Death, Dying, and Beyond Unit

The Death, Dying, and Beyond Unit invites papers on the topic of "Navigating Hells: Migration and Depictions of Transnational Hell " This year’s call seeks paper on depictions of hell across religious traditions, and the ways in which hell speaks to religious conceptions beyond everyday life—both in the afterlife, and in possible conceptions of transnational and migrant communities at the borders of life and nationhood. Papers are encouraged to explore how various forms of literature, art, or media portray hells in relation to the complex narratives of migration and transnational living and dying. Submissions addressing hells both metaphorical and real are welcome, and we also appreciate non-traditional presentations—whether art installations or those that address topics of music and the spoken word—and those that present a diversity of perspectives.

The Death, Dying, and Beyond Unit invites papers on the topic of “Going Beyond Human Death: Mourning and Disposal of Non-Human Animals”. This call invites papers probing diverse aspects of non-human animal mortality. This panel seeks contributions on animal death and grief, ranging from submissions on biodiversity loss, the extinction of animals, animals as conservation subjects, the disposal of animals, death justice and animals, the treatment of animals in captivity and responses to death and grief, death and loss of companion animals, the non-disposal of animals viewed as “road kill,” grief among animals themselves, etc. Contributors are encouraged to explore zoo settings' impact, altered dynamics of human-animal relationships, expressions of animal grief, companion animals, and eco-ethical implications of increased animal deaths. We welcome interdisciplinary approaches that offer discussions on grief, disposal, and eco-ethical considerations. We perceive this call broadly and seek contributions that interpret “animaldom” from a wide variety of angles.