[Commlist] Call for Abstracts: Fictional Representations of Nerds and Loneliness

Due to the ongoing coronavirus situation, we've agreed to extend our 
call for abstracts on 'Fictional Representations of Nerds and 
Loneliness' to *Mon 18th May 2020*.

All other details remain as before - 300 word abstract proposals to be 
submitted to *(lonelynerds2021 /at/ gmail.com)*.

Outline details and the full text of the call can be found at: 
https://exchanges.warwick.ac.uk/announcement/view/20

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Call for Abstracts: Fictional Representations of Nerds and Loneliness
2020-03-03

Exchanges, in association with Dr Filippo Cervelli (SOAS) and Dr 
Benjamin Schaper (University of Oxford), is delighted to announce the 
latest opportunity to contribute to a special issue of Exchanges, 
combined with a workshop event.

The full text of the call is available online.

Theme

We are looking for contributions which explore fictional representations 
of nerds and loneliness across various media and cultures. Traditionally 
associated with a particular niche culture, nerds entered the mainstream 
through popular formats such as the highly successful TV show The Big 
Bang Theory (2007-2019) in the early 21st Century. Besides, the 
pervasiveness of the popular image of nerds has crossed linguistic 
borders and depictions of nerds are frequent beyond the Anglo-American 
context, as attested by the term nerd being widely used in languages 
such as Italian or German.

The issue will hence analyse varying cultural representations of the 
nerd’s relationship with society in order to critically discuss how 
various art forms approach the notion of the 'lonely nerd'. We want to 
ask questions such as: Can we still find common characteristics in 
representations that are not overtly about nerds? Is loneliness 
inextricable from any representation of nerds, or do we see narratives 
where nerds actually become, quite anti- canonically, the centre of 
their community, as small as it may be? And if so, what do these 
representations tell us about their culture? Are they representational? 
If this is the case, how can it be used to interrogate relevant 
phenomena of isolation and loneliness in general?

Possible topics include, but are not limited to: fictional explorations 
of nerds and loneliness in relation to gender, ethnicity, (mental) 
health, genius, social status and space, as well as their questioning of 
traditional cultural representations and genres.

Abstract Submission & Deadline

At this stage we are seeking abstracts of up to 300 words, rather than 
full papers. Abstracts should be submitted to (lonelynerds2021 /at/ gmail.com) 
no later than 18th May 2020*, to be considered for inclusion.

All abstracts (and subsequent articles) should be written in English. 
Published articles will need to meet the standard article requirements 
of Exchanges for peer reviewed texts. As always we especially welcome 
contributions from post-graduate and early career researchers, addressed 
to an interdisciplinary audience.

Additionally, applicants whose submissions are accepted, will be invited 
to contribute to a preparatory workshop to be hosted at SOAS (London, 
UK) in early 2021. It is anticipated full manuscripts will be submitted 
to Exchanges following this event, with publication of the special issue 
scheduled for later in 2021.

Further Information

For more information or to discuss this opportunity further please 
contact (lonelynerds2021 /at/ gmail.com).

For information about publishing with Exchanges, or to discuss future 
special issues etc., please contact the Editor-in-Chief, Dr Gareth J 
Johnson, or consult our author guidance.

*The original 6th April deadline has been extended, due to the current 
coronavirus disruption.

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