EVENT Nov 20
ABSTRACT May 15
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The Great Literary Roast: Giving Fictional Characters the Critique They Deserve (PAMLA Conference)

San Francisco
Organization: PAMLA
Event: PAMLA Conference
Categories: Postcolonial, Hispanic & Latino, Comparative, Interdisciplinary, Popular Culture, Literary Theory, World Literatures, Aesthetics, Anthropology/Sociology, Classical Studies, Cultural Studies, Environmental Studies, Film, TV, & Media, Food Studies, History, Philosophy, African & African Diasporas, Asian & Asian Diasporas, Australian Literature, Canadian Literature, Caribbean & Caribbean Diasporas, Indian Subcontinent, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Middle East, Native American, Scandinavian, Pacific Literature, Miscellaneous
Event Date: 2025-11-20 to 2025-11-23 Abstract Due: 2025-05-15

Ever wanted to tell Gatsby to get over Daisy? Or remind Frodo that walking into Mordor was a bad plan? In this hilarious, no-holds-barred panel, we’ll roast the most beloved (and insufferable) characters from books and films, calling them out for their questionable decisions, toxic behaviors, and plot-induced stupidity. Panelists will deliver witty takedowns of literary and cinematic icons, and audience members will have a chance to join in the fun. Whether you’re here to drag tragic heroes, overrated villains, or side characters who deserved better, this session will bring the fire—metaphorically, of course.


Literature and film are filled with characters whose choices shape worlds, inspire audiences, and sometimes make no sense at all. This session takes a playful yet insightful approach to the conference theme of Palimpsests: Memory and Oblivion by examining how cultural memory preserves, distorts, or over-glorifies certain fictional figures. Through witty critiques and audience participation, we’ll interrogate why some characters remain revered despite glaring flaws while others are unfairly forgotten or misunderstood. What does our collective memory choose to retain, and what are we rewriting with each new adaptation, retelling, or reinterpretation?

This session is also a recognition of the importance of humor in academia. Conferences can be intellectually demanding, and incorporating humor into discussions fosters a more engaging, inclusive, and dynamic environment. Playful critique is a powerful tool—it invites fresh perspectives, encourages critical thinking without intimidation, and reminds us that literary and cinematic analysis doesn’t always have to be serious to be meaningful. By mixing scholarly insight with comedic roasting, this session offers attendees an entertaining yet thought-provoking way to engage with storytelling, memory, and the evolving legacy of beloved (or overhyped) characters. Audience participation is encouraged—because no protagonist is safe!

https://pamla.ballastacademic.com/Home/S/19505

oksana.marafioti@unlv.edu

Oksana Marafioti