06. 10. 2023 / 16:22

We invite scholars and researchers from various disciplines to submit papers for an upcoming interdisciplinary conference on Suburban Studies that takes place on May 13-14, 2024 at Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic. The conference aims to explore the intersection between various scholarly fields and the suburban experience, and how literature and other media have portrayed, shaped, and reflected suburban life and its evolution.

Transdisciplinary Conference on Sub/urban Studies 

Suburbanization has been a dominant trend in global urban development in the past century, with urban spaces and suburbs becoming the residence of choice for millions of people around the world. This transformation has had a profound impact on the social, cultural, economic, and political dynamics of urban areas. Literature, history, sociology, psychology, geography, geoinformatics and other disciplines have provided the methodology and research that has been important for the examination, critique, and celebration of the modern suburban experience, from its inception in the early 20th century to the present day.

We welcome papers that address various aspects of suburban studies from the perspective of diverse scholarly discipline, including but not limited to:

  • The representation of suburbs in literature
  • Suburban identity, history, and culture
  • Suburban sprawl and environmental issues
  • Class, race, and gender in suburban spaces
  • The impact of suburbanization on urban development
  • The influence of suburban literature on popular culture
  • Suburban fiction and the coming-of-age narrative
  • The portrayal of domesticity and family life in suburban literature and media
  • Suburban architecture and design
  • The role of suburban communities in civic engagement and politics
  • Periphery vs. centre

Submissions may be in the form of individual papers, panel proposals or round tables. Individual papers should be no longer than 20 minutes in length, and panel proposals should consist of three to four papers. Please include an abstract of no more than 250 words for individual papers, or 500 words for panel proposals, along with a brief biography and contact information.
The conference will take place on May 13-14, 2024 at the Arts Centre of Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic, and will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops and round-tables. Selected papers will be published in a scholarly monograph by a major international publisher.

Conference language: preferred English, possible French

Please submit your proposals by October 30th, 2023 to pavlina.flajsarova@upol.cz. Notifications of acceptance will be sent by December 31st, 2023. We look forward to your contributions to this exciting and interdisciplinary conference on Suburban Studies

Conference organisers and committee:

  • Pavlína Flajšarová Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic,
  • Jiří Flajšar, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
  • Marie Voždová, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
  • Vít Voženílek, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
  • Jaroslav Burian, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
  • Jakub Žejdlík, Palacký University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
  • Florian Freitag, Universität Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
  • Becky Nicolaides, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
  • Andrew Wiese, San Diego State University, San Diego, USA
  • Mauricette Fournier, Université Clermont Auvergne, France

Fees:
BA/MA/PhD students 50 Euros
Post-docs 80 Euros
Academics 100 Euros
Guests 25 Euros
Participants from project universities (Palacký University, Duisburg-Essen, Université Clermont Auvergne) FREE

The conference is co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme under the project Urbanism and Suburbanization in the EU Countries and Abroad: Reflection in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts (2021-1-CZ01-KA220-HED-000023281).