[Air-L] CFP - Diversifying Persona Studies: Online International Conference and Special Issue

[Kim Barbour]

(Apologies for cross-posting)

*Diversifying Persona Studies: Online International Conference and Special
Issue*

-What is persona studies? What should persona studies be?

-How can the field be as inclusive and diverse as possible?

-What are possible futures for persona studies research and scholarship?

In 2021 we wish to ask hard questions about the assumptions and the scope
of study that have hitherto grounded the field. We see this as a crucial
opportunity to destabilise and to interrogate what we do and why we do it,
to make space for new voices and areas of study, and to actively facilitate
inclusive scholarship.

*Participation in the online conference is in two parts.

Accepted presenters pre-record a 10 minute research presentation and submit
with an extended abstract of 800-1000 words. These will be collated into
themed playlists, equivalent to a conference session. These playlists,
extended abstracts and author bios will be circulated in a program to
registered presenters and other participants for viewing throughout July
and August.

Presenters will then be invited to participate in a webinar with others
from their playlist or theme. The webinar will be broadcast live and be
equivalent to a panel and Q&A discussion. Those watching the livestream
will be able to ask questions, through the webinar chair, both before and
during the panel. The webinars will be crucial opportunities to discuss,
develop, and grow our work.

All presentation proposals can also be considered for inclusion in the
special double issue of Persona Studies. This issue will be, as always,
online and open-access, with no APCs.

All topics relate to Persona Studies will be considered but we particularly
encourage and welcome submissions that address:

-understudied theories of persona

-challenging persona studies

-queering personas

-activism and persona

-indigeneity and persona

-race and persona

-disability and persona

-age and persona

-gender and persona

-exceptional personas

-contested personas

-personas and the banal

-persona and migration/diaspora

-other considerations of difference, diversity, and justice with a persona
studies framework



*Call for Papers:*

Abstracts: In the first instance, submit a 300-500 word abstract outlining
the proposed presentation and its connection to the theme of diversifying
persona studies. Please include title, brief author biography, and indicate
whether you’d like to be considered for the 2021 special issue.

Send abstracts to personastudies [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject
heading “Diversifying Persona Studies” by 31 March 2021.

Special Issue: Building on the pre-recorded presentations and the webinar
discussions, Persona Studies will be issuing a special issue on the theme
of Diversifying Persona Studies in late 2021. Invitations to submit full
length (6000 words) papers will be based on abstracts submitted to
conference. Full papers will be due 16 August 2021.

Key dates:

-Abstracts due: 31 March 2021

-Notification of acceptance to present, invitation to submit full paper;
Registration opens: 15 April 2021

-Pre-recorded presentation and extended abstract due: 14 June 2021

-Registration closes: 5 July 2021

-Curated playlists and programs released: 5 July 2021

-Discussions with authors, livestreamed and recorded (dates indicative
only): 16 July 2021, 23 July 2021, 30 July 2021, 6 August 2021

-Full papers due for peer review: 16 August 2021

-Special issue released: October 2021

Costs: This conference and webinar series is being run on a volunteer
basis. We are asking a nominal registration fee for participants of AU$50
to offset the costs of administrative support. Contingent, unwaged, and
student presenters can apply to have this cost waived upon notification of
acceptance. Your capacity to pay will not impact your ability to
participate.