{"id":13,"date":"2025-03-06T15:32:41","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T15:32:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/ideolit\/?page_id=13"},"modified":"2025-08-04T09:20:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T09:20:19","slug":"events","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/ideolit\/events\/","title":{"rendered":"Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

IDEOLOGIES OF POPULAR FICTION IN ROMANIA AND BEYOND: Cultural Functions, Global Circulations<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

The International Conference for the Study of the Novel, Third Edition<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OCTOBER<\/strong><\/strong> 17-18, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, Cluj-Napoca, Romania<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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keynote speakers<\/strong> \u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013
Clive Bloom, Middlesex University London<\/em>
Matthieu Letourneux, Universit\u00e9 Paris Nanterre<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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call for papers<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
submission<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
registration<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
committees<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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CALL FOR PAPERS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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important dates <\/strong>
submission deadline \u2013\u2013 15 August 2025
notice of acceptance \u2013\u2013 2 September 2025<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/icsnpuscariu.wordpress.com\/<\/mark><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third edition of the International Conference for the Study of the Novel<\/em> continues the line of inquiry pursued in the previous editions of the conference, with respect to the new methods and analytical tools promoted in contemporary literary studies after the transnational and digital turns. The 2025 edition conference is organised within the framework of the research project Ideological Functions of Popular Literature in Postcommunist Romania<\/em> (IDEOLIT). This project is coordinated by Mihai Iov\u0103nel at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania, and analyses how popular and consumer literature captured and engaged with the ideologies of the transition from a communist system to a market-based one. It aims to explore the cultural, political, and economic implications of popular literature \u2013 often referred to as \u201cparaliterature\u201d \u2013 in both national and transnational contexts, but with a focus on peripheral markets of literary consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the last two decades, scholarly inquiry into popular genres \u2013 including science fiction, fantasy, crime fiction, romance, spy novels, children\u2019s literature, and comics \u2013 has intensified, contributing to a reconsideration of cultural hierarchies and the blurred lines between \u201chigh\u201d and \u201clow\u201d literature. These forms, once relegated to the margins of cultural legitimacy, are now recognised for their complex ideological roles and their ability to reshape literary canons, market dynamics, and cultural identities. This shift reflects broader postmodern debates on the hierarchy of cultural production, as well as the economic rationalities that dominate the neoliberal age, where artistic value is often conflated with market performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Clive Bloom argues in Best-Sellers: Popular Fiction Since 1900<\/em> (2002) and Violent London: 2000 Years of Riots, Rebels and Revolts<\/em> (2010), popular literature serves not only as entertainment but also as a political and sociological artifact, reflecting and refracting the ideologies of its time. Likewise, Matthieu Letourneux\u2019s Fictions \u00e0 la cha\u00eene. Litt\u00e9ratures s\u00e9rielles et culture m\u00e9diatique<\/em> (2017) provides a framework for understanding the seriality, industrial logic, and cultural legitimacy of popular narratives, especially within the Francophone and European traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Popular novel is not only a cultural phenomenon but also a site of economic circulation, institutional negotiation, political representation, epistemic imagination, sociographic reflection, and transnational exchange. The asymmetrical flow of cultural goods \u2013 typically from the Anglo-American \u201ccentre\u201d to semi-peripheral or peripheral markets \u2013 raises important questions about cultural dependency, resistance, and hybridisation. Yet exceptions to this flow, such as the recent global popularity of Nordic noir (see Crime Fiction as World Literature<\/em>), signal the potential for alternative models of circulation and influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We invite proposals that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. The competition between subgenres and the transformation of the literary canon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. The cultural economy of popular literature and its market dynamics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Institutional imaginaries and their literary representations (e.g., the police, gendered labour).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Political dimensions of popular novel: feminism, racial diversity, and ideology in genre fiction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. The epistemic function of speculative genres in relation to science, technology, and futurism.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Class representation and sociographic mapping in popular fiction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Transnational circulations: literary imports and exports, cultural asymmetries, and translation flows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Romanian popular novel in comparative, regional, or global frameworks.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    We welcome proposals from scholars working in literary studies, cultural studies, media studies, sociology, translation studies, and related fields. Contributions focused on the Romanian context, especially in dialogue with global perspectives, are particularly encouraged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The 2025 edition of the International Conference for the Study of the Novel<\/em> continues the initiative launched in the first edition, and welcomes workshops meant to share the preliminary or final results achieved within research team grants concerned with the formal, thematic, systemic, transnational, quantitative, or digital study of the novel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013\u2013 organizers: <\/strong>Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, Romanian Academy, Cluj-Napoca Branch; Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Letters and Arts (PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-1275, within PNCDI IV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013\u2013 location: <\/strong>Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, 21 Emil Racovi\u021b\u0103 St., Cluj-Napoca, Romania<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    further reading:<\/strong><\/summary>\n

