This is the Late July MAPACA newsletter. Our next conference is November 9-11 in Philadelphia, PA.
In This Newsletter, We Have:
- Early registration is open!
- Crash Course CFP - always a favorite!
- Our COVID-19 statement for the 2023 conference
- You Can Donate to MAPACA
- Important Dates
Early Registration
Early registration for this year’s conference is open at mapaca.net! With early registration you can take advantage of the lowest registration rates of the year. Early registration ends August 14 and regular registration begins August 15. Registration rates will go up starting August 15, so make sure you register as soon as you can!
Call for Proposals for our High-Density Popular Culture Crash Course
MAPACA seeks proposals for a special session at the 2023 annual conference. Please note: You ARE ALLOWED to present at the Crash Course whether you are already presenting at our 2023 conference or not. As long as you register for the conference and your Crash Course proposal is accepted, you are welcome!
Panel Overview
This high-density session will feature several 5-minute micro-presentations about current popular culture topics in a “crash course” about new and interesting phenomena. Since many attendees often spend the majority of their conference time attending presentations related to only one or a few areas, this special session will offer a chance to learn about a diverse range of topics meant to inform popular culture scholars beyond their specific research interests. Proposals will be selected based on merit and diversity of topics.
Topics
An ideal topic will be: current, significant, interesting, and the sort of thing people talk about before class/at parties/on social media. Examples could include (but are not limited to):
- “Disappearing content”: streaming service consolidations, series cancellations, and “making room” (i.e. Paramount+ cancellations of series as part of Showtime partnership)
- The growth of e-sports
- AI and the fears it generates (that, and the mediocre essays it generates)
- The current WGA (and now SAG-AFTRA) strike
- The return of tabletop gaming
- Barbenheimer and the impact on the film industry
- Insert your great idea here
How to Submit
Email a brief biography and a 75-word proposal that includes a presentation title, explanation of the topic, and identification of significance for contemporary popular culture research. (Please include this information in the body of your email, not as an attachment.) Email Dr. Tom Grochowski at crashcourse@mapaca.net. Deadline: September 8, 2023.
COVID Statement
We look forward to welcoming you to our 2023 conference this November. At this time, our conference will be mask-encouraged to support our immunocompromised community members. Remember, the proper wearing of a mask that covers your nose and mouth helps prevent community spread and protect everyone, especially immunocompromised colleagues.
Before the conference, please check to see if you are eligible for a vaccine or booster for COVID-19 or other seasonal diseases, such as the flu. Visit vaccines.gov to find vaccination locations near you. Keeping up to date with vaccines, in line with public health and your doctor’s guidance, further supports our community.
Finally, we are asking you to do your part in contributing to the health and well-being of your fellow MAPACA attendees by staying home if you feel sick and/or are symptomatic. The Mid-Atlantic Popular and American Culture Association (MAPACA) is monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely. These guidelines may change based on infection rates in the country and Philadelphia as the conference approaches.
Donations
If you are interested in sponsoring registration for another attendee reach out to us.
Did you know that MAPACA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit? This means that you can make tax-deductible donations to help us keep going! While all MAPACA Board members, Area Chairs, and the Response staff are volunteers, there are a lot of expenses involved with running our annual conference and Response, our open-access journal.
What could your donation buy? Here are some examples:
- $25 could help defray the extra costs of operations at the in-person conference.
- $75 could buy one hour of web development work (we are currently saving up for a huge website upgrade that will cost us many hours of work!)
With conference registration fees, MAPACA just about breaks even every year. Every little bit helps and your donations could help us do more!
To donate, please visit https://mapaca.net/donation
Important Dates
- Now-August 14: Early Registration
- August 15-September 14: Regular registration
- September 8: Deadline to send in a Crash Course proposal
- September 15-October 1: Late registration
- November 9-11: 2023 Conference in Philadelphia
Mid-Atlantic Popular & American Culture Association (MAPACA)
P.O. Box 1358
Lansdowne, PA 19050