Image © Don Usner

Call for Proposals:

The Fourth Annual International

David Foster Wallace Conference

Theme: Legacies of Complexity

June 8-10, 2017

Illinois State University

Adlai E. Stevenson Hall

300 South School Street

Normal, Illinois 61761

Main Categories

The Fourth Annual DFW Conference will explore the diversity of perspectives surrounding Wallace’s literary and scholarly legacy.  We are accepting general submissions under the following categories:

• Scholarship in David Foster Wallace Studies
• Scholarship of Contemporary Literature, Publishing, or Culture
• Original Creative Work

We encourage proposals considering, but not limited to: innovative/experimental literature; the future of literature and/or publishing; digital vs. traditional publishing/literature; the field of publishing in relation to contemporary literature and/or culture; and creative works exhibiting any of the above issues and/or engaging their subjects from original, committed, and humane perspectives.  Works in all creative forms and mediums will be considered.

Special Sessions

To further explore themes connecting Wallace’s work to the broad horizons of English Studies and the Humanities, we’ve introduced the following Special Sessions.  Works addressing the following topics are highly encouraged (suggested works by Wallace are included in parentheses):

• Feminism: Literature and Misogyny (e.g. Brief Interviews with Hideous Men)
• Critical Race Theory: Privilege and Linguistic Variation (e.g. “Tense Present”)
• Queer Theory: Sexuality and Sociality (e.g. “Adult World”)
• Politics: Nationalism and Political Deconstruction (e.g. “9/11: View From the Midwest”)
• Disability Studies: (Dis)Ability and Mental Illness (e.g. “Good Old Neon”)
• Philosophy: Ethics and Empathy (e.g. “This Is Water”)
• Religion: Conversion and Conformity (e.g. The Pale King)
• Pedagogy: Teaching Language and Writing (e.g. "Authority and American Usage")

Submission Guidelines: Proposal Deadline December 10, 2016

Please submit your proposals through our online proposal form at WallaceConference.com.  We require a 150-300-word proposal, a 50-word program abstract, and a 50-word bio.  For creative works, we require submission of a current draft of the full text.  Presenters may take part in up to two panels.