    Baghiu, Stefan, and Anca Simina Martin. 2024. “The Transmedial Triangulation of Dracula: How Cinema Turned the Gothic Bloodsucker into a Gothicized Serial Killer.” Nature Humanities and Social Sciences Communications<\/em> 11, no. 1015, online: https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41599-024-03531-2
     
    Berberich, Christine, ed. 2014. The Bloomsbury Introduction to Popular Fiction<\/em>. London\u2013New Delhi\u2013New York\u2013Sydney: Bloomsbury Academic.

    Bloom, Clive. 2021. Bestsellers: Popular Fiction Since 1900<\/em>, 3rd ed. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Bloom, Clive. 2010. Violent London: 2000 Years of Riots, Rebels and Revolts<\/em>. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Boltanski, Luc. 2014. Mysteries and Conspiracies. Detective Stories, Spy Novels and the Making of Modern Societies<\/em>. Translated by Catherine Porter. Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Bordwell, David. 2023. Perplexing Plots: Popular Storytelling and the Poetics of Murder<\/em>. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Edwards, Martin. 2022. The Life of Crime. Detecting the History of Mysteries and Their Creators<\/em>. London: HarperCollins UK.

    Frantz, Sarah S.G., and Eric Murphy Selinger. 2012. New Approaches to Popular Romance Fiction<\/em>. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc.

    Iov\u0103nel, Mihai. 2021. Istoria literaturii rom\u00e2ne contemporane: 1990\u20132020<\/em>. Ia\u0219i: Polirom.
    Leith, Sam. 2024. The Haunted Wood: A History of Childhood Reading<\/em>. Toronto: Sutherland House Books.

    Letourneux, Matthieu. 2017. Fictions \u00e0 la cha\u00eene. Litt\u00e9ratures s\u00e9rielles et culture m\u00e9diatique<\/em>. Paris: Seuil.

    Levine, Caroline. 2015. Forms. Whole, Rhythm, Hierarchies, Networks<\/em>. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Moraru, Christian. 2024. Flat Aesthetics: Twenty-First-Century American Fiction and the Making of the Contemporary<\/em>. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

    Moretti, Franco. 2013. Distant Reading<\/em>. London: Verso.

    Nilsson, Louise, David Damrosch, Theo D\u2019haen, eds. 2017. Crime Fiction as World Literature<\/em>. New York: Bloomsbuy Academic, 2017.

    Roberts, Adam. 2025. Fantasy: A Short History<\/em>, London\u2013New York\u2013Oxford\u2013New Delhi\u2013Sydney: Bloomsbury Academic.

