studies or new media theory.

In addition to the general call for papers, we hope to offer panels and programming on the following subjects:

• Comics and Indigeneity, including but not limited to comics by Indigenous artists and comics on Indigenous issues,
  such as decolonization, Indigenous activism, sovereignty, language revitalization, and survivance
• Comics theory in the reading of early modern texts (and, generally, Shakespeare and comics)
• Comics pedagogy and comics in human rights education, including but not limited to comics on forced migration, the Holocaust, and genocide
  

Submissions in these areas are particularly encouraged but not required.Moreover, this year’s ICAF will also invite accepted participants to take part in roundtables and seminars on current works in progress, comics pedagogy, and issues in comics studies scholarship.

The (extended) deadline to submit proposals is Monday, October 3rd

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES: ICAF prefers argumentative, thesis–driven presentations that are clearly linked to larger critical, artistic, or cultural issues; we avoid those that are survey–like in character. We accept original 20–minute presentations that
have not been presented or accepted for publication elsewhere and prefer those accompanied by images that illustrate the arguments made. Presenters can assume an audience versed in comics and the fundamentals of comics studies. Proposals
should not exceed 300 words.

SEND ABSTRACTS (with contact information, a short bio, the title of the proposal in the body of the email, and 3–5 keywords) by Monday, October 3, 2022, to Biz Nijdam, ICAF Academic Director, at icafcomic@gmail.com. Abstracts should be anonymized, as all proposals will be subject to blind review.

Receipt of all proposals will be acknowledged. Applicants can expect to receive confirmation of acceptance or rejection by Friday, October 14, 2022.

ICAF also sponsors the John A. Lent Scholarship in Comics Studies. The Lent Scholarship, named for pioneering teacher and researcher Dr. John Lent, is offered to encourage student research into comic art. Applications for this scholarship are due by
December 1, 2022. For more details, please visit our website.

To help defray the cost of attendance for international guests (outside of the US and Canada), a limited number of registration waivers may be granted at the discretion of the Executive Committee. More information will be made available upon
acceptance of proposals.

http://www.internationalcomicartsforum.org