Panels now forming on topics related to all areas of myth and fairy tale and their connections to popular culture. To participate in this area, you do not need to present on both myths and fairy tales (one or the other is perfectly fine), but we have seen that bringing both genre categories into conversation has led to extremely valuable and stimulating conversations.

Papers relating to the 2015 Conference Theme: “Many Faces, Many Voices: Intersecting Borders in Popular and American Culture” will be given special consideration. This is an immensely broad topic, and paper topics might be as variable as (though certainly not limited to):

  • Myths and Fairy Tale Narratives from WWII
  • Irish Myths and the Great Famine
  • Fairy Tales Adaptations from Comic Books to Graphic Novels
  • Parallels Between European American and American Indian Mythmaking
  • Storytelling: Scheherazade Traditions in 21st Century American Culture
  • Picture Books: Illustrating International Fairy Tales
  • Joseph Campbell and Asian Mythology
  • Eastern European Film Adaptations of “Cinderella”
  • Musical Adaptations of Myths and Fairy Tales
  • The American Tall-Tale Tradition

Since we are approaching the centenary of The Great War, papers on the myths and fairy tales relating to WWI will be especially appreciated.

Additional general areas of interest might include:

  • Where Fairy Tales and Myth Overlap
  • Non-Western Myths and Fairy Tales
  • Fairy Tales in/as “Children’s Literature”
  • Disney
  • Urban Fairy Tales
  • Ethnic Myths and Fairy Tales
  • Gendered Readings of Myths and Fairy Tales
  • Postcolonial Myths and Fairy Tales
  • Myths and Fairy Tales in Advertising Culture
  • Reading Myths and Fairy Tales in the Popular Culture of Past Centuries
  • Performing Myths and Fairy Tales: Drama and/or Ritual
  • Genres of Myths and/or Fairy Tales: Film, Television, Poetry, Novels, Music, Comic Books, Picture Books, Short Stories, or Graphic Novels

Scholars, teachers, professionals, and independent scholars interested in Myths and Fairy Tales are all heartily encouraged to participate. Graduate students are particularly welcome, and should consider submitting their conference papers for one of the Graduate Writing Awards, especially the Kenneth Davis Award for Folklore Studies, which recognizes “an outstanding graduate essay in the field of folklore studies.” (full papers due January 1, 2015)http://southwestpca.org/conference/graduate-student-awards/

If you wish to form your own Myth or Fairy Tale-focused panel, I would be glad to facilitate (panels focused on one particular myth/tale are especially encouraged). If your work does not focus on Myth or Fairy Tale but fits within the broad range of areas designated for the upcoming conference on American & Popular culture, I strongly encourage you explore the long list of areas at http://southwestpca.org/conference/call-for-papers-subject-area-chairs/. And please do pass along this call to any friends and colleagues who work with myths and fairy tales. We’ve had some wonderful and wonderfully diverse panels over the last few years, and I look forward to seeing that tradition continue in 2015.

New Publication CFP: As of 2014, the SWPACA has begun publishing 5,000-7,000 word articles in its brand new peer-reviewed journal Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Culture and Pedagogy (inaugural issue released Feb 2014). For further details, please see http://journaldialogue.org.