Call for Participation – Undergraduate Showcase
The Boundaries of Fan Studies and Fandom
EXTENDED DEADLINE: Submissions due by Sunday, May 17
After a successful first iteration in 2025, we are offering another Undergraduate Showcase, highlighting the efforts of undergraduate students across disciplines who have undertaken fan studies work both in and out of the classroom.
Fandom, the community or individual practice of being a fan, is something many of us participate in every day–from our fervent support of a sports team (and hatred of its rivals) to our speculation with friends of what will happen next in our favorite show, to the video game soundtracks we listen to in our rooms.
When fan studies kicked off, fandom was a more niche activity whose practices – and even existence – still had to be explained to general readership. But today, fandom is a widely recognized phenomenon across popular culture and scholarship.
As our virtual conference enters its ninth year, FSNNA invites undergraduates to submit proposals about the research they’ve done in fan studies.
Some potential topics we hope to see submissions about include (but are not limited to!):
- What is fandom to you? Is it in the ways you participate, the people you engage with, the representation you seek? Is it fun? Is it stressful?
- What boundaries does fan studies or fandom break?
- What impact do boundaries have in fandom? Are they self-inflicted?
- How are boundaries developed and discovered in fandom?
- What reputations do fandoms hold? Has there ever been a community you know not to engage with because of their reputation? What about communities you found welcoming to both new and old fans?
- How has fandom changed during/since COVID lockdowns?
- Where do you find fandom?
- What power/influence does fandom have?
How you approach and seek to respond to these questions can take many shapes. Your project might be more theoretical and broadly applicable to fandom as a phenomenon, or it might take up case studies of specific fandoms to explore in greater detail.
[NOTE: While we hope undergrads can use their experiences to shape their projects, these must be primarily research/argument based projects and not solely personal reflections.]
Format of the 2026 Conference
FSNNA allows undergraduate researchers to submit under two potential options:
- Participants will be grouped into roundtables for a live conversation based on overlapping fandoms, research methods, or issues. Each roundtable participant will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and their work for 5–7 minutes, followed by some moderated discussion and Q&A with the audience.
- Participants will also prepare a digital poster summarizing their research contribution. More specific guidelines about poster formats will be available soon! Posters will be available asynchronously throughout the conference in our Discord server, where attendees can ask questions and share feedback.
Further, we are committed to mentoring and fostering research with undergraduate participants and will host optional workshops closer to the date to offer feedback, support, and structure.
Submissions for the Undergraduate Showcase are due by Friday, May 8 Sunday, May 17, 2026 (extended deadline!).
Submission Details
Ready to submit your work for FSNNA 2026? Here’s what the application form will ask for:
- An abstract of ~200 words (include a clear explanation of your research project)
- A bibliography of 1-2 references
- A bio of yourself (~50 words)
We’ve also prepared a document about writing an abstract: check it out HERE.
Get Ready for the 2026 Conference!
Thank you for reading this call for papers. We’re excited to consider your work for the 2026 FSNNA conference! Still have a question? Please feel free to contact us at fsnna.conference@gmail.com.
Ready to submit your work? Visit our submission form: https://forms.gle/EURuBC5APoK8SiNK9