The ExRe(y) project invites proposals for articles to be published in a special issue of Polish Journal for American Studies titled “ExtReme 21: Going Beyond in Post-Millennial North-American Literature and Culture” (Fall 2021).

Originally, the title of the issue corresponded to the title of the third ExRe(y) conference, scheduled for 4-6 June 2020, but cancelled due to continued uncertainty about the spread of the COVID-19. The volume was supposed to provide a forum for further discussion between conference participants. Yet, as the unfolding of the pandemic continues to drastically reshape the meaning of what everyone used to consider extreme, we decided to issue an open (and updated) CFP, with a view to broadening the scope of the volume and addressing the current moment.

The editors seek proposals that focus on the topic of the (broadly understood) extreme in American and Canadian literature and culture of the last two decades. Topics may include, but are not limited to the following:

- human dominion vs. bio gaze – the Anthropocene, are we too many?, extreme nature, disaster scenarios, elitist issue?, “wild goats take over an empty town,” the underappreciated outdoors
- the Internet brain – stupidity vs. infobesity, fake news, “if Hanx has it”
- TL;DR – new forms of cultural/literary expression, short beats long, readership, language change/corruption/development
- wow vs. meh – scandal, controversy, normcore, can Sims die of boredom?
- extreme -isms (e.g. radicalism, extremism, fundamentalism, conservatism, liberalism)
- money, money – crisis, bankruptcy, economic stagnation, vampiric capitalism, Crazy Rich Asians, surveillance capitalism and (temporary?) contact tracing
- Everything Was Awesome?
- time shift – human time vs. deep time, real time, 24/7, transience, no time, time stops/time drags
- architectural (non-)extremes – slums vs. gated communities, eco-/sustainable architecture, smart growth, Extreme Architecture, red zones
- (post-)9/11 – terror, war, suspicion, discrimination, conspiracy, surveillance, safety, Enduring Freedom?
- love-hate with globalization
- post/transhumanist aesthetics/ethics
- millennial fatigue and the mechanics of overexposure
- the psychology of lockdown – managing confinement, closure, and cancellation
- Golden Oscar Raspberry – bestsellers, blockbusters, flops, VOD premieres
- aesthetics of excess vs. reality of bare necessity
- the game of thrones – Yes We Can, when I search “idiot,” The Breakfast Club rooftop dance, Fauci facepalm, Return of the Scientists
- 4th wave – HeForShe, #MeToo, #HimToo, backlash, “What Do Countries With The Best Coronavirus Responses Have In Common?”, #abuseathome
- hyper-/hypo- (e.g. aesthesia, criticism, kinesia, media(tion), reality, sexuality)
- alone together – me-centrism vs. The (Social) Network, digital divide, social distancing, WFH
- WHAT NOW? (moving past/going beyond the unprecedented)

Scholars interested in contributing an essay of approximately 20,000-30,000 characters with spaces are invited to submit a 250-word abstract specifying their line of research. The abstracts should be sent to Izabella Kimak and Julia Nikiel (exreyconference@gmail.com) by 31 July 2020. All submissions must include a 100-word biographical statement.

All abstracts will be subject to review. Authors will be notified by 31 August 2020. Accepted articles are due by 31 December 2020. The special issue will be published in the fall of 2021. All articles will undergo a review process. The editors reserve the right to refuse articles or to propose modifications before publication.

For further information about Polish Journal forAmerican Studies and the ExRe(y) project please visit www.paas.org.pl/pjas and www.exrey.umcs.lublin.pl, respectively.