Myth and science fiction seek to explain the world, to answer everlasting questions: the origin of life and cause of death. But explanations are not sufficient for mankind: one wants to make approving or condemning judgements. Myth as well as science fiction project contradictions in unprecedented circumstances with an aim to adhere or condemn. Given the projective capacity of our imagination, we put forward improbable scenarios that allow us to see in a new light the consequences of a future situation.

Where does myth start and where does it end? How far does science fiction go? What significance does the crossing between both narratives have? As always, what is crucial and indisputable is to analyse the kind of transcendence in each case, the utmost criterion to identify and distinguish myth and science fiction.

In the last preceding conferences we delved in the difficulties of adapting myths to our contemporary society, as well as their adaptations and subversions in the world of audiovisual creation. The VI International Conference on Myth Criticism “Myth and Science Fiction” will analyze the relationship between myth and science fiction: their differences, convergences and subversions in various artistic fields. The temporal frame of the studies presented will span from 1900 to our contemporary time.

Organisers:

University Complutense de Madrid
Asteria, International Association of Myth Criticism
Amaltea, Journal of Myth Criticism
ACIS, Research Group of Myth Criticism
The AGLAYA Project (“Innovation Strategies in Cultural Myth Criticism”, Community of Madrid)

Collaborators:

Vicerrectorado de Investigación y Transferencia (UCM)
Instituto de Ciencias de las Religiones (UCM)
Facultad de Filología (UCM)
Departamento de Estudios Románicos, Franceses, Italianos y Traducción (UCM)

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

LINES OF RESEARCH

We offer some suggestions of possible themes:

• Classical myths in contemporary science fiction: Oedipus, Pygmalion and Galatea, Prometheus, Perseus, Diana, etc.
• Modern myths and future projections: Frankenstein, Faust, Don Juan, Dracula, etc.
• Other myths: Amerindian, Asian, African, Norse, Celts, Slavonic, etc.
• Beasts, monsters and mythical animals in science fiction
• Religion and science fiction
• (Post)apocalypse
• Adaptations, rewritings and subversions of myths: from literature to cinema and other media (comics, video games, etc.) 
• Indie and avant-garde science fiction in literature, cinema, video games, comics, etc.
• Mythical utopias, dystopias and anti-utopias
• Ucronia and time travel
• Punk narratives: steampunk, cyberpunk, hopepunk
• Climax and decadence of the superhero: Avengers, Superman, Watchmen, The Umbrella Academy, The Boys, etc.
• Mythopoeia: creation of new myths in the science fiction universe
• Gods, heroes, humans, cyborgs, robots; post-humanism, transhumanism and the category of the human
• Androids and gynoids, men and women: power relationships through gender and human condition
• Digital oracle, artificial intelligence: Siri, Cortana, Alexa, etc.
• Fiction in the era of virtual and augmented reality

 INFORMATION

Update of 18th September
The Conference will be held on the scheduled dates.
Since last spring, the Organization has been working so that the Conference can be celebrated either on-site or online.
Regarding the on-site mode, it is foreseeable that conditions will improve in the weeks prior to the Conference. At all times, the prevention and safety regulations will be respected. Participants and attendees will have at their disposal, free of charge, all the sanitary supplies they need.
The online mode is available to everyone. We remind participants who had opted for the on-site mode that they can write to Antonella Lipscomb if they decide to opt for the online mode before the 1st October.
In case of high demand for online sessions, it is likely that the Conference will last longer than initially planned.

We also ask participants to send their abstract as soon as possible.

Registration fees will be reimbursed if your travel plans are cancelled and if you notify us before the 10th September. (Only the costs of bank transfer or PayPal will be discounted from this refund).

 PRESENTATIONS

• Presentations will last between 15 and 20 minutes
• The languages of the Conference are Spanish and English
• All rooms will be equipped with a computer with Internet, speakers and projector
• If a group of researchers proposes an entire session with a minimum of three presentations in
  another language, the Organizing Committee will take this into consideration

REGISTRATION FEES

• Participants with presentation:
• General fee: 100€
• Participants with presentation and grant (students and unemployed people): 25€
• Participants in pairs: 75€ per person
• Members of Asteria: 50€
• Members of ACIS and AGLAYA: 75€
• Certified reviewers of Amaltea, Journal of Myth Criticism: 75€
• Videoconference participants: 150€
• Videoconference participants with grant (students and unemployed people): 75€
• Late registrations: 150€
• Late registrations (videoconference): 200€

• Attendants and students (with attendance certificate): 25€

• The registration fee is non-reimbursable (except duly certified force majeure)

PRE-REGISTRATION

• Deadline for submission of registration forms is the 15th May 2020
• The Organizing Committee will communicate to the participants their acceptance or rejection by the 15th June
• The accepted participants will confirm their registration by paying the registration fee between the 15th June and the 15th July
• Vacancies are limited
• The registration for on-site presentations provides the following rights:
  • Attendance to all activities of the Conference: plenary lectures and presentations
  • Bag, folder with notebook, pen and rosette of the Conference
  • Catalogue (100 pages) with abstracts of the presentations, with ISBN and index of topics and participants
  • Certificate with the title of the presentation
  • Acquisition of myth criticism books with a discount (up to 50%)
  • Free access to the Internet and computers arranged by the Faculty
  • Four free meal tickets
  • Possibility to send the presentation to the Scientific Committee for assessment and possible publication

