Welcome to the Virtual Identities and Self-Promoting community! We’re so happy you’re here and we want you take full advantage of the opportunities our new platform provides. Please read over the code of conduct so we can continue to ensure a safe and supportive space for all. Thank you for your dedication to the Popular Culture Association!

Call For Papers

Virtual Identities and Self-Promoting explores the fascinating intersection of self, identity construction, and self-promotion within the digital realm. The internet has revolutionized how we present ourselves to the world. Social media platforms, online games, virtual worlds, and even professional networking sites provide individuals with a myriad of opportunities to curate and project versions of themselves. In an increasingly online world, individuals craft and curate virtual identities across various platforms, engaging in strategic self-presentation to achieve personal, social, and professional goals.

This area seeks to explore this phenomenon from various angles. It aims to understand how virtual identities are constructed, performed, and leveraged in the pursuit of self-promotion. The online universe is a stage where we craft our online personas—choosing profile pictures, sharing content, and interacting with others—to project a desired image to the world. This self-promotion can take many forms: showcasing talents, building a personal brand, seeking validation, or connecting with like-minded individuals.

We recognize that the digital landscape constantly evolves, with new platforms, technologies, and social practices always emerging. This fluidity presents both opportunities and challenges for individuals navigating virtual spaces. While these spaces can foster connection and community building, they can also be used to disseminate and amplify harmful ideologies, including racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-government sentiment, and anti-LGBTQ+ viewpoints. This area encourages critical engagement with how virtual identities and self-promotion intersect with these broader social and political issues, exploring how online interactions can bridge divides and reinforce existing inequalities.

We welcome papers that investigate a wide range of topics related to virtual identities and self-promoting, including but not limited to:

• The construction and performance of virtual identities
• Self-promotion strategies and tactics
• The impact of self-promotion on personal and professional life
• The role of technology in shaping virtual identities and self-promotion
• The cultural and societal implications of virtual identities and self-promotion

• The rise of influencer culture and the commodification of online identity
• The impact of algorithms and platform design on self-promotion strategies
• The use of virtual identities for social activism and political engagement
• The ethical considerations of online self-promotion, including issues of authenticity, transparency, and manipulation
• The psychological and emotional effects of curating and maintaining virtual identities
• The use of AI to generate and manipulate virtual identities (e.g., deepfakes, virtual influencers)
• The impact of AI-powered personalization on online self-presentation
• Ethical considerations surrounding the use of AI in shaping online identities
• Use of virtual identities and self-promotion to disseminate hate and/or racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-government, and anti-LGBTQ+ viewpoints
• The use of virtual identities and self-promotion to support acceptance of various communities
• The use of language and communication styles
• Virtual identities and self-promotion related to AI, podcast, social media, politics, influencer culture, user-generated culture, communication, self-discovery, identity construction, digital validation, or emotional well-being

Submission requirements:

Please submit a paper proposal/abstract of approximately 250 words at the Popular Culture Association Website. Individuals must be current, paid members to submit to the conference. Working professionals, scholars, educators, and students are all encouraged to submit.

For additional information, contact:

Katharine Hubbard, PhD, MFA

Winthrop University

hubbardka@winthrop.edu

Important Dates to Remember:

• Database opens for Submissions - Sept. 1, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Begins - Sept. 1, 2025
• Deadline for Paper Proposals - Nov. 30, 2025
• Travel Grant Applications Due - Dec. 15, 2025
• Early Bird Registration Ends for Presenters - Dec. 31, 2025
• Regular Registration Begins for Presenters - Jan. 1, 2026 
• Travel Grant Decisions / Notifications - Jan. 31, 2026
• Regular Registration Ends for Presenters - Jan. 31, 2026
• Late Registration Starts for Presenters - Feb. 1, 2026
• Preliminary Program draft available - Feb. 6, 2026

Those Presenters Not Registered by Feb. 15 Will be Dropped from the Program

CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA, GA - April 8-11, 2026