CFP – “Looking Back and Ahead: Exploring Uniquely Canadian Cultural Narratives” Debrecen University Symposium, 2024

By Published Egyéb

This international, in-person conference is organized by the Canadian Studies Centre of the Institute of English and American Studies at the University of Debrecen, Hungary, as part of the Debrecen University Symposium series.

Date: October 24-25, 2024

Venue: Debrecen, Hungary, Main Building of the University of Debrecen

We are pleased to announce the call for papers for our upcoming, international, in-person conference, “Looking Back and Ahead: Exploring Uniquely Canadian Cultural Narratives.” 

The conference is part of the 2024 Debrecen University Symposium, the first day of which—“Symposium on Interdisciplinary Approaches to Canadian Studies on the Occasion of the 40th Anniversary of Canadian Studies at UD” on October 24 – features several invited guests, including the representative of the Embassy of Canada to Hungary, Montreal Consul General Helga Katalin Pritz, and involves a video message by  the internationally-acclaimed Canadian writer Margaret Atwood, as well as online talks by the Hungarian-born Canadian novelist and publisher Anna Porter;  Montreal-based poet, novelist and playwright Endre Farkas; journalist and politician Dennis Gruending; and scholars David Staines (Harvard University/University of Ottawa), Daniel Béland (McGill University), and Barbara Lorenzkowski (Concordia University)

The present Call for Papers invites submissions for presentations to be held in English or French on the second day of the event (October 25) about the rich tapestry of uniquely Canadian cultural narratives, exploring them from a variety of perspectives.

We invite proposals for individual, 20-minute papers as well as themed panels of three papers addressing a cohesive topic related to the conference theme, seeking to explore questions related (but not limited) to:

  • Canadian identity and narratives in literature, film, visual arts, and performing arts
  • Indigenous perspectives on Canadian cultural narratives 
  • Representations of Canadianness in the media
  • Digital media and technology in shaping contemporary Canadian cultural narratives
  • Historical perspectives on the evolution of Canadian cultural identities and narratives
  • Narratives of migration

Submission guidelines: submit your abstracts with a brief bio on the following website under ‘Abstract submission’: konferencia.unideb.hu/en/CanadianStudies

  • Abstract: Provide a structured abstract of no more than 300 words outlining the key points, methodologies, and their relevance to the conference theme.
  • Presenter’s information: Include the presenter’s name, institutional affiliation (if applicable), email address, and a brief biography of up to 150 words.

Important dates:

  • Proposal submission deadline: June 30, 2024
  • Notification of acceptance: July 15, 2024
  • Registration deadline: August 30, 2024 (All participants, including presenters and attendees, are required to register in advance.)

Registration fees: none.

Publication opportunities: selected conference papers will be considered for publication in a special issue or thematic block of the peer-reviewed, Scopus-indexed Hungarian Journal of English and American Studies. Additional information regarding submission guidelines and timelines will be provided later.

Contact information: for inquiries and further information, please contact Balázs Venkovits (venkovits.balazs@arts.unideb.hu ) and Zsuzsanna Lénárt-Muszka (lenartmuszkazs@arts.unideb.hu ).

We look forward to welcoming you to the conference!

Conference organizers: