Call for Papers: “ Weird Connections: Modernism and Byzantium” at Loughborough, UK

1 Jul 26

1-4 July 2026

Leaders: Dr. Christos Hadiyiannis (University of Regensburg), Dr. Demet Karabulut Dede (Istanbul Bilgi University)

Modernists were drawn to unexpected connections. One such weird connection was with Byzantium, which for many modernists signalled decline and revival, corruption and rediscovery, imagination and reinvention. The seminar invites papers that examine how modernism engages with the Byzantine Empire across different national and cultural contexts, media and genres, and which offer transnational or comparative perspectives on this underexplored relationship.

  • How did cultural materials related to the Byzantine Empire circulate within literary and artistic circles?
  • What connections can be drawn between the rise in interest in the Byzantine Empire during the 19thc and the emergence of decadent literature?
  • What is the relationship between modernism, nationalism, and the Byzantine Empire?
  • In what ways did the Byzantine Empire serve as a cultural and political reference point for the emerging nation-states of the 20th c?
  • How was the Byzantine Empire employed as a symbol of political critique or dissent?
  • What contemporary artistic works reflect the influence of both Byzantine traditions and modernist aesthetics?

We call for brief position papers (5-7 pages) on any work (including work in progress) that engages with modernism and Byzantium. Papers will be pre-circulated. We will match participants and ask each attendee to respond to one paper. The seminar will be led by two scholars working within modernism and Byzantine studies who would like to continue building an open and inviting network on modernism & Byzantium. For this seminar, we have invited three responders from Literature and from Byzantine Studies, whom we’ve asked to share with us their most recent work and talk about the challenges of working across periods. The responders are Eleni Kefala (St. Andrews), Suzanne Hobson (Queen Mary London), and Tony Paraskeva (Roehampton).

The discussion will be structured, congenial, and inclusive; the organisers are committed to ensuring that everyone gets the chance to speak and to be heard.

You need to be a MSA member to apply. Here is the link for: https://www.moderniststudies.org/members/login/

Website link for conference: https://www.moderniststudies.org/conference/MSA2026/

Website link for Seminar application form: https://www.moderniststudies.org/conference/MSA2026/seminars/