CFP

Call for Papers

10th PACES Conference for Undergraduate Students: “Fantasy”

May 11th, 2026
Department of English Language and Literature
Pamukkale University, Denizli

The Department of English Language and Literature at Pamukkale University is pleased to announce the TÜBİTAK-supported 10th PACES Conference, a milestone celebration of a decade dedicated to fostering undergraduate scholarly excellence. This year’s conference theme is “Fantasy.”

For ten years, PACES has provided a unique platform for undergraduate students to engage in academic discourse, present original research, and contribute to the vibrant community of emerging scholars. As we mark this special anniversary, we invite submissions that explore the boundless realms of fantasy and the fantastic across literature, culture, and the arts.

We welcome papers that examine how fantasy disrupts, transforms, and reimagines our understanding of reality. From high fantasy and magical realism to supernatural horror and speculative worlds, the fantastic offers a space where boundaries dissolve, conventions are challenged, and alternative possibilities emerge. The conference aims to foster critical discussions on the ways fantasy functions as a mode of storytelling, cultural critique, and imaginative world-building.

PACES aspires to support undergraduate students within an academic framework, allowing them to present their research and engage in meaningful discourse on literary and cultural issues. A selection of papers presented at the conference will be published in HALO Journal, a publication supported by TÜBİTAK.

Suggested Topics for Papers

(including but not limited to)

English and American Literature

  • Fantasy in Fiction, Drama, and Poetry
  • Gothic and Supernatural Literature
  • Magical Realism and Literary Fantasy
  • Myth, Folklore, and Fairy Tales in Literature
  • Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Fiction
  • Dystopian and Utopian Fantasy Worlds
  • The Hero’s Journey and Quest Narratives in Fantasy
  • Dark Fantasy and Horror Elements in Literature

Comparative Literature

  • Cross-Cultural Representations of the Fantastic
  • Translation of Fantasy Literature
  • Fantasy Across Literary Traditions
  • The Fantastic in World Literatures
  • East Meets West: Comparative Approaches to Fantasy
  • Postcolonial Perspectives on Fantasy and Myth

Cultural Studies

  • Representation of Fantasy in Media and Popular Culture
  • Fantasy and Identity Construction
  • The Fantastic and Social Commentary
  • Gender and Sexuality in Fantasy Worlds
  • Fantasy Fandom and Community Building
  • The Politics of World-Building

Cinema

  • Fantasy Film and Visual Storytelling
  • Special Effects and World-Building in Cinema
  • Adaptations of Fantasy Literature
  • Animation and the Fantastic
  • Fantasy Television Series and Narrative Structures
  • The Aesthetics of the Fantastic in Film

Translation Studies

  • Challenges in Translating Fantasy and the Fantastic
  • Cultural Adaptation of Fantasy Texts
  • Translating Invented Languages and Fantasy Terminology
  • Localization of Fantasy in Different Cultures

World Languages and Literatures

  • The Fantastic in World Literary Traditions
  • Fantasy and the Marvellous in Global Literatures
  • The Fantastic in Turkish Literary Tradition
  • Contemporary Turkish Fantasy and Speculative Fiction
  • Ottoman Literature and the Supernatural
  • Turkish Folklore and Fantastic Elements
  • Magical Realism in Turkish Contemporary Fiction
  • Comparative Approaches to Fantasy Across Cultures
  • Mythology and Folklore in World Literature
  • Fantasy Literature Beyond the Anglophone Canon
  • The Supernatural in Non-Western Literary Traditions
  • Cross-Cultural Fantasy Narratives and World-Building
  • Global Perspectives on Magical Realism
  • Fantasy in Multilingual and Transnational Contexts

Call for Posters

10th PACES Conference for Undergraduate Students: “Fantasy”

May 11th, 2026
Department of English Language and Literature
Pamukkale University, Denizli

The Department of English Language and Literature at Pamukkale University is pleased to announce the TÜBİTAK-supported 10th PACES Conference, celebrating a decade of undergraduate scholarly excellence. This year’s theme is “Fantasy.”

For ten years, PACES has provided a unique platform for undergraduate students to engage in academic discourse, present original research, and contribute to the vibrant community of emerging scholars. We invite poster submissions that explore the fantastic across literature, culture, and the arts.

Posters will be exhibited at the conference venue, offering participants an opportunity to visually present their research and engage in discussion with peers and faculty members.

Suggested Topics for Posters

(including but not limited to)

Topics listed under Call for Papers are also valid for poster presentations.

Poster Presentation Guidelines

Poster Structure

  • Title and author information
  • Introduction to text/theme
  • Key argument
  • Supporting analysis (concise, well-selected examples)
  • Conclusion
  • Bibliography

Technical Requirements

  • Suggested size: 50 × 70 cm or A1
  • Total text ideally under 600 words

Design Guidelines

  • Clean layout with readable fonts
  • Short text blocks; avoid dense paragraphs
  • Clear visual hierarchy and strong readability