Proposal submission deadline: December 15th, 2025 (please submit through the link in the CFP)

Theme: We are looking for papers/performances/projects that speak to the contemporary semiotic value of Claws. Claws represents both social and aesthetic categories, whether it be the artistic prowess of nail art, mani-centric fetishes, or object-oriented studies of class discrimination. Claws signifies the diverse violences of resource extraction, labor exploitation, and toxic relationships. (Additional details on the theme are included in the CFP document)

Proposals may include paper presentations, performances, film screenings, and workshops.

Eligibility: The scope of the conference is limited to master’s and doctoral students only; undergraduates will not be eligible to present. We welcome proposals from a very wide range of fields, including, but not limited to: performance studies, cinema studies, media studies, comparative literature, postcolonial studies, gender studies, fashion studies, psychology, art history, and environment and ecology.