07/04/2026

CSCA 2027 ... Performance Studies and Autoethnography Interest Group Call for Papers

Performance Studies and Autoethnography Interest Group

Call for Papers, Performances, and Panels

Central States Communication Association (CSCA)

Annual Convention—Madison, WI

April 7-11, 2027

Navigate: Finding Inspiration in Uncharted Terrain

 The Performance Studies and Autoethnography Interest Group invites submissions for the 2027 Central States Communication Association convention to be held in Madison, WI from April 7-11, 2027. The deadline for submissions is October 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CDT.

Our interest group focuses on two primary areas of scholarship: performance studies and autoethnography. We view performance as a method of communication inquiry through embodied everyday and aesthetic practice. We view autoethnography as a method of cultural communication analysis through critical representation of embodied experience. We recognize various approaches to both methodological frameworks and encourage submissions that reflect the breadth and depth of performance and autoethnographic scholarship. We welcome a variety of submission formats, including individual papers and performances, performance panels, paper panels, roundtable discussions, and spotlight sessions, as well as extended abstracts of works-in-progress.  

We especially encourage submissions related to the convention theme, “Navigate: Finding Inspiration in Uncharted Terrain,” which asks us to consider possibilities for understanding and innovation within the uncharted terrain of human experience—past, present, and future stories that have yet to be fully voiced, heard, recorded, and/or understood. Performance studies and autoethnography scholars are particularly positioned to address the convention theme through our attention to everyday, embodied experience as a way of knowing, connecting, creating, and inspiring action. Submissions might engage a variety of questions related to the theme, including but not limited to: How does performance and/or autoethnography help us navigate our everyday lives? What metaphorical maps, guides, or records do autoethnography and/or performance offer us? How do we imagine and navigate our collective futures through performance and/or autoethnography? How might scholars use autoethnography and/or performance to “find inspiration in the uncharted terrain of past, present, and future human experiences?” What (and whose) stories remain uncharted within our discipline and our larger social worlds?

We encourage co-sponsorship between interest groups when appropriate. For performance, paper, and roundtable panel submissions, preference will be given to submissions with panelists representing multiple institutions.

Submission Guidelines

Individual Papers

When submitting an individual paper, please note the following guidelines*:

• All submitted papers must be the original work of the author(s).
• Author name(s) and identifying information, including metadata, must be removed. Please anonymize your submission as either a PDF or Word doc.
• Include a title page with paper title and a brief abstract (100-200 words).
• Only completed papers will be considered for Debut, Top Paper, and Inclusive Scholarship Awards.
• For debut papers (meaning the first presentation in the interest group), please write “DEBUT” on the title page.
• Graduate students should write “STUDENT” on the upper right-hand corner of the title page.
• If the paper is a single-authored graduate student debut, please type “DEBUT STUDENT” on the upper right-hand corner of the title page. To be considered a graduate student debut paper:
  • The author must be a graduate student,
  • The paper must have single authorship, and
  • The paper must be the author’s first paper to be presented at CSCA.
• For Inclusive Scholarship Award consideration, please write “INCLUSIVE SCHOLARSHIP” on the title page. To be considered for the award:
  • The paper must clearly articulate, in an at least one paragraph addendum to your abstract, how the respective scholarship explicitly addresses equity and inclusion.
  • Submitters should select the Inclusive Scholarship option when submitting.

Individual Performances

To submit an individual performance, use the “Individual Paper” option in the online submission system. When submitting an individual performance, please note the following guidelines*:

• All submitted performances must be the original work of the submitter(s).
• Author/performer name(s) and identifying information, including metadata, must be removed. Please anonymize your submission as either a PDF or Word doc.
• Include a title page with performance title and a brief abstract (100-200 words).
• Individual performances should include a completed script. Additional materials (e.g., photo or video documentation) that do not interfere with anonymous review are permitted but not required. Any additional materials should be embedded in the submission document.
• Only completed performances will be considered for Debut, Top Paper, and Inclusive Scholarship Awards (see Individual Paper submission guidelines for details).

Paper, Performance, or Roundtable Discussion Panels

When submitting a proposal for a performance panel, paper panel, roundtable discussion, or spotlight session, please note the following guidelines*:

• Include the panel title and a brief abstract for the conference program (75 words max).
• Provide names, affiliations, and contact information for each panelist.
• Provide names, affiliations, and contact information for a panel chair and, if applicable, respondent.
• Include a rationale that describes the overall panel and each panelist’s contributions (300-500 words).
• Preference will be given to panel submissions with panelists representing multiple institutions.

Extended Abstracts of Works-in-Progress

To submit an extended abstract, use the “Individual Paper” option in the online submission system. When submitting an extended abstract for a work-in-progress (paper or performance), please note the following guidelines*:

• All submitted extended abstracts must be the original work of the author(s).
• Author name(s) and identifying information must be removed (in either a PDF or Word doc).
• Include a title page with working title and a brief abstract (100-200 words).
• Extended abstracts of papers-in-progress should include descriptions of working theories, methods, and preliminary analysis/discussion (1000-3000 words).
• Extended abstracts of performances-in-progress should include descriptions of working theories, methods, aesthetic choices, and preliminary analysis/discussion/scripting (1000-3000 words).
• Extended abstracts will not be considered for interest group or conference awards.

*Please note: Submissions that do not meet these guidelines may not be distributed for review. The Performance Studies and Autoethnography Interest Group does not consider AI-generated content to be original work.

Awards

The Performance Studies and Autoethnography Interest Group also invites members to submit nominations for awards to be presented at the annual convention business meeting, along with the interest group’s Top Paper Awards:

• Outstanding Article or Book Chapter in Performance Studies and Outstanding Article or Book Chapter in Autoethnography

• These awards are intended to reward high-quality scholarship published within the preceding two calendar years (2025-2026). Please submit a copy of the article or book chapter, along with a letter of support, and specify whether the submission is to be considered for the Performance Studies or Autoethnography Award.

• Outstanding Book in Performance Studies and/or Outstanding Book in Autoethnography

• This award is intended to reward exceptional book-length work published within the preceding five calendar years (2021-2026). Please submit a representative chapter of the book (or the entire book with a suggested representative chapter), along with a letter of support, and specify whether the submission is to be considered for the Performance Studies or Autoethnography Award.

• The Outstanding Scholar in Performance Studies and Autoethnography

• This award recognizes a scholar who has made significant contributions to performance studies and/or autoethnographic scholarship and has been a significant contributor to/from the Central States region.
• Please submit all award nominations via email to Shelby Swafford (sswafford@siu.edu) with the name of the award in the subject line. Self-nominations are welcome.
• All award nominations are due on the submission deadline (October 9, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CDT).

Technology Considerations

Requests for technology must be made at the time of submission or access cannot be guaranteed.

Submission Link

To submit to the Performance Studies and Autoethnography Interest Group, use the CSCA submission site. You can find a link to the submission system, as well as instructions for how to use it, here. Submissions must be complete and received by 11:59 p.m. CDT on October 9, 2026.

If you are looking for collaborators, email the interest group chair at sswafford@siu.edu or join our Facebook group, CSCA Performance & Autoethnography Division, to brainstorm and connect with other members.

Additional details about the 2027 CSCA Convention are available on the CSCA website.

To volunteer to review, chair, or respond, please complete this form.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Shelby Swafford, PhD
Chair and Program Planner, Performance Studies and Autoethnography Interest Group
sswafford@siu.edu