Fan Communities and the Fantastic, International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts, USA, 16 - 20 March 2011

Participants are being sought for paper sessions on Fan Communities and the Fantastic for the 32nd annual International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts.

The focus of ICFA 32 is on the humorous and ridiculous in the fantastic, and while papers relating to this theme are welcome, proposals on any topics related to this call will be equally welcome. The conference will be held in Orlando, Florida, from March 16 - 20, 2011 at the Orlando Marriott Airport Hotel. Guests of Honor are Connie Willis and Terry Bisson, and the Guest Scholar is Andrea Hairston. For more information and updates about the conference, please visit www.iafa.org.
Possible topics include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Comparative studies of fan fiction writers and communities 
• The role of the Internet in building fan communities and shaping fannish interactions
• Fan and media convention culture
• Representations of self/identity in fandom
• Fandom-specific language, how communication evolves for and out of the community
• Meta and “wank” communities
• Anonymous communities
• Mentoring/gatekeeping
• Selling to fandom, using fandom to sell
• Fannish modes and methods of discourse
• Meta and acafans

Any fandoms based on fantasy or science fiction, or horror television, film, comics, gaming, anime, and manga are welcome.
In order to be considered for the 2011 program, your proposal to (1) read a paper, (2) recruit and chair a paper session, or (3) organize and chair a panel discussion should be date-stamped no later than November 15, 2010; electronic correspondence is preferred. You may not submit proposals to more than one Division. Proposals must include a 500-word abstract and appropriate bibliography indicating the project's scholarly or theoretical context. Be sure to include current/working contact information (snail mail AND email addresses). Presenters must be members of IAFA at the time of the conference. Be sure to indicate all audio-visual equipment needs in this initial proposal; later A/V requests cannot be guaranteed.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Barbara Lucas, Division Head
Participatory and Convergence Studies in the Fantastic
DFS
5925 Cabot Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30022
barbedwriting@yahoo.com