CALL FOR PAPERS 2026
Society for Phenomenology and Media
27th annual conference (2026)
Society for Phenomenology and Media
In the 21st century, the late Don Ihde, the leader of post-phenomenology, wrote
"Bodies, bodies everywhere. Philosophy, feminist thought, cultural studies, science studies, all seem to have :rediscovered bodies. In part this may be because we have had to do some reflection upon being embodied in relation to the various new technologies that we are encountering in the twenty-first century."
In our present moment, Ihde's words resonate with unprecedented profundity, challenging our conventional thinking. As Merleau-Ponty eloquently articulated, the body functions as a medium through which we experience the world and this intrinsic mediality is now entering a transformative phase, propelled by remarkable scientific and technological breakthroughs. Today's world teems with diverse entities embodied in myriad forms, from humanoids that mirror our own physicality to artificial intelligences and robotic systems that diverge radically from human embodiment. Our coming Conference this year explores "Body as a Medium Revisited," and we eagerly anticipate thought-provoking contributions that forge connections between phenomenology, post-phenomenology, and various research frameworks, examining the expansive intersection of embodiment and mediation.
This conference is co-sponsored by Chukyo University and the Faculty of International Studies of Chukyo University.
SPM general focus:
We also welcome proposals on these and related questions within different theoretical paradigms, including phenomenology, post-phenomenology, queer phenomenology, affect theory, critical theory, cultural studies, hermeneutics, Marxism, New Historicism, post-colonial theory, pragmatism, semiotics, speech-act theory, etc. We encourage participation from a wide range of disciplines, including philosophy, media studies, communication, psychology, history, political science, sociology, rhetoric, literary theory, cognitive science, cultural studies, and other fields. Individual papers and panels need not be limited to phenomenological approaches.
Registration
Call for papers
Submission Guidelines
All papers must be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference. Abstracts (150-250 words) for the following paper categories are welcome:
Full papers
Posters
Proposals for 3-person panels are also accepted. These can be organized around specific media. For example: film, the Internet, mobile communication, dance, performance, print media (books, newspapers, and magazines), mixed reality experience (VR and/or AR), television, visual art, etc. Panel proposals should include three abstracts, including one by the panel organizer. All members of the panel need to be listed on the panel abstract, including email addresses. Individual abstract submissions will be assigned to a panel by the conference host.
While individual papers and panels are not limited to phenomenological approaches, SPM encourages interdisciplinary approaches and theoretical and philosophical diversity in the discussion of media.
Doctoral students are invited to submit proposals but should note that SPM limits the number of papers from students.
Deadline for abstracts: December 1, 2025
Acceptance rollout (occurring until the deadline of January 15, 2026)
Deadline for conference registration (through PayPal): February 10, 2026
Venue
Chukyo University, Nagoya, Japan
All sessions of the conference will be held at the Chukyo University, Center building close to Exit 5 of Yagoto Station on the Tsurumai Subway Line.
https://www.chukyo-u.ac.jp/english/campus/f1.html
Center Building
Yamate Hall
CHUKYO Terrace
Room 0401
Room 0402
Room 0603
Schedule
●23 March: Arrivals, Welcome Reception in the evening CHUKYO Terrace
●24-26 March: Conference Sessions Yamate Hall, Room 0401, Room 0402, Room 0603
●25 March: Visit Tokugawa Museum(17:30-) & Conference Dinner(19:00-)
●26 Board Meeting (18h)
●27-28 March: Experiencing the Formal Tea Ceremony
Phenomenological activities at Temple, Shrine, and Castle in Nagoya
Travel information
The international airport closest to the venue (Nagoya) is as below.
Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nagoya
But Haneda (Tokyo), Narita (Chiba), and Kansai (Osaka) airports have more flights from Europe, the U.S., and other places.
https://tokyo-haneda.com/en/index.html
https://www.narita-airport.jp/en/
https://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/
You can come from Haneda, Narita, and Kansai airports by train (regular train and Shinkansen express). It is also possible to come to Nagoya by bus from Kansai Airport.
Japan Rail Pass is very convenient for tourists from abroad. Check it out.
Organizing Committee
●Shoji Nagataki, Ph.D, 2026 Program Chair, 2020-2023 SPM Vice President
●Nicola Liberati, Ph.D., SPM President, 2022 Program Chair
●Mariano Emmanuel Navarro Arroyo, Ph.D., SPM Vice President (and Acting Secretary)
●Melinda Campbell, Ph.D., SPM Chair
●Gerardo De la Fuente, SPM Vice Chair, 2020-2023 SPM President
●Luis Acebal, Ph.D., SPM Treasurer
●Jacques Ibanez-Bueno, Ph.D., 2025 Program Chair
●Rita Neville, Ph.D., 2024 Program Chair
Contact
Please refer to the SPM website for further information:
https://www.societyforphenomenologyandmedia.org
Any questions regarding the conference and submissions may be directed to:
Accommodations
There are many hotels near Fushimi Station (Tsurumai Line and Higashiyama Line), providing convenient access to the venue.
Hotel Links (candidates)
https://www.choicehotels.com/japan/nagoya-city/comfort-inn-hotels/jp090
https://dormy-hotels.com/dormyinn/hotels/nagoyasakae/
https://www.daiwaroynet.jp/en/nagoyafushimi/
https://montblanc-hotel.jp/fushimi/en/
https://www.lamplightbookshotel.com/nagoya/
Registration fee (includes welcome party, conference dinner, and extension)
Regular: 250 USD.
Virtual participation: 150 USD.
To support the participation of emerging scholars, a reduced conference rate of USD 150 is available to graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and non-tenure-track faculty, including lecturers and adjunct instructors. This discounted fee is intended to make the event more financially accessible to those in the early stages of their academic careers or contingent teaching positions.
Visa Information
SPM will not contact embassies or consulates on behalf of participants. All visa and travel responsibilities lie solely with the attendee.
In case of visa denial, the registration fee will not be refunded, and it does not fall under the cancellation policy.