The 16th International Connotations Symposium (July 25 – 29, 2021) will look into questions of “Metagenre.” To this end, it will focus on works that, like the A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Good Soldier, reflect on the genre(s) to which they belong; this self-reflection may be either explicit or implicit. Questions to be dealt with include: What are the techniques used to make self-reflexive statements about genre? Are parodies by definition examples of metagenre? Do the reflection on genre and the performance of genre in one and the same work support or undermine each other? Is metagenre an indication of genre change or genre crisis? Are some genres more likely to become self-reflexive than others (e.g. sonnets about sonnets)?

The programme can be downloaded here. Read the CfP online or download it as PDF.