This is a special edition of the MAPACA Newsletter. Our next Annual Conference is November 5-7 in Baltimore, MD.

In this newsletter, we have:

• The deadline for proposals to our High-Density Popular Culture Crash Course has been extended to Monday, 9/14

The deadline for proposals to our High-Density Popular Culture Crash Course has been extended to Monday, 9/14

MAPACA seeks proposals for a special session at the 2026  annual conference.

Please note: You ARE ALLOWED to present at the Crash Course whether you are already presenting at our 2026 conference or not. As long as you register for the conference and your proposal is accepted, you are welcome!

Panel Overview

This high-density session will feature several 5-minute micro-presentations about current popular culture topics in a “crash course” about new and interesting phenomena. Since many attendees often spend the majority of their conference time attending presentations related to only one or a few areas, this special session will offer a chance to learn about a diverse range of topics meant to inform popular culture scholars beyond their specific research interests. Proposals will be selected based on merit and diversity of topics.

Topics

An ideal topic will be: current, significant, interesting, and the sort of thing people talk about before class/at parties/on social media.

Examples could include (but are not limited to):

• The World Cup and international fans as tourists

• The End of Doctor Who...again

• Prediction markets and pop culture

• Netflix and the Second Season Problem

• Adaptations, from the classics of Frankenstein and “Wuthering Heights” to the instant purchase of the rights to Yesteryear by Anne Hathaway.

• Episodic TV and Love Island

How to Submit

Email a brief biography and a 75-word proposal that includes a presentation title, explanation of the topic, and identification of significance for contemporary popular culture research. Please include this information in the body of your email, not as an attachment. Email Dr. Tom Grochowski at [email protected]. The deadline is September 14, 2026.

Important Dates

• September 9 14: Crash Course submission deadline

• September 10: Annual Conference Early Registration Ends

• November 5-7: 2026 MAPACA Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD