[csaa-forum] Call for papers – (Un)Ethical Futures: Utopia, Dystopia & Science Fiction

[Colloquy Journal]

*(UN)ETHICAL FUTURES: UTOPIA, DYSTOPIA & SCIENCE FICTION*

*16 & 17 December 2017*


Hosted by Monash University in Melbourne, Australia

Organised by Monash University and the University of Warwick with funding
provided by the Monash Warwick Alliance


*CALL FOR PAPERS*

*Deadline: 13 August 2017*


*(Un)Ethical Futures* is a two-day interdisciplinary conference exploring
the ethical concerns of utopia, dystopia and science fiction. As we find
the world in a state of significant social and political uncertainty,
representations of more (or less) ethical futures can help us understand
the impulses driving society today, and our hopes and fears for the future.
The conference will feature keynote addresses, interactive workshops and
concurrent panels.



Keynote speakers: Andrew Milner (Monash University & University of Warwick)
and Jacqueline Dutton (University of Melbourne).

Workshop leaders will include: Sascha Morrell (Monash University) and Meg
Mundell (author of *Black Glass* & *Things I Did for Money*).



The conference will engage with a wide range of disciplines across the
humanities, arts, and social sciences, including literary studies, media
studies, history, philosophy, and cultural studies. The conference themes
also span multiple genres and modes, from science fiction (sf) about the
near or distant future, to alternative histories about better or worse
presents, to fantastic stories about utopian or dystopian societies. The
conference’s focus on ethics allows for a range of topics, including
environmental ethics and climate change, human bioethics, animal ethics,
the ethical use of technology, ethics of alterity and the ethical treatment
of others, as well as related issues of social justice.


Possible areas of engagement include, but are not limited to:


   - Environmental ethics in speculative climate fiction (“cli-fi”)
   - Bioethical issues in sf, including biopunk and cyberpunk
   - The treatment or representation of animals, artificial intelligence,
   aliens or other posthuman or non-human entities in utopia, dystopia and sf
   - Historical and literary attempts at creating real or fictional utopian
   communities
   - Utopian and dystopian dimensions of Indigenous literature and
   traditions
   - Critiques of colonialism, racism, sexism and institutional abuses in
   utopia, dystopia and sf
   - Philosophy, ethics and the utopian impulse
   - Politics, activism, social justice and ethics in sf and its fan
   communities
   - Ethics, alterity and literary form in speculative fiction


We invite the submission of proposals for 20-minute papers. We also welcome
proposals for panels (three 20-minute papers) and readings of original
creative work, including short fiction and poetry (up to 20 minutes’
duration). Proposals should comprise a title, abstract (200–300 words), and
a brief author bio (100 words).


Please submit proposals via email to *utopias-conference at monash.edu*
<utopias-conference at monash.edu> by *13 August 2017*.


Following the conference, convenors will circulate a call for submissions
for a special issue of *Colloquy: text, theory, critique
<http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/colloquy/>*, which will publish research
peer-reviewed articles, as well as creative writing and book reviews,
arising from the conference proceedings.


For more information, visit the conference website:
http://sites.google.com/monash.edu/utopias


--
*ZACHARY KENDAL*
Co-Editor-in-Chief

*Colloquy: text theory critique*
School of Languages, Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics
Room W716, 20 Chancellors Walk, Clayton Campus
20 Chancellor's Walk
Monash University
Clayton VIC 3800

E: zachary.kendal at monash.edu
monash.edu

T: +61 3 9905 9009
E: arts-colloquy at monash.edu
artsonline.monash.edu.au/colloquy/


*I wish to acknowledge the people of the Kulin Nations, on whose land
Monash University operates. I pay my respects to their Elders—past and
present.*
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