Skip navigation

Monthly Archives: June 2021

Register for the Trans/Inter/Cross Symposium (space is limited!)

The registration portal for Trans/Inter/Cross: A Symposium on the Fantastic Between Genres, Media, and Cultures on October 1-3, 2021 is now open! Accepted session participants have already been given a chance to register, but there are still some spaces left for anyone who wants to attend without presenting.

Please be aware that this event is very limited in size, and we believe that the remaining space will go quickly! If you see that all available spots are already taken, you can click through to be added to the wait list (in case of cancellations or other changes). Once you have registered, you will be sent information for the symposium hotel block.

Register here: https://iaftfita.wildapricot.org/event-4272794

Call for SFL Division Head Applications

The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts is accepting applications for the position of Division Head of the Science Fiction Literature (SFL) Division. (Please see division description below.)

Division Heads are appointed by the President, on the recommendation of the First Vice President, who chairs the Council of Division Heads, after formal discussion and majority vote of the Board. The term is for three years with an opportunity to renew for an additional term.

The incoming SFL Division Head will shadow Pawel Frelik, the current SFL Division Head, through March 2023, and will take over full SFL DH duties after the March 2023 conference.

Each Division Head organizes and supervises all conference activity within a subdivision of fantastic scholarship. Division Heads work under the guidance of the First Vice President. Division Heads are responsible for recruiting session proposals and papers and are responsible for formatting these to the requirements of the First Vice President. Division Heads are responsible for forwarding all information to the First Vice President in a timely fashion. Division Heads have the responsibility to check the draft program for accuracy and AV needs. Division Heads are expected to liaise with other Division Heads and the First Vice President. The First Vice President is the final arbiter of the program under the aegis of the Executive Board. At the conference, the Division Heads oversee sessions in their respective Divisions and collect suggestions for future topics, special guests, etc.

Those interested in applying must send both a cover letter explaining their interest in, and qualifications for, the position, and a current CV, to the First Vice President, Valorie Ebert at iafa.1vp@fantastic-arts.org, no later than 20 July 2021.

SFL Division description:

The Science Fiction Literature division welcomes critical scholarship on topics related to science fiction novels, short stories, poems, and other forms that can be considered literary as well as those focused on critical theories related to the SF genre. This division’s emphasis is textual as well as theoretical; papers considering science fiction in film, television, or comics are encouraged to apply to the Film and Television division or the Visual & Performing Arts and Audiences division instead.

Call for Volunteers: SCIAFA Undergraduate Representative

Are you an undergraduate looking to build your CV in anticipation of applying to grad school or other future jobs? Do you know an undergraduate who wants to take on a position of leadership? Then I would recommend nominating yourself for the SCIAFA undergraduate representative position! You would gain experience in managing an international organization representing hundreds of students! Responsibilities would include organizing and managing a mentorship program (along with the vice representative of SCIAFA) and proposing and moderating a panel at ICFA—an international conference with hundreds of attendees annually.

SCIAFA represents all students, but the leadership is currently only graduate students—we want to make sure the needs of every students are being met so we of the board are seeking an undergraduate who is ready and willing to help lead this organization and make an impact in SCIAFA and IAFA more broadly!

If you are interested in applying for this position follow this link: https://forms.gle/xgjp4YYRJ4bMBC7y5

Thank you so much for considering this position and please feel free to email me (iafa.studentcaucus@fantastic-arts.org) with any questions!

Samantha Baugus
University of Florida
Doctoral Candidate
Student Caucus Representative for the International Association for the Fantasy in the Arts

News from your IAFA Board

Dear IAFA Members:

Your IAFA Executive Board met on Saturday 6/5 and Sunday 6/6 and, among other business, discussed several new initiatives, two of which we are happy to announce:

1) We will create a J.E.D.I. (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Officer and formulate an IAFA policy document on Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. This will be a lengthy process involving extensive dialogue and research into best practices, and we will keep you posted as the process evolves.

2) In response to our growing international membership and the numerous difficulties members have expressed involved in funding travel, we are creating a virtual conference to be held yearly beginning in October 2022. Again, there are many details to be worked out, but we will keep you informed.

As a result of these and other changes there will be many new opportunities to gain experience, strengthen your C.V. or resumé, and perhaps start down the path to future leadership in the IAFA. So please keep an eye on your IAFA list serve!

In further news:

As Brian Attebery is stepping down after 16 years of distinguished service as Editor of our Journal of the Fantastic of the Arts, for which the organization owes him a great debt of gratitude. A search will soon take place to identify new editorial leadership, so stay tuned for a call for applications.

Bill Clemente, our long-time Treasurer responsible for getting the IAFA taxed-exempt status and putting us on sound financial footing, is also stepping down. Thank you Bill! A search will happen soon so….well, you know.

We all wish Brian and Bill the very best in their future endeavors!

On behalf of the IAFA Executive Board,

Dale Knickerbocker
IAFA President