Call for Papers
“Shirley Jackson and Folk Horror” and “Shirley Jackson: Open Topic”
Sponsored by the Shirley Jackson Society
American Literature Association Annual Conference
May 21-24, 2025
The Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA
The Shirley Jackson Society invites scholars at all stages of their careers to submit to our panels for the American Literature Association’s 36th Annual Conference in Boston, May 21-24, 2025.

We are planning for two panels this year: one on Shirley Jackson and Folk Horror, and a second open topic panel. For Shirley Jackson and Folk Horror, we invite papers that read Jackson in or in relation to the tradition of folk horror. Papers may consider Jackson’s references to folklore (including folk
tales, folk songs, folk traditions, and folk archetypes), use of folkloric figures such as witches and demons, and incorporation of fairy tale elements, as well as her characters’ engagement with and creation of myths and rituals. We also welcome papers considering Jackson’s influence on contemporary folk horror.

For the Open Topic panel, we invite papers on any topic related to Jackson. We are especially interested in fresh scholarly angles, papers that shed new light on connections between Jackson’s work and that of her contemporaries, and papers ocusing on her less frequently studied works.
Please submit a 250-350-word abstract and short bio to Emily Banks at
[email protected] by January 15, 2025, specifying which panel you’re submitting for in the subject line of your email.