    Terian, Andrei. 2019. “Istoria literar\u0103 \u0219i analiza cantitativ\u0103. Un studiu al pie\u021bei de carte actuale din Rom\u00e2nia.” In Exploring the Digital Turn<\/em>, edited by Anca-Diana Bibiri, Camelia Gr\u0103dinaru, Emanuel Grosu, Andreea Mironescu, and Roxana Patra\u0219, pp. 33\u201343. Ia\u0219i: Editura Universit\u0103\u021bii “Al. I. Cuza.”
    <\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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    ^^<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    SUBMISSION<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Please send an abstract <\/strong>of 300\u2013400 words, along with a short biographical note <\/strong>(maximum 150 words).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The working languages of the conference are <\/strong>English, French, and Romanian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013\u2013 important dates: <\/strong>
    submission deadline \u2013\u2013 15 August 2025
    notice of acceptance \u2013\u2013 2 September 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013\u2013 submission address and guidelines<\/strong>:<\/strong> icsn.proposals@gmail.com

    \u2013\u2013 contact information:<\/strong>
    . Mihai Iov\u0103nel
    \u2013\u2013 researcher, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Letters and Arts
    (PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-1275, within PNCDI IV)
    . \u0218tefan Baghiu
    \u2013\u2013 lecturer, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Letters and Arts <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    ^^<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    REGISTRATION & FEES<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013\u2013 regular registration fees: <\/strong>50 Euros
    \u2013\u2013 PhD students and early-career researchers under 26: <\/strong>30 Euros
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Further details regarding payment methods to be established.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    ^^<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    COMMITTEES<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013\u2013 main organizer:<\/strong>
    Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, Cluj-Napoca<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013\u2013 partners:<\/strong>
    Babe\u0219-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca
    Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013\u2013 organizing committee of The International Conference for the Study of the Novel<\/strong>:<\/strong>
    Cosmin Borza [Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, Cluj-Napoca<\/em>]
    Liliana Burlacu [Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, Cluj-Napoca<\/em>]
    Daiana G\u00e2rdan [Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, Cluj-Napoca<\/em>]
    Emanuel Modoc [Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, Cluj-Napoca<\/em>]
    Magda W\u00e4chter [Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, Cluj-Napoca<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013\u2013 organizing committee of the third edition:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>
    Ana-Maria Deliu [Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu<\/em>]
    Mihai Iov\u0103nel [Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu \/ G. C\u0103linescu Institute of Literary History and Theory, Bucharest<\/em>]
    Anca Simina Martin [Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu<\/em>]
    Andreea Mironescu [Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu \/ Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Ia\u0219i<\/em>]
    Andrei Nae [Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu \/ University of Bucharest<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013\u2013 scientific committee:<\/strong>
    \u0218tefan Baghiu [Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu<\/em>]
    Paul Cernat [University of Bucharest<\/em>]
    Dan Cepraga [University of Padua, Italy<\/em>]
    C\u00e9cile Folschweiller [INALCO, Paris<\/em>]
    Alex Goldi\u0219 [Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca<\/em>]
    Mihai Iov\u0103nel [Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu \/ G. C\u0103linescu Institute of Literary History and Theory, Bucharest<\/em>]
    Angelo Mitchievici [Ovidius University of Constan\u021ba<\/em>]
    Roxana Patra\u0219 [Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Ia\u0219i<\/em>]
    Cristoph Sch\u00f6ch [Trier Center for Digital Humanities, Germania<\/em>]
    Andrei Terian [Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu<\/em>]
    C\u0103lin Teuti\u0219an [Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca<\/em>]
    Adrian Tudurachi [Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, Cluj-Napoca<\/em>]
    Mihaela Ursa [Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca<\/em>]
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    ^^<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    IDEOLOGIES OF POPULAR FICTION IN ROMANIA AND BEYOND: Cultural Functions, Global Circulations The International Conference for the Study of the Novel, Third Edition OCTOBER 17-18, 2025 Sextil Pu\u0219cariu Institute of Linguistics and Literary History, Cluj-Napoca, Romania keynote speakers \u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013\u2013Clive Bloom, Middlesex University LondonMatthieu Letourneux, Universit\u00e9 Paris Nanterre CALL FOR PAPERS important dates submission deadline \u2013\u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/ideolit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/ideolit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/ideolit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/ideolit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/ideolit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/ideolit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":141,"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/ideolit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13\/revisions\/141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grants.ulbsibiu.ro\/ideolit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}