Practicing Genre: Dynamics of Generic Form(ation)s in Greco-Roman Literature
Conference Date: Early April 2026
Location: University of Bonn, Germany
Organizers: Adrian Weiß (Bonn University) and Daniel Wendt (Graz University)
Deadline for submissions: August 1, 2025
We invite proposals for the conference “Practicing Genre: Dynamics of Generic Form(ation)s in Greco-Roman Literature”. This event seeks to re-examine ancient Greek and Roman literary genres through the lens of praxeological genre theory (cf. Gencarelli 2024).
A praxeological approach conceives of genre not as a fixed, predetermined category defined by the inherent properties of texts, but as a dynamic, socially embedded practice. Literary genres are evolving constructs produced, maintained, and transformed through habitualized actions and ongoing interactions among authors, readers, performers, and institutions. Rather than viewing genres as 'natural forms', this perspective emphasizes their emergence from, and responsiveness to, specific historical and social contexts.
Submission Guidelines:
Please submit abstracts of up to 300 words (excluding bibliography), engaging directly with the theme of the conference. Include your name, affiliation, and contact information.
Send submissions by August 1, 2025 to:
• adrian.weiss@uni-bonn.de
• daniel.wendt@uni-graz.at
Notifications of acceptance will be sent as soon as possible after the deadline.
We encourage proposals from both established and early-career researchers. Contributions offering interdisciplinary or theoretically innovative perspectives are especially welcome.
Conference Format and Schedule:
The conference will take place in early April 2026, at the University of Bonn. It is designed primarily for in-depth collaborative discussion. To facilitate this, all participants are expected to submit a written version of their paper (maximum 45,000 characters, including spaces) by February 1, 2026. These papers will be circulated in advance, and all attendees are expected to read them prior to the event. Each paper will be allocated approximately 45 minutes, beginning with a presentation, a discussant response, and an in-depth discussion. A peer-reviewed publication of selected contributions is planned. Revised versions of accepted papers will be due by September 1, 2026. It is our intention to secure coverage for the travel and accommodation expenses; a funding request will be submitted in due course.
Contact
Adrian Weiß (Bonn University): adrian.weiss@uni-bonn.de
Daniel Wendt (Graz University): daniel.wendt@uni-graz.at
The complete Call for Papers as PDF can be found here.
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