Knoxville, TN, January 28-31, 2027

Proposals are due by December 1, 2026 but are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.

The Southern Humanities Conference offers an opportunity for scholars, artists, writers, musicians, performers, and humanists of all kinds to share their knowledge, research, work, and experiences in an interdisciplinary, welcoming, and engaging intellectual space.

For 2027 our conference theme will be “Divergence, Convergence, Emergence.” Divergent thinking is a hallmark of creative endeavors ranging from the visual and performative arts to scientific inquiry. It can also signify a transgression of a custom or standard, or even a social more or behavioral norm, through contravention or subversion of what others consider “ordinary” or “natural.” On the other hand, the benefits of group diversity are undeniably numerous and valuable in education, collaboration, and problem-solving.  Convergent thinking can help triangulate resolutions to mysteries in historical systems and literary plot structures, among other questions. Convergence can also be considered a precursor to meaningful communal and cooperative social and cultural interactions. The notion of emergence—a phenomenon in which novel, unpredictable, and sometimes unexpected outcomes arise from a constellation of interactions between simpler underlying elements—provides a way of understanding origins and evolutions of phenomena that interest the analytical and imaginative mind. Emergence is also often associated with the concept of synthesis and the idea that the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. The intersections of (and interstices between) emergence, divergence, and convergence serve as the stimulus for our collective conversation in Knoxville and offers us a platform for appraising the world around us.

The Southern Humanities Conference invites proposals for papers on any aspect of the theme “Divergence, Convergence, Emergence” broadly conceived. Our conference themes are meant to be inspiring and prompt reflection, not limiting. The topic is interdisciplinary and invites proposals from all areas of study, as well as creative pieces including but not limited to performance, music, art, and literature. Customary paper and full panel proposals are invited, as are ones for creative presentation formats like roundtables and demonstrations. Moreover, the Southern Humanities Conference welcomes proposals from teachers and professionals outside the academy, as well as from scholars in the early stages of their academic careers. Please note that the name of our organization simply reflects its having been founded in the U.S. South; no presenter is expected to present anything “southern,” though southern topics are also welcomed. Conference attendees come from all over the United States, Canada, and overseas.