Welcome to the Westerns and the West 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! 

WESTERNS AND THE WEST

The Westerns and the West area encompasses studies of all aspects of the transnational North American West. Westerns and the West topics are wide ranging. They include all forms of westerns, such as novels, art, comics, music, films, and television, produced anywhere in the world. They also include all scholarly fields, such as Ethnic Studies, Environmental Studies, Gender Studies, History, and Anthropology. Generally, the Westerns panels as a whole reflect a balanced study of fact and fiction, a variety of genres, and inclusion of diverse cultures populating the region.

For consideration, submit an abstract of up to 250 words.

For additional information, contact the area chair, Mark Bernhardt, at
mark.bernhardt@tamucc.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