Call for Papers: Arkansas Philological Association (2026)
(Held in conjunction with UCA’s Graduate Conference in Literature and Film)
How might the possibility of surprise animate our approach to literature, film, and language? The听element of surprise might be said to underlie recent debates within the humanities in general and听English in particular that pertain to the so-called 鈥淢ethods Wars,鈥� the question of 鈥渉ow we read听now鈥� (Stephen Best and Sharon Marcus), and disenchantment with the longstanding predominance听of what is known as symptomatic reading (Rita Felski and Elizabeth Anker). Kinohi Nishikawa听perhaps puts it most plain: he encourages 鈥渞eading without guarantees,鈥� which 鈥渁llows a critic to be听surprised by what she finds.鈥� We welcome papers that consider how we interact with literature, film,听and/or language in light of these conversations.
At the same time, papers might take up the elements of surprise: how do literary works and听films construct surprise鈥攚hether for characters within the worlds they depict or readers/viewers鈥斕齛nd to what ends? Yet another way in which surprise proves fundamentally relevant to literature and听film concerns classification and iteration: what do such things as genre, format, venue, translation,听and adaptation mean for readers鈥�/viewers鈥� expectations? Last, what might receptiveness to surprise听as interpretive approach mean for classrooms with respect to practices and assignments? Beyond the conference theme, we will consider papers on any aspect of literature, film, or language, including creative work.
A Warm Invitation to Student Presenters: This year鈥檚 APA conference is being held in association听with UCA鈥檚 Graduate Conference in Literature and Film. We are excited to host graduate students and听undergraduates, including those participating in their first academic conference.
Plenary Speaker: Dr. William A. Quinn, who has been a scholar and teacher of Chaucer and other听medieval literature at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville for many years, joins us to speak of his听current scholarship exploring Henry Wadsworth Longfellow鈥檚 translation of Dante鈥檚 Divine Comedy.
Submission Deadline: September 18, 2026
鈥� Individual Papers:
o Send an abstract of no more than 300 words to apa2026@uca.edu.
o Include university affiliation at top.
o For creative works, please provide a brief description.
o For students, please indicate at top whether graduate or undergraduate.
鈥� Panels:
o We welcome pre-formed panels of 3-4 presenters.
o Each presenter should submit an abstract (no more than 300 words) to听apa2026@uca.edu.
o Include language at top indicating panel title and fellow presenters.
Presentations will run 15 minutes.
Conference Dates: November 6-7, 2026
Location: University of Central Arkansas (Conway, AR)
Lodging for APA Conference Guests. We have reserved 15 rooms at a discounted rate:
Home2 Suites by Hilton Conway –听叠辞辞办颈苍驳听尝颈苍办听–听APA Annual Conference听– November 2026:&驳迟;&驳迟;听
Home2 Suites:听Reservations by phone听Call:听501-504-2602听(Select Option “0”)听for听Front Desk. Provide听the Front Desk Agent with the听Group听Code “APA”.