Conference theme: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Pop and Popular Culture

This symposium seeks to explore the dynamics of mass culture, folk culture, and other notions of widespread cultural practices and/or experiences. We approach pop culture and popular culture not as fixed or opposing categories, but as historically contingent and politically charged constructs—whose distinction has been both instrumentalized by institutional power and long marginalized within academic inquiry, despite their centrality to everyday cultural expression. We invite contributions from across disciplines and time periods that engage with this theme, with particular interest in transdisciplinary approaches and connections to French and Italian studies. Submissions may include traditional papers, as well as creative and performance-based interventions. We welcome proposals from a wide range of disciplines, including literary studies, cultural studies, history, philosophy, political science, gender studies, sociology, anthropology, and performance studies, with particular interest in work that bridges these fields.

Keynote Speaker: to be determined. 

We extend our sincere thanks to our generous sponsors for their support in making this conference possible