October 1-4, 2015 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Submission Deadline: June 22, 2015
Evolutionary Love:
Relations and Identities in a Virtual World
Charles Sanders Peirce’s concept of evolutionary love is behind the theme of this year’s conference, which prompts an exploration into the digital age of virtual relationships and identities. How have these relationships grown, or changed, in our new worlds of digital communication, multimedial art, and virtual realities? Who are we now, in this new environment, and how are we to know ourselves? How have we changed in our new modes of connectedness, of friendship, of love? Where is our center, and where is that Other with whom we have dialogue? Have we discovered, or slipped into, a newly digitalized, more extensively virtual, postmodern, and intertextual web of subjectivity? What are the consequences for authentic encounter in this world? What is preserved, what is lost, what is transformed into something radically new? And where are we heading, as individuals, families, societies, communities?
As always, we welcome abstracts on any subject with a connection to semiotics (both theoretical and applied), not solely those inspired by this year’s theme. We encourage you to reach out to your semiotically-inclined colleagues by organizing thematic sessions or panels, as well as submitting individual papers and posters. Our Society is interdisciplinary and international, and we welcome voices from all communities.
Please visit EasyChair to submit your abstract or proposal for poster presentation. (If you have any problems accessing the website, please contact us). The extended deadline for submission is June 22, 2015. Please include the following information in your submission:
1. Author’s name(s)
2. Institutional affiliation
3. Email address
4. Title of abstract
5. 150 to 200-word abstract
6. Keywords (maximum 6 words)
Abstracts for individual papers or panels and organized sessions (3-4 papers) as well as poster presentations must include all of the above information. Papers are for a 20-minute presentation. Early submission of abstracts and proposals is highly recommended. An acknowledgement of receipt of your abstract will be sent to you within two weeks from the date of receipt. Electronic letters of acceptance will be sent to the selected participants by June 30, 2015.
Papers presented at the meeting will also be considered for publication in Semiotics 2015, the Yearbook of the Semiotic Society of America. The SSA Yearbook is an annual peer-reviewed publication series sponsored by the Semiotic Society of America, providing both a timely overview of current developments in semiotic research and a regular outlet for members of the Society to publish papers on their current work. Further details and deadlines will be specified in the Annual Meeting Program.
Student submissions are eligible for the Roberta Kevelson Award, which will honor the best student paper presented at the 2015 Annual Meeting. Students who wish to be considered for the Kevelson Award should indicate their interest in their abstract submissions, and submit their full papers to Prof. Deborah Eicher-Catt at dle4@psu.edu by September 1, 2015.
Special Events
In addition to a distinguished keynote, plenary speakers, and the Presidential Address by Marcel Danesi, SSA 2015 will include:
• Pre-Conference Marketplace of Semiotics (Thursday morning, Oct. 1) – Stimulating seminars and workshops led by well-known semiotic scholars in various disciplines. Students and more experienced scholars will have the opportunity to select one or two from among eight distinctive seminars. More information and further details will be provided in the Program.
• Poster Presentations (displayed during the entire conference) – Poster presentations of current research should highlight best practices and methodology. All posters will be peer reviewed. Poster sizes should not exceed 3×3 feet in dimension and should be done on matte finish or coated paper. Submission of poster proposals should include 150–200 words of brief description and a PDF of the actual poster. Presenters should make sure their final printed posters are received by the SSA Registration Desk at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh no later than 12:00 noon on September 30, 2015. All posters will be on display in a gallery throughout the duration of the annual meeting.
Venue
Pittsburgh is the host city for the 40th SSA Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will take place at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, 530 William Penn Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, in the heart of downtown. The Omni Hotel has exceptional amenities. Enjoy the stunning views overlooking the entire city of Pittsburgh from Mount Washington and the Duquesne incline. Visit the Andy Warhol Museum, the Phipps Conservatory, and the shops in the Strip District (open 24 hours).
To make your room reservations, please go to the customized Group Web Link or call the Reservations Department 1-800-THE-OMNI 1-412-281-7100. We encourage you to make your reservation by September 1, 2015. After this date, it will be at the Omni Hotel’s discretion whether to accept reservations, which will be subject to prevailing rates and availability. Please follow the link to Semiotic Society of America when making your registration to receive the special rate of $165.00 per night (single or double room), including complimentary guest-room wireless Internet access.
Membership and Registration Fees
Please note that in accordance with Article 4, Section 4 of the SSA Constitution: “Only Individual, Student, and Honorary members in good standing may offer papers to the Program Committee for presentation at the meeting of the Society.” Membership must be in good standing at or before the time of abstract submission.
Membership Fees:
• SSA Membership Dues (Regular) – $50.00
• SSA Membership Dues (Student) – $30.00
Conference Registration Fees:
• Conference Registration (Regular) – $170.00 (late registration $200.00 after August 21, 2015)
• Conference Registration (Student) – $75.00 (late registration $90.00 after August 21, 2015)
• Pre-Conference Seminars Fee – $50.00 (access to all seminars)
Meals Fee – $125.00 (includes the following):
• Breakfast (3 days)
• Lunch (3 days)
• Beverage Service (3 days)
• Dinner Banquet (1 night)
• Welcome Reception with hors d’oeuvres and cash bar
To join the Society and register for the conference, please visit https://www.pdcnet.org/wp/2015-ssa/ or call: +01-434-220-3300, Toll Free: 1-800-444-2419 (US & Canada).
We look forward to welcoming you in Pittsburgh!
2015 Program Committee
Robert S. Hatten, Chair
The University of Texas at Austin
Mariana Bockarova
University of Toronto
Isaac E. Catt
Duquesne University
Javier Clavere
Berea College
Deborah Eicher-Catt
Pennsylvania State University, York
Gilad Elbom
Oregon State University
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SSA Executive Director
Farouk Y. Seif
Antioch University Seattle
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