The 2024 Northeast Popular Culture Association (NEPCA) will host its annual conference this fall as a hybrid conference from Thursday, October 3 – Saturday, October 5. Virtual sessions will take place on Thursday evening and Friday morning via Zoom, and in-person sessions will take place on Friday evening and Saturday morning at Nichols College, Dudley, Massachusetts. 

Considering the significance of virtual technologies to our contemporary moment, presentations that grapple with the complexities of the digital in our daily lives, such as the use of artificial intelligence technologies, are particularly welcome. For this conference, think about the expansive potential of the concepts of “digital media” as well as “gaming culture”; we want to be able to represent a wide range of projects that fall within these categories.  

Presentations can consider digital media and gaming culture from a narrative, technological, or analytical perspective and are not limited to traditional papers. We encourage presentations that offer discussion of the applications of gaming; tutorials on digital media and/or gaming practices; and sessions that center gaming, as a practice, for the session itself. Non-digital gaming is also encouraged, as are experiments with gamification in the classroom. Finally, analyses of individual game titles or types are always welcome. 

Topics that might be covered include, but are not limited to: 

• Analysis of particular game type(s) and/or title(s) through particular analytical lens(es) 
• Discussion of gaming practices and/or digital media practices in daily life and/or education 
• Practice-based reports on the implementation of digital media and/or gaming within one’s own work (art-making, social interaction, the workplace, education, etc.) 
• Workshops on gamification of class activities and/or game-based learning 
• Analysis of practices of play that happen within gaming and/or digital spaces 

We welcome those who have not previously presented at conferences, especially those new to this field. In your proposal, feel free to center your own experience as a player of games or participant in digital culture, as well as offer scholarly engagement with the material.  

If you have questions about the Digital Media and Gaming Culture Area, or this specific call for proposals, please reach out to Area Chair, Kelly I. Aliano at kel.irene.aliano@gmail.com 

Proposals will be accepted until June 15, 2024. You can submit your proposal at this link, which will ask the following questions about your proposal: 

• Proposal Type (Single Presentation or Panel) 
• Proposal Modality (In-person or Virtual) 

• Subject Area 
• Working Title 
• Academic Affiliation (if any) 
• Abstract (250 words) 
• Short bio (50-200 words) 

If you have any questions about the conference, please reach out to Lance Eaton, the Executive Secretary (northeastpopculture@gmail.com).