Department of English

• Friday, May 1, 2026 - 9:00am to 7:00pm

Room Location: TBD

May 1st EVENT

9-4 Graduate Student Workshop on “The Novel and Labor’. (precirculated papers)

5-7 Panel on “The Novel and Reproductive Labor” (Open panel)

Speakers:  Lilith Todd, Dora Zhang, Arielle Zibrak

Dinner for all participants

Graduate papers (of max 10 pages) will be pre-circulated amongst the group and discussed in a roundtable during on May 1st.  The day will conclude with an open panel on the subject of "The Novel and Reproductive Labor."

This event follows one on March 3rd at Harvard University in the Novel Theory Seminar on The Novel and Labor (6pm-7.30 Speakers: Leah Price, Tina Lupton, Moira Ferguson)

GRADUATE WORKSHOP DETAILS:

We are soliciting working papers from projects that approach the idea of labor from all angles (paid, reproductive, expropriated, intellectual), as well as those thinking capaciously about the novel form.  We are open to those at any stage of their degree,  from those working in different periods, and at any institution (including Penn).

Attendees at the workshop will be paired with a faculty respondent and will have travel, two nights accommodation in Philadelphia, and all meals covered.

Please apply here by December 20th:

https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dptzjvy2Tpu7xfo

Successful applicants will be informed by mid January and will pre-circulate papers amongst the group (which will include faculty repondants) by April 1st.

Organizing Committee:  Lilith Todd, Tina Lupton, Mariana Akawi