Call for Papers: Transformations in/by Science Fiction
December 2015
Deletion, the open access online forum in Science Fiction studies, is calling for papers on the theme of Transformations in/by Science Fiction, for its December 2015 episode.
We are seeking scholarly articles as well as creative fiction or nonfiction, and topics may include (but are not restricted to):
- How has science fiction changed your life?
- What changes or transformations have occurred in science fiction between certain dates, and/or in
- particular sub-genres?
- How are personal and societal change represented in selected science fiction texts?
- What does science fiction have to say about how the present transforms the future?
- Forms of transformation in science fiction texts (this could be expressed in a creative piece, or in a scholarly analysis)
Written contributions should be between 1200 and 1500 words, and be formatted according to Harvard formatting style (with any references listed and where possible hyperlinked at the end of the contribution). Please email potential contributions as Word or rich text attachments to elizabeth.braithwaite@deakin.edu.au by close of business (AEDT) on Monday 2 November 2015.
Deletion also accepts and encourages non-standard submissions such as creative pieces, or think pieces taking the form of 2-3 minute podcasts or video blogs. Please contact elizabeth.braithwaite@deakin.edu.au for further advice on format requirements.
Video artworks should preferably be between 2 and 10 minutes, although longer or shorter video contributions may be accepted. Original artworks, sound design pieces, interactive games and any other contribution format are also accepted, at the discretion of the editorial team.
If you have any questions, please contact elizabeth.braithwaite@deakin.edu.au
Open Call for Papers
Upcoming Episodes of Deletion are scheduled for publication in October and December 2014, and late February/early March 2015. Specific deadlines for submissions are released on our Facebook page and Twitter feed, but are generally set at six weeks before publication date. Submissions and enquiries should be sent to the editors at deletion@deakin.edu.au.
—
Deletion, the open access online forum in science fiction studies, publishes original ‘think pieces’ bimonthly of approximately 1200-1500 words. Committed to writing about science fiction in all its forms and modes of operation, Deletion will invite contributions from those writing about science fiction from a literary, philosophical, artistic, scientific, aural, televisual, games, and cinematic context.
Deletion will also solicit papers from the leading scholars in science fiction studies, organise and be open to regular ‘special editions’, and will accept and encourage non-standard submissions such as creative pieces. Submissions can also take the form of 2-3 minute podcasts or video blogs.
Deletion’s work will be framed around the following questions;
- what is science fiction today?
- what are its social, cultural and political functions?
- what forms does it take and what are the relationships in and between those forms?
- and how does creative practice best interpret contemporary science fiction?
An open Call for Papers and creative pieces for publication in Deletion is now open and topics of interest include but are not limited to:
- Children in contemporary science fiction;
- Environmentalism;
- Scientific understanding and science fiction;
- Haptic science fiction;
- Robotics;
- Literary dystopia;
- The suburban artwork of Gregory Crewdson;
- Independent science fiction cinema;
- Fictions of science in games;
- Surveillance;
- 4-D science fiction cinema;
- Philosophy and science fiction;
- The Alien messiah;
- Case studies: authors and auteurs;
- Costume and design in science fiction;
- Transhumanism;
- Science fiction installation art;
- Ethics and morals;
- Whiteness in science fiction;
- Music video and futurism;
- Cult science fiction;
- Science fiction poetry;
- Special affect;
- Eugenics;
- Armageddon;
- Romance in science fiction;
- Science fiction music;
- Time travel;
- The urban, the rural;
- Sex in science fiction.
“Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today, but the core of science fiction — its essence — has become crucial to our salvation, if we are to be saved at all.”
~ Isaac Asimov