Department of English
Saint Louis University Madrid
Illustration from Frankenstein, 1934
From Frankenstein to the Posthuman
“The monster dwells at the gates of difference.” — Jeffrey Jerome Cohen, Monster Theory (1996)
Department of English
Saint Louis University Madrid
Illustration from Frankenstein, 1934
From Frankenstein to the Posthuman
“The monster dwells at the gates of difference.” — Jeffrey Jerome Cohen, Monster Theory (1996)
This interdisciplinary conference explores the figure of the monstrous body as a site of cultural, theoretical, and philosophical interrogation — from Mary Shelley's creature to contemporary body horror, posthuman theory, and artificial intelligence.
Drawing on the work of Jeffrey Jerome Cohen, Donna Haraway, Rosi Braidotti, Susan Stryker, N. Katherine Hayles, and Cary Wolfe, the conference invites scholars from literature, film studies, cultural studies, body studies, ecocriticism, and adjacent fields to examine bodies that transgress, disturb, and reimagine human boundaries.
In an age of AI, biotech, and ecological crisis, the question of what constitutes a “proper” body — and who gets to decide — has never been more urgent.
In Person
A leading theorist of bodily difference, disability, and posthumanism, Margrit Shildrick's work destabilizes normative assumptions about the human body. Her books include Leaky Bodies and Boundaries (1997), Embodying the Monster (2002), and Visceral Prostheses (2023). Her scholarship bridges feminist philosophy, bioethics, and cultural theory to challenge what counts as a “proper” body.
Online
Ikerbasque Research Professor of Philosophy, Michael Marder's work spans environmental philosophy, phenomenology, and political thought. His books include Plant-Thinking (2013), The Philosopher's Plant (2014), Green Mass (2021), and The Phoenix Complex (2023).
We invite paper proposals of 300 words (plus a short bio) from scholars across disciplines. We particularly welcome contributions from graduate students and early-career researchers, as well as work that bridges more than one discipline or theoretical tradition.
Full program to be announced. The following outline is provisional.
Saint Louis University Madrid is an American, Jesuit research university — one of a select few US institutions with a permanent European campus. Situated in the heart of Madrid, the campus provides an intimate and collegial setting for scholarly exchange.
The campus is easily accessible by public transport and well connected to central Madrid. Nearby accommodation options range from boutique hotels to university-affiliated apartments.
The capital of Spain, Madrid is a vibrant city with much to offer. Home to world-class museums (the Prado, the Reina Sofía, the Thyssen-Bornemisza), an extraordinary restaurant scene, and some of the best urban life in Europe.
A record of previous SLU Madrid English Department conferences — posters, programmes, and other materials from past editions.
