CFP: Claims for the Paranormal (11/15/03; PCA/ACA, 4/7/04 - 04/10/04)

The Popular Culture Association is soliciting papers for the PCA/ACA national conference in San Antonio, TX April 7-10, 2004. Deadline for submissions is Nov. 15, 2003. As is the PCA/ACA’s mission, all disciplinary approaches and interdisciplinary approaches are invited. Papers submitted for panels in this area may include analyses of specific claims for the paranormal (e.g.: John Edwards, John Mack, Joan of Arc, Benny Hinn, Nostradamus, Uri Geller) or the social/political/rhetorical functions/histories/trends of claims for the paranormal in general (e.g.: claims for experiences of ESP, life after death, etc.; or claims of contact with aliens/ghosts/angels). Scholarship that addresses the intersections of conspiracy theories and claims of the paranormal is particularly welcome.

Please send a 300-500-word abstract, paper title, and contact information to Dr. Bridget Roussell Cowlishaw in the body of an e-mail (no attachments, please). Though e-mail is preferred, snail-mail submissions may be made to the address below.

The deadline for submissions is November 15, 2003.
Please note that everyone presenting at the conference must be members of the PCA or the ACA before the date of the conference. Membership instructions will be included in letters of acceptance. For PCA and ACA membership details, please visit our website.