CFP American Nightmares II (Return to Salem): The Biennial Symposium of the Society for the Study of the American Gothic (10/1/2025; Salem, MA 3/19-21/2026)

American Nightmares II (Return to Salem): The Biennial Symposium of the Society for the Study of the American Gothic

deadline for submissions: 

October 1, 2025

full name / name of organization: 

Society for the Study of the American Gothic

contact email: 

jschell5@alaska.edu

source: https://call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/cfp/2025/05/23/american-nightmares-ii-return-to-salem-the-biennial-symposium-of-the-society-for-the

 Call For Proposals 

AMERICAN NIGHTMARES II: RETURN TO SALEMTHE BIENNIAL SYMPOSIUM OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF THE AMERICAN GOTHIC 

March 19th – 21st, 2026

Salem, Massachusetts 

Keynote Speaker: Victor Lavalle

Keynote Speaker: Siân Silyn Roberts 

Conference co-director: Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock, Central Michigan University

Conference co-director: Jennifer Schell, University of Alaska Fairbanks

With the kind support of the American Literature Association  Please join the Society for the Study of the American Gothic for our second biennial symposium! For this intimate event, we will be returning to the site of our first symposium, the iconic and charming Hawthorne Hotel in the heart of Salem, Massachusetts  (a hotel ranked as among the most haunted hotels in America). Who doesn’t like a sequel! Proposals are welcome for individual papers, 3- or 4-person paper sessions, and 5-person roundtable sessions on any aspect of the American Gothic, including literature, film, television, gaming, music, podcasts, and new media. Proposals on topics related to the conference theme (returns, sequels, and remakes) are particularly welcome. So are proposals on keynote speaker Victor LaValle. 

• Proposals for individual papers should be 200 words and include an abbreviated CV indicating academic affiliation and relevant publications, presentations, teaching, and/or research related to the topic of the presentation.

• Proposals for 3- or 4-person paper sessions should include abstracts and abbreviated CVs for each participant.

• Proposals for 5-person roundtables should explain the focus of the roundtable, identify the contribution of each participant, and provide abbreviated CVs for all involved.

• Proposals and questions may be directed to the conference co-directors, Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock (Jeffrey.Weinstock@cmich.edu) and Jennifer Schell (jschell5@alaska.edu). Please note that due to space constraints, this will be a relatively small event and audio-visual support will be limited

• THE DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS is October 1st, 2025.

Additional information about the Symposium and registration will be available on the SSAG website at http://www.americangothicsociety.com.  Interested parties are invited to join the SSAG facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/groups/societyforthestudyoftheamericangothic 

 

Last updated May 28, 2025