CAALS is pleased to announce CFPs for ALA 2023
May 25-28, Boston MA

PANEL 1: Oceanic Orientations in Asian/American Literature

This panel invites papers that are invested in exploring the new futures that emerge when centering an oceanic reading practice of Asian/American literature. How does a consideration of the ocean ask us to reframe the field’s engagement with borders, militarization, migration, displacement, refugee passages, transpacific labor, posthumanism, and environmental ecologies? What new forms of connectivity does this allow us to build and what interventions does it allow us to move toward?

Please send your proposals (250 words) and a brief CV (max. two pages) to Rachel Yim at ryim@scrippscollege.edu by Friday, January 23, 2023.

PANEL 2: Techno-Orientalism in 2023: Possible Futures in Asian American Speculative Fiction and Science Fiction

In 2015, David S. Roh, Betsy Huang, and Greta A. Niu’s edited collection Techno-Orientalism: Imagining Asia in Speculative Fiction, History, and Media defined techno-orientalism as “the phenomenon of imagining Asia and Asians in hypo- or hypertechnological terms in cultural productions and political discourse.” Since the timely publication of this volume the number of techno-orientalist presentations of Asian and Asian American people has significantly increased throughout speculative fiction, science fiction, and other literary genres.

With this proliferation and intensification of techo-orientalist images in mind, this panel invites papers that explore this genre, particularly through the lens of the last few years.  How has the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of anti-Asian hate that it engendered reawakened techno-orientalist tropes?  How have recent texts (inclusive of literature, film and television, video games and graphic narrative) grappled with this genre?

Work considering speculative fiction and science fiction would also be welcomed.

Please email your proposal (max. 250 words) and a brief CV (max. 500 words) to Laura Wright at laura.wright@umwestern.edu by Friday, January 23, 2023. Please be sure to mention any technological needs for your presentation.

PANEL 3: OPEN CALL: Current Debates in Asian American Literary Studies

We welcome proposals on current debates regarding Asian American literature. Our aim is to provide a forum for new and innovative work in Asian American literary studies.

Please email your proposal (max. 250 words) and a brief CV (max. 500 words) to Timothy K. August at timothy.august@stonybrook.edu by Friday, January 23, 2023. Please be sure to mention any technological needs for your presentation.