Southern Humanities Conference, Knoxville TN, January 28-31, 2027
Knoxville, TN
Organization: Southern Humanities Council
The Southern Humanities Conference, 2027
Call for Papers
Conference Theme: Divergence, Convergence, Emergence
Knoxville, TN, January 28-31, 2027
The Southern Humanities Conference offers an opportunity for scholars, artists, writers, musicians, performers, and humanists of all kinds to share their knowledge, research, work, and experiences in an interdisciplinary, welcoming, and engaging intellectual space.
For 2027 our conference theme will be “Divergence, Convergence, Emergence.” Divergent thinking is a hallmark of creative endeavors ranging from the visual and performative arts to scientific inquiry. It can also signify a transgression of a custom or standard, or even a social more or behavioral norm, through contravention or subversion of what others consider “ordinary” or “natural.” On the other hand, the benefits of group diversity are undeniably numerous and valuable in education, collaboration, and problem-solving. Convergent thinking can help triangulate resolutions to mysteries in historical systems and literary plot structures, among other questions. Convergence can also be considered a precursor to meaningful communal and cooperative social and cultural interactions. The notion of emergence—a phenomenon in which novel, unpredictable, and sometimes unexpected outcomes arise from a constellation of interactions between simpler underlying elements—provides a way of understanding origins and evolutions of phenomena that interest the analytical and imaginative mind. Emergence is also often associated with the concept of synthesis and the idea that the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. The intersections of (and interstices between) emergence, divergence, and convergence serve as the stimulus for our collective conversation in Knoxville and offers us a platform for appraising the world around us.
The Southern Humanities Conference invites proposals for papers on any aspect of the theme “Divergence, Convergence, Emergence” broadly conceived. Our conference themes are meant to be inspiring and prompt reflection, not limiting. The topic is interdisciplinary and invites proposals from all areas of study, as well as creative pieces including but not limited to performance, music, art, and literature. Customary paper and full panel proposals are invited, as are ones for creative presentation formats like roundtables and demonstrations. Moreover, the Southern Humanities Conference welcomes proposals from teachers and professionals outside the academy, as well as from scholars in the early stages of their academic careers. Please note that the name of our organization simply reflects its having been founded in the U.S. South; no presenter is expected to present anything “southern,” though southern topics are also welcomed. Conference attendees come from all over the United States, Canada, and overseas.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
Please submit proposals of 300-500 words through our website at www.southernhumanities.org (preferred), or by email sent to Brett Bebber at southernhumanities@gmail.com. Proposals are due by December 1, 2026, but are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.
We are currently planning to meet for an in-person conference in Knoxville. Conference registration fees for the 2027 Conference will be $195 for students and retirees and $250 for academic faculty and other professionals.
CONFERENCE AWARDS:
Two awards of up to $300 are available to help mitigate the costs of travel to the conference. The Kathryn M. Reynolds award is for first- or second-time presenters, and Bennie D. Ussery award is for the best proposed paper from a graduate student. A third award, the Mark Ledbetter and Susan Cumings Award, offers registration remission for up to four graduate students. If you would like to be considered for one of these awards, please indicate which award(s) in your proposal. Those interested in being considered for either award should submit their proposals by October 31, 2026.
https://southernhumanities.org
Brett Bebber