Call for Papers: The Evolution of Storytelling: Symbols, Myths, and Legends

The Evolution of Storytelling: Symbols, Myths, and Legends 

Date: 6^th June 2025  

Location: University of Leicester, Leicester (UK) 

The PGR Conference Team in the School of Arts, Media and Communication is pleased to invite you to a hybrid conference at the University of Leicester on 6 June 2025. 

Myths and legends are a common aspect of the various cultures that exist around the world. As humanity has grown and evolved, so have these stories – adapting to new technologies, traditions and norms. As William K. Ferrell notes, the concept of a storyteller, and storytelling, has grown from the myth in ancient times, to the novel during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, to literature and the film contemporarily (Ferrell: 2000: 17). Not only do these mediums act as vessels for new and original tales, allowing our cultural consciousness to grow, they also act as ways to reimagine, adapt, and rediscover older stories that have been forgotten or need reinterpretation based on societal factors and contemporary findings. Moreover, in the 21^st century media outlets and technologies have allowed current figures and stories to become legends and myths respectively, through powerful images and rhetoric. Within these stories are visual and thematic symbols, both metaphorical and literal, that help to express the messages embedded in the tales. Metaphorical symbols convey deep philosophical and psychological meanings, transcending individual’s stories to touch on universal themes of human existence. On the other hand, literal symbols are concrete objects or figures that carry specific meanings across cultures. Often, there are recurring symbols that provide insight into a common issue or anxiety of the time. Sometimes they can even transcend their original narrative to become something that, in the modern era, has a new meaning entirely. The evolution of these stories alongside their visual and thematic symbols, both literal and metaphorical, and their storytelling devices allow us to revisit past narratives with a fresh perspective. Additionally, they allow us to explore our modern society in ways only viable through the medium of storytelling, bringing us closer together in the present day. 

We invite submissions, including creative work, from PGR students working in all areas of English/Literary Studies, Film Studies, Media Studies, Modern Languages, Translation Studies, Creative Writing, including interdisciplinary work and cognate and related areas not covered by the School of Arts, Media and Communication. We are especially eager to receive submissions from students who are undertaking their research by “Distance Learning”, and we welcome submissions from students at regional universities around the Midlands. Responses might encompass, but are not restricted to: 

• Adaptations, retellings, and translation of ancient myths in modern times. 
• Modern media’s creation of new legends. 
• Comparisons of 21^st century translations of myths and legends to older translations 
• What is lost and/or gained by translating stories from their native language to another? 
• Archetypal figures in the history of international cinema.  
• The creation of contemporary “legends” using new media and technologies. 
• Religious and sacred symbols in ancient myths. 
• Modern reinterpretations of ancient symbols. 
• Digital symbols/ imagery.  

Please submit abstracts of 150-200 words to share your work in one of the following formats, along with a short biographical note (name, affiliation, project) and an indication of whether you will attend in person or remotely: 

1. 10–15-minute paper presentation or creative writing presentation (reading or performance) 
2. Poster. Posters will be displayed, and delegates will have the opportunity to informally discuss their work between panel sessions and in coffee breaks. 

Deadline for submissions: 9 May at 12 noon. Please submit to mythslegendsconference@gmail.com  

We are pleased that the University of Leicester’s College of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities has awarded us funds to offer a modest stipend to contribute to the travel costs of ten delegates for a maximum amount of £30 per person. We will prioritize students who are not in receipt of university or research council funding and who would otherwise be unable to attend the conference. If you would like to be considered for a travel bursary, please indicate this along with your current funding situation as part of your submission.  

Notifications of acceptance for the conference will be sent by 16 May 2025.  

Please note this is a hybrid conference. For more information, please contact us at mythslegendsconference@gmail.com We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting event!