The International Conference on Sinophone Literature and Crossmedia Storytelling brings together scholars, writers, and media practitioners to explore the dynamic intersection of Chinese-language literature and emerging forms of narrative across different media platforms.

This groundbreaking conference will provide a forum for sharing cutting-edge research and creative practices that bridge traditional literary scholarship with contemporary approaches to storytelling in digital environments, film, visual arts, and performative contexts.

Recent scholarship in Sinophone literature has significantly expanded beyond traditional national and linguistic boundaries. This conference builds on the innovative work of scholars like Shu-mei Shih, who has developed the concept of the "Sinophone" as a way to understand Chinese-language cultural production outside mainland China.

Simultaneously, the field of transmedia storytelling has flourished, with researchers investigating how narratives evolve and transform as they move between different media formats and platforms. The work of scholars like Henry Jenkins on "convergence culture" and Marie-Laure Ryan on narrative across media has opened new avenues for understanding these complex processes.

Our conference specifically addresses the following areas:

• The evolution of Sinophone literature in global contexts and diaspora communities
• Digital storytelling and Chinese-language web literature (网络文学)
• Adaptation of Chinese literature across film, television, and online media (like the animated film "Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child" 哪吒之魔童降世)
• Transmedia storytelling in Chinese cultural contexts
• The impact of emerging technologies (VR, AR, AI) on narrative forms
• Crossmedia practices in gaming, animation, and interactive storytelling (like "Black Myth: Wukong" 黑神話：悟空)
• Fan cultures and participatory narratives in Sinophone contexts
• Memory, history, and trauma in multimodal storytelling

This conference responds to the urgent need for interdisciplinary approaches that can address the complexities of contemporary storytelling practices in the Chinese-speaking world and beyond.

We invite scholars at all career stages to submit abstracts for papers that engage with the intersections of Sinophone literature and crossmedia storytelling. We particularly welcome interdisciplinary approaches and innovative methodologies that challenge conventional disciplinary boundaries.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• Theoretical frameworks for analyzing Sinophone transmedia narratives
• Case studies of specific works that traverse multiple media platforms
• Historical perspectives on media convergence in Chinese cultural contexts
• Digital humanities approaches to studying Chinese-language narratives
• Cross-cultural adaptations and global circulation of Chinese stories
• New media technologies and their impact on storytelling practices
• Pedagogical approaches to teaching transmedia Chinese literature

Abstract Submission:

Please submit your abstract (250-300 words) along with a brief biographical note by May 31, 2025 through our online registration form or by email to wacs@china-studies.com.

Important Dates:

• Abstract submission deadline: May 31, 2025
• Notification of acceptance: June 15, 2025
• Full paper submission: June 30, 2025
• Conference date: July 31, 2025

The conference will be held at the Leonardo Hotel Berlin Mitte, located in the heart of Berlin's cultural district.

Address:
Leonardo Hotel Berlin Mitte
Bertolt-Brecht-Platz 4
10117 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 3744 05000

The venue is conveniently located near major cultural institutions, including the Berliner Ensemble theater and Museum Island, allowing participants to explore Berlin's rich cultural landscape during their stay.

For accommodation, participants may book rooms at the conference hotel at a special rate or choose from a variety of hotels in the vicinity. Further information about accommodation options will be provided upon registration.

Registration for the conference includes:

• Access to all conference sessions
• Conference materials
• Coffee breaks and lunch
• Evening reception
• Certificate of participation

Registration Fees:

• Regular participants: €190
• Online participants: €90
• Graduate students: €120 (student ID required)

Registration and payment must be completed by June 20, 2025.

Register Now

For inquiries about the conference, please contact the organizing committee:

Email: wacs@china-studies.com

Conference Chair:
Prof. Dr. Martin Woesler
World Association for Chinese Studies
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