Call for Proposals for an Essay Collection on Meta-Fiction, Intertextuality, and Authorship in Supernatural -deadline extended
One of the defining themes of the CW’s Supernatural is its interest in fiction and storytelling. The longest running genre series on American television, it has, throughout its twelve seasons, broken the fourth wall in a way that no other TV show likely has. From making Supernatural itself (and its fandom) exist within the world of the narrative to the unique relationship between canon and fanon, fans and creators, Supernatural is a groundbreaking look at the way narratives are created, told, and retold. Yet most scholarship dedicated to Supernatural has omitted thoroughly exploring this crucial aspect of the series. This collection seeks submissions on all manner of topics dealing with dealing with Supernatural’s use and exploration of metafiction, intertextuality, adaptation, authorship, and fandom. Topics can include, but are not limited to:
•Breaking the fourth wall: Supernatural’s unique use of meta-fiction, particularly in episodes such as “Metafiction,” “The French Mistake,” “Fan Fiction,” and “The Monster at the End of This Book,” and the character of Metatron.
•Supernatural as Transformative Work: it use and rewriting of myth, religion, and urban legend
•Genre: Supernatural’s use, adaptation, and reworking of various genres, especially in its “genre” episodes such as “Frontierland,” “Monster Movie,” “Hell House,” and others.
•“Tearing up the Rules and Rewriting the Ending” – themes of authorship and (re)writing and their relationship to other themes of the show such as free will
•God as writer, positioning Supernatural/the Winchesters’ stories as The Gospel
•American Culture within the show and its reworking/adaptation
•Popular culture, literary references, and intertextuality
•Fandom and Fan Work: Supernatural’s portrayal of fandom (“Fan Fiction,” “The Monster at the End of This Book”) and its inclusion of fan theories and “fanon” in the show
•The relationship between fans and creators outside of the text (social media, conventions)
•Canon, “Fanon,” and the relationship between the two
•Fandom politics, canonicity, and the porous boundaries around what counts as canon
•Ships, Shipping, and issues of canonicity
•Fan theories about authorship and textuality as they relate to Supernatural
Other topics are also welcomed, as are submissions from a variety of perspectives and levels of experience, including fans, aca-fans, and independent scholars. [the idea is to] create a collection of essays as diverse and varied as Supernatural itself.
Please submit an abstract of up to 500 words and a short biographical note to anaklimchynskaya@gmail.com by January 5th. Notifications of abstract acceptance will be sent out by January 15th, and the final draft will be due late Spring. McFarland has expressed strong interest in this collection.
The Fan Studies Network 
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