• The registration for videoconference participants provides the following rights:
  • Virtual attendance to the streaming activities provided by the Conference
  • Digital catalogue (100 pages) with abstracts of the presentations, with ISBN and index of topics and participants
  • Digital certificate with the title of the presentation
  • Publication of the participant’s presentation on Youtube (if the author provides publishing rights)
  • Possibility to send the presentation to the Scientific Committee for assessment and possible publication

More information: antonella_lipscomb@hotmail.com

LINES OF RESEARCH

We offer some suggestions of possible themes:

• Classical myths in contemporary science fiction: Oedipus, Pygmalion and Galatea, Prometheus, Perseus, Diana, etc.
• Modern myths and future projections: Frankenstein, Faust, Don Juan, Dracula, etc.
• Other myths: Amerindian, Asian, African, Norse, Celts, Slavonic, etc.
• Beasts, monsters and mythical animals in science fiction
• Religion and science fiction
• (Post)apocalypse
• Adaptations, rewritings and subversions of myths: from literature to cinema and other media (comics, video games, etc.) 
• Indie and avant-garde science fiction in literature, cinema, video games, comics, etc.
• Mythical utopias, dystopias and anti-utopias
• Ucronia and time travel
• Punk narratives: steampunk, cyberpunk, hopepunk
• Climax and decadence of the superhero: Avengers, Superman, Watchmen, The Umbrella Academy, The Boys, etc.
• Mythopoeia: creation of new myths in the science fiction universe
• Gods, heroes, humans, cyborgs, robots; post-humanism, transhumanism and the category of the human
• Androids and gynoids, men and women: power relationships through gender and human condition
• Digital oracle, artificial intelligence: Siri, Cortana, Alexa, etc.
• Fiction in the era of virtual and augmented reality

 INFORMATION

Update of 18th September
The Conference will be held on the scheduled dates.
Since last spring, the Organization has been working so that the Conference can be celebrated either on-site or online.
Regarding the on-site mode, it is foreseeable that conditions will improve in the weeks prior to the Conference. At all times, the prevention and safety regulations will be respected. Participants and attendees will have at their disposal, free of charge, all the sanitary supplies they need.
The online mode is available to everyone. We remind participants who had opted for the on-site mode that they can write to Antonella Lipscomb if they decide to opt for the online mode before the 1st October.
In case of high demand for online sessions, it is likely that the Conference will last longer than initially planned.

We also ask participants to send their abstract as soon as possible.

Registration fees will be reimbursed if your travel plans are cancelled and if you notify us before the 10th September. (Only the costs of bank transfer or PayPal will be discounted from this refund).

 PRESENTATIONS

• Presentations will last between 15 and 20 minutes
• The languages of the Conference are Spanish and English
• All rooms will be equipped with a computer with Internet, speakers and projector
• If a group of researchers proposes an entire session with a minimum of three presentations in
  another language, the Organizing Committee will take this into consideration

REGISTRATION FEES

• Participants with presentation:
• General fee: 100€
• Participants with presentation and grant (students and unemployed people): 25€
• Members of Asteria: 50€
• Members of ACIS and AGLAYA: 75€
• Certified reviewers of Amaltea, Journal of Myth Criticism: 75€
• Videoconference participants: 150€
• Videoconference participants and grant (students and unemployed people): 100€
• Late registrations: 150€
• Late registrations (videoconference): 200€

• Attendants and students (with attendance certificate): 25€

• The registration fee is non-reimbursable (except duly certified force majeure)

PRE-REGISTRATION

• Deadline for submission of registration forms is the 15th of May 2020
• The Organizing Committee will communicate to the participants their acceptance or rejection by the 15th of June
• The accepted participants will confirm their registration by paying the registration fee between the 15th and 30th of June
• Vacancies are limited
• The registration for on-site presentations provides the following rights:
  • Attendance to all activities of the Conference: plenary lectures and presentations
  • Bag, folder with notebook, pen and rosette of the Conference
  • Catalogue (100 pages) with abstracts of the communications, with ISBN and index of topics and participants
  • Certificate with the title of the presentation
  • Acquisition of myth criticism books with a discount (up to 50%)
  • Free access to the Internet and computers arranged by the Faculty
  • Four free meal tickets
  • Possibility to send the presentation to the Scientific Committee for assessment and possible publication

• The registration for videoconference participants provides the following rights:
  • Virtual attendance to all activities and streamings of the Conference
  • Digital catalogue (100 pages) with abstracts of the communications, with ISBN and index of topics and participants
  • Digital certificate with the title of the presentation
  • Publication of the participant’s presentation on Youtube (if the author provides publishing rights)
  • Possibility to send the presentation to the Scientific Committee for assessment and possible publication

More information: antonella_lipscomb@hotmail.com

WHERE ARE WE

Metro (recommended): Line 6 (grey). Metro station: Ciudad Universitaria. Building D is a 15min walk from this station. For more information, check the metro route recommender of Metro de Madrid.

Buses: 82, 132, F, G, I, U. To obtain more information on all the routes, download the EMT app.

To find acommodation, we recommend the Moncloa-Ciudad Universitaria zone. 

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