World Fair Researchers: It is that time of year again. 

Call for Papers: World Fairs and Expositions Area

Popular Culture Association Conference

15-18 April, 2020 Philadelphia PA, United States

The World Fairs and Expositions Area of the Popular Culture Association invites proposals for its 2019 national conference, to be held 15-18 April in Philadelphia, PA. The area covers all aspects of research on world’s fairs and universal expositions, including theme-specific events such as commemorations, horticultural exhibitions, and biennales. We look for research on nearly contemporary events, such as Expo 2015 in Milan or in Kazakhstan 1n 2017, or news of forthcoming fairs, like the fair planned for Dubai in 2020. We are especially interested in works on our host city’s exhibition, the Centennial Exposition of 1876, and exhibitions for which 2020 marks a significant anniversary (like Sydney, Australia in 1870, Shanghai, China in 1920, or Osaka, Japan in 1970). We are interested in comparative approaches or thematic analyses that consider multiple expositions. But we are open to submissions on any and all world fairs and expositions.

Controversy will not be shunned!

This is a thought-provoking group, and we welcome submissions from a cross-disciplinary approach, and to encourage a collegial atmosphere we invite proposals from professors, independent scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates (with the guidance of a professor).

This year, since the meeting is in Philadelphia, PA, we can offer another attraction as well: Philadelphia was the site for the Centennial Exposition in 1876, we plan to tour the remnants of the exposition in Fairmount Park, including Memorial Hall (now home to the Please Touch museum).

 

Submission Guidelines:

Proposals in Word (.doc/.docx), Rich Text Format (.rtf), or PDF  for individual papers or panels (250 words for individual papers, or for each paper on a panel) should be submitted through the PCA website. Please note that, per PCA/ACA guidelines, a person may present only one paper at the annual meeting, regardless of subject area.  

 

PCA offers several travel grants for graduate students and new academics. For information, see www.pcaaca.org. 

 

Submission Deadline: November 1, 2019 

 

We look forward to seeing you Philadelphia!
 If you have any questions, please contact the Area Co-Chairs: 

Dr. Tom Prasch: tom.prasch@washburn.edu 

Dr. Laurie Dalton: laurie.dalton@acadiau.ca

 

DEADLINES AND IMPORTANT DATES

October 1, 2019              Early Bird Registration Opens

November 1, 2019          Deadline for Paper Proposals

December 1, 2019          Early Bird Registration ENDS

January 1, 2020               Regular Registration ENDS

January 2, 2020               Late Registration BEGINS—be sure to reserve your spot in the program!

January 15, 2020             Brigman and Jones Awards Deadline

January 20, 2020             Preliminary Schedule Available

February 1, 2020             Registration for Presenters ENDS—participants who have not registered dropped from the program at the end of the day

FEBRUARY 2, 2020          REGISTRATION SYSTEM CLOSES at Midnight

March 1, 2020                 Non-Presenters Late Registration OPENS

April 15-18, 2020            Philly!