Calls for Papers, Proposals and Conferences
Edited by Joshua Heter and Richard Greene
Abstracts are sought for a collection of essays on any philosophical topic related to 90s alternative rock which may also include a number of subgenres (e.g., grunge, indie rock, emo, 3rd wave punk & ska, pop punk, nu metal & rap-rock, brit-pop, shoegaze, industrial, neo-psychedelia, etc.) to be published with McFarland and Co. Publishers Inc. Potential contributors may want to examine previous volumes from Heter and Greene: Punk Rock and Philosophy: Research and Destroy (2022) and Post-Punk and Philosophy: Rip it Up and Think Again (2024). Abstracts and eventual essays should be written for an educated but non-specialized audience (with an approximate length of 3,000 – 3,500 words). Potential topics include (but are not limited to)…
- What is “alternative” music? Is it the type of thing that can be defined? Or, do you just know it when you hear it? What exactly is it an “alternative” to?
- Can pop punk be good punk? Does the notion of pop punk even make sense?
- Why do we listen to such sad and depressing songs (e.g., like those in grunge and emo)?
- What does it mean to “sell out”? Is selling out inherently bad? Is being “indie” inherently good?
- What is nihilism (and should I be worried if I’m a nihilist)?
- What is the draw some people have to angry music like nu metal and rap rock? What was the root cause of the Woodstock 99 fiasco?
- Is it immoral to listen to songs with misogynistic lyrics?
- Tipper Gore, the Parents Music Resource Center, and the ethics of censorship and warning labels.
- What is authenticity, and does it make for better music?
- What are the values of Generation X, and are Gen-Xers set up to live the good life?
- What is irony, really?
- What is the moral significance of listening to (or creating) music that seems to promote violence?
- Philosophical issues related to adolescence and growing up.
- Would the (more prominent) existentialists from the history of philosophy be into alt rock?
- What does it mean to say that a song is “introspective?” And, can introspection be justified? Or, should we remain skeptical?
- What is cynicism and what made it so prevalent in the 1990s?
- Is self-loathing ever rational?
- What is the philosophical significance of the DIY ethos of Lollapalooza?
- Is commercialism in art necessarily a bad thing?
- What is disillusionment, and is it (or can it be) a virtue?
- What is cultural appropriation (and is it always bad)? Is rap-rock a natural result of a healthy melting-pot society, or is it simply just a form of cultural appropriation?
- What is sincerity? What exactly is new sincerity? Is it a substantively unique thing?
- What are the ethics of (using, creating, and/or suing) Napster?
- Is it really better to burn out rather than to fade away?
- What makes for a good cover song?
- Who are the feminist icons of alternative rock in the 90s? What role did alternative rock play in feminist advances in the 90s and beyond?
Contributor Guidelines:
Mail abstracts (and any questions) to: 90salternativeandphilosophy@gmail.com.
- Abstracts should be between 100 – 500 words.
- Potential contributors must include a resume/CV for each author/coauthor.
- Initial submissions should be made by e-mail as either a Word doc. or a PDF.
Deadlines:
Abstracts due by: November 18, 2024
First drafts due by March 2, 2025
Final drafts due by May 5, 2025
(Early submissions are encouraged and welcomed!)
Download the Call for Papers [PDF]
Epistemai, a student-run journal at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, is seeking submissions of original philosophical work from undergraduates for their Spring 2025 edition.
They're looking for excellent undergraduate papers from any philosophical tradition and discipline. Selections will be made based on originality, engagement with the source material, depth of argument, maturity of vocabulary, clarity, conciseness, and accessibility of thoughts and language. We welcome submissions from diverse philosophical backgrounds and on a broad variety of topics.
Epistemai uses a rolling acceptance model for submissions. This means that earlier submissions will receive priority in consideration, with the first formal deadline on January 1st, 2025, and a second and final deadline on February 15th, 2025. Submissions received prior to the first deadline will also be considered for their 2025 undergraduate conference, which will be held in mid-to-late spring. They currently plan to accept around five papers for the conference and no more than eight for publication in total.
Submission criteria and process:
- Must be written by an undergraduate.
- Length should be between 3000 and 6000 words (12 to 24 pages).
- Include a 100-200 word abstract summarizing your paper and page numbers.
- Chicago style citations are preferred for submissions, and will be required for publishing.
- Cannot be published elsewhere.
- Include a cover page with the following personal information (do not include a name or any personal information elsewhere in the paper): your name, your email, and your undergraduate institution name.
- Submit your paper electronically by February 15th, 2025 by uploading a .docx or .docs file (must be editable) to , or by email to epistemai@umn.edu. Submissions from those who would like to participate in the conference or are seeking priority consideration are due on January 1st, 2025.
All published papers will be chosen by early spring. Authors will be notified of the editors' decision by that time.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the journal email at epistemai@umn.edu.