ModCon: Modern and Contemporary Literature Network

ModCon: Modern and Contemporary Literature Network Call for Co-organisers

ModCon is looking for new PGR co-organisers! Both of us (Arya and Katie) have finished up our PhDs this year, and we’d like to see ModCon continue to thrive. When we set up the network in our first year of doctoral research, we envisioned it as a space for researchers in the Modern and Contemporary Literature fields to come together and collaborate on ideas. Over the years and through the pandemic, this has become a valuable research and resource-sharing space, but perhaps most importantly, a welcoming, generative community of like-minded PGRs.

As we set up the network in 2019, it is still relatively young and open to new avenues, but past events we have held include informal research seminar presentations, ‘bring food, share a “bite” of research’ events, and our popular ModCon Mondays (on Zoom and in-person). There are no set requirements for the network’s future, but we would like to see a continuation of the ModCon Mondays writing retreats (on any day of the week of course) as these have been particularly welcome amongst the community, as have the informal research presentations, which offer PGRs a friendly, informal, constructive space in which to share research with their peers.

You can express interest in running the network either jointly in a pair/trio, or as a single person (we might then pair you up with another applicant). To apply, please send around 500 words (a mix of prose and bullet points is fine) by Monday 5th September, 5pm to Arya ([email protected]) and Katie ([email protected]). Your application should include:
your year of study
a brief background on your research/research interests
explanation for why you want to run ModCon
what events you hope to run
any other ideas you have for ModCon’s future

As the past few years have demonstrated, digital and/or hybrid modes are important for fostering an inclusive research space; we particularly welcome event ideas that reflect and accommodate the diverse needs of our PGR community. Relatedly, this opportunity is open to PGR students who do not live in Durham, but are keen to be involved in the Durham PGR community (perhaps via a mix of online events and occasionally commuting to Durham). As the network is still new, the tenure of the post(s) is currently flexible – either until the end of your PGR studies, or until you feel you need to hand over the role.

We intend to handover before the start of Michaelmas term, so that you can prepare events for the start of term.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email us, and you can see some of our past events details (including pre-Covid) on our website:

Modern and Contemporary Literature Network An interdisciplinary postgraduate group at Durham University, bringing together contemporary researchers for informal academic discussion.

📢 Opportunity for Modern/Contemporary Researchers

Call for Papers: Postgraduate English

Postgraduate English, Durham University’s online peer-reviewed literary journal, has been publishing postgraduate research biannually since the year 2000 and is one of the longest-running online postgraduate literary journals in the world. In recent years the journal has received reprint requests from academic publishers.

The journal aims to provide a space for postgraduate students and early-career researchers to showcase their work and receive feedback from established academics. While the journal is based in the UK, we seek to cultivate an international range of contributors and judge submissions primarily for strength of argument and fresh insight over a fixed writing style.

We invite postgraduate students and early-career researchers to submit papers of 5000 – 7000 words, or book reviews of 1000 – 2000 words by Friday 28th May 2021, for consideration for the journal’s 42nd edition.

Papers can be on any theme or area of literary research; we will also consider work with an interdisciplinary focus. Submissions must follow the MHRA Style Guide. If submitting a book review, please contact the editors in advance with details of the book you wish to review.

Submissions should be sent as an anonymised Word document to the current editors, Hannah Voss and Vicky Penn, at [email protected]. Submissions should also include a cover sheet in a separate document, detailing the author’s name, institutional affiliation, ORCID id if you have one, and a 200 – 300 word abstract that indicates five keywords for indexing. Please note our full guidelines and editorial process on our website: community.dur.ac.uk/postgraduate.english.

For queries or further information contact: [email protected].
We look forward to receiving your submission!

Postgraduate English: A Journal and Forum for Postgraduates in English A Journal and Forum for Postgraduates in English Studies