Religion and Popular Culture Unit

Apopcalyptic Visions

The apocalypse: are we there yet? We invite proposals that consider apocalyptic visions and their fallout in media and popular culture. When we envision the apocalypse, whose world is it that is ending? What worlds have already ended? Is there a future post-apocalypse? In particular, we welcome presentations that interrogate the notion of the apocalypse through the critical lenses of queer and Indigenous theory.

Red, Black, and the Blues: Race and Religion in the Films of Ryan Coogler

In his body of work, Black filmmaker Ryan Coogler incorporates many rich and provocative aspects of African and African-American religious experiences, such as ancestor worship, Hoodoo, and various shades of Christianity, while also weaving together visuals, music, and manipulation of time and space. We invite proposals that provide insight into issues of race, faith, community, violence, and humanity in Coogler’s filmography, including Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed (2015), the Black Panther series, Sinners (2025), and his short films.

Religion among the Stars: Star Trek

It's been 60 years since Star Trek helped us imagine the possibility of multiple cultures and races coming into contact, conflicting, and coexisting among the stars. We invite presentation proposals on the franchise and its fandom.

The Art of Religious Resistance
How does religion provide imagery and imaginaries for art created in protest of global authoritarian movements and violence in general? How does art create moments in time and space for resistance in all its many forms?

Co-Sponsored Panels

KPop, Demon Hunters, and Beyond: Korean Religion and Popular Culture (for co-sponsorship with Korean Religions)

The Korean Religions Unit and the Religion and Popular Culture Unit invite papers for co-sponsored panel on the theme of Korean religion and popular culture. The widely popular 2025 film KPop Demon Hunters has exposed many fans to elements of Korean religion and culture which the film draws upon. This film is just one recent example of how popular culture, from or based on Korea, intersects with Korean religion. In response to this growing phenomenon, we seek papers that explore the Korean religious content and themes of films and dramas and their presentation and popular reception as well as other linkages between religion popular culture related to Korea, including music. Papers may address narratives of Korean religion within popular culture and their reception, how religious communities engage with and respond to such popular works and trends, papers that examine connections between religion and the Korean Wave (“Hallyu”) as well as K-pop and fandom, and other topics. We welcome submissions that approach the film and topic from various disciplines and perspectives, and which discuss broader considerations of religion and popular culture in connection with Korean content.

Teaching Islam, Gender, and Women through Multimedia Strategies and Challenges  (for possible co-sponsorship with Islam, Gender, and Women Unit and Religion, Media, and Culture Unit)

This pedagogy-focused session invites educators to share an effective use of multimedia (film clips, online videos, music, digital or real life art/museum exhibitions, social media posts, or other audiovisual materials) in teaching topics related to Islam, gender, and women. Each presenter will lead a breakout table in discussion on pedagogical goals, learning outcomes, and practical strategies for fostering critical engagement about their chosen multimedia resource for about 50 minutes, followed by 5-7 minutes of summation for all attendees.

Proposals should:

• Identify the selected multimedia material and explain its relevance

• Describe the themes it addresses and the classroom conversations it opens

• Offer concrete teaching strategies, activities, and/or assignments that participants can adapt for their own courses

We especially welcome presentations that model a brief segment of the proposed classroom activity, allowing attendees to experience the material as students. Proposals from graduate students are also especially welcome.

Accepted presenters will be required to submit their slide deck or electronic materials  by XDATE for inclusion in the program book.  

IGW is committed to non-traditional formats for its sessions on scholarship related to the study of gender and women in Islam.Proposals that do not conform to these non-traditional formats, or variations to it, will not be considered.

OPEN CALL: We solicit research-based papers and pre-arranged panels on any topic related to the study of religion and popular culture, from any region or time period.