Romancing the Gothic has been running free weekly talks for over 6 years and we intend to continue into 2027. We’re looking for participants to deliver talks. The talks run on Saturdays and they run twice (to help catch people in different time zones). We offer an honorarium (£80 plus donations) for all speakers. If you’d like to participate, we encourage you to explore the project for yourself by coming to some of the classes or watching some previous talks on the YouTube channel
The aim of the project is to make education and research accessible regardless of many of the barriers that often get in the way (geographic, economic, health-related, safety etc.) We hope that all our speakers share our commitment to making research and learning available.
Applying to offer a talk
Our call for papers is currently open and will be until 31st December 2026. Talk slots go on a first-come, first-served basis. If you leave it to the last minute, you are unlikely to get a slot (or at least a slot that you want).
Talks happen twice on one day and the talk itself should be 40-45 minutes long. After the talk, we open the chat for questions. The talks are recorded on the day and then shared on the YouTube channel.
If you would like to submit a proposed talk, please look at the monthly themes below and send an abstract of 200-250 words to sam@romancingthegothic.com. You do not need to send a biography.
Monthly Themes
Each month has a theme. The themes are quite flexible so if you’re not sure if it fits, please feel free to still apply. We have very broad understandings of the Gothic and Horror and also welcome papers that relate to connected genres (e.g. Detective fiction) and fields (e.g. folklore)
(We welcome International speakers and papers on all international manifestations of the Gothic and horror. There is a specific month reserved only for international Gothic and Horror (beyond the UK and the US) but we love exploring Gothic and horror from all over the world all year long!)
January – Cold
This month we are welcoming talks on manifestations of the Gothic and the horror in the cold – from Scandinavian noir to Icebound arctic terrors. We welcome talks from all eras and countries and about any type of text (films, novels, non-fiction narratives, short stories, video games, graphic novels etc.)
February – Irish Gothic and Horror
I am living and working in Ireland this year so I’m putting in a whole month exploring different manifestations of Irish Gothic and Horror from any period and in any medium
March – Introduction to…
Our ‘introduction’ months are like a bingo card free space. We welcome talks on any subject for these months. The talks should offer an introduction to a text, author, tradition or similar.
April – 19th Century
It’s hard to escape the nineteenth century when it comes to the Gothic. Many of the Gothic’s most famous texts are from this period (Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Portrait of Dorian Gray) and it remains a common setting for modern Gothic works. This month we welcome talks on all aspects of the Gothic, supernatural and horrifying in the 19th century and talks on modern works set in the 19th century. Again, we welcome talks from any country’s traditions.
May – B-Movie, Low Budget and Schlocky Horror
This month we’re celebrating all the horror film-making that gets short shrift or less respect that it deserves. From camp not-so-classics to creature features with cgi octosharks – we welcome it all.
June – YA and Children’s Gothic and Horror
We’re never had a month diving specifically into works for children and young adults so we’re rectifying this now. We welcome talks on specific texts, authors or traditions in children’s and YA writing that plays with horror, the Gothic or the supernatural.
July – Disability and Horror/the Gothic
Historically, the Gothic (and Horror) have often used disability in ways contiguous to monstrosity. This month we’re exploring the relationship between the Gothic/Horror and disability. We welcome talks on the representation and depiction of disability and we welcome talks on a disability studies approach to Gothic and horror texts.
August – Animals and the Gothic
This month we welcome talks related to animals and the Gothic, the supernatural and horror. From a history of witch familiars to dogs on screen, we welcome talks which look at all time periods and countries. We do not welcome any depiction of animal torture or suffering.
September – International Gothic and Horror
While we welcome talks from and about anywhere in the world all year, this month is set aside only for talks from different traditions around the world. We welcome talks on the Gothic, horror and the supernatural (including folklore) from all places and traditions!
October – Introduction to …
This is our second ‘introduction’ month. Our ‘introduction’ months are like a bingo card free space. We welcome talks on any subject for these months. The talks should offer an introduction to a text, author, tradition or similar.
November – Queer Gothic and Horror
Queer inclusion has always been a big part of Romancing the Gothic. We welcome talks on queer Gothic and horror all year but this month is set aside for talks on any aspect and variation of LGBTQIA+ horror. We are trans inclusive. Obviously.
December – Ghosts
In the UK, December is a time for wintry ghost stories but we’re opening up to any talk on ghosts in real life, fiction, film or whatever other medium you work in!
