Configurations

Scope & Guideline

Advancing Critical Analyses Across Diverse Disciplines

Introduction

Welcome to the Configurations information hub, where our guidelines provide a wealth of knowledge about the journal’s focus and academic contributions. This page includes an extensive look at the aims and scope of Configurations, highlighting trending and emerging areas of study. We also examine declining topics to offer insight into academic interest shifts. Our curated list of highly cited topics and recent publications is part of our effort to guide scholars, using these guidelines to stay ahead in their research endeavors.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1063-1801
PublisherJOHNS HOPKINS UNIV PRESS
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited States
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 1993 to 1994, from 1996 to 2001, from 2004 to 2024
AbbreviationCONFIGURATIONS / Configurations
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
AddressJOURNALS PUBLISHING DIVISION, 2715 NORTH CHARLES ST, BALTIMORE, MD 21218-4363

Aims and Scopes

Configurations is a journal that explores the intersections of literature, science, technology, and culture. It aims to investigate how these domains interact and influence one another, offering a platform for interdisciplinary scholarship that challenges traditional boundaries.
  1. Interdisciplinary Studies:
    The journal focuses on the convergence of literature, science, and technology, encouraging research that crosses disciplinary lines and integrates various methodologies.
  2. Cultural Critique:
    A significant aim is to critique cultural narratives, particularly those related to environmental issues, technological advancements, and social justice, fostering discussions around contemporary societal challenges.
  3. Ecocriticism and the Anthropocene:
    Configurations consistently addresses themes of ecocriticism and the Anthropocene, examining how literature reflects and shapes our understanding of ecological crises.
  4. Digital Humanities and Technology:
    The journal also emphasizes the role of digital humanities in contemporary scholarship, exploring how technology transforms the ways we create and interpret literature.
  5. Narrative and Representation:
    A core scope includes the analysis of narrative forms and their implications for representing diverse experiences, particularly in relation to marginalized communities.
Recent publications in Configurations reveal emerging themes that reflect the evolving landscape of literature and cultural studies. These trends indicate a growing interest in the intersections of various disciplines and contemporary societal issues.
  1. Ecological and Environmental Narratives:
    There is a notable increase in research exploring ecological narratives, particularly in the context of the Anthropocene, as scholars seek to understand the role of literature in addressing environmental crises.
  2. Digital Culture and New Media:
    The journal is increasingly focusing on the impact of digital culture and new media on literary forms, examining how technology influences narrative structure and audience engagement.
  3. Interdisciplinary Methodologies:
    A trend towards interdisciplinary methodologies is evident, with more scholars incorporating insights from science, technology studies, and cultural theory into literary analysis.
  4. Queer Theory and Representation:
    Emerging discussions around queer theory and representation are becoming more prominent, reflecting a critical engagement with issues of identity, materiality, and societal norms.
  5. Posthumanism and Nonhuman Perspectives:
    Recent themes highlight posthumanist approaches, particularly in examining the relationships between humans and nonhumans, which are increasingly relevant in contemporary literary studies.

Declining or Waning

Over recent years, certain themes within Configurations have shown a decline in prominence, reflecting shifting scholarly interests and external influences within the fields of literature and cultural studies.
  1. Traditional Literary Analysis:
    There appears to be a waning focus on traditional literary analysis that does not integrate contemporary issues or interdisciplinary approaches, as the journal increasingly prioritizes innovative frameworks.
  2. Historical Literary Studies:
    Themes centered on historical literary studies, especially those lacking connections to present-day issues, seem to be receiving less attention, indicating a shift towards more relevant, contemporary analyses.
  3. Singular Author Studies:
    Research concentrating solely on individual authors without contextualizing their work within broader cultural or technological frameworks is becoming less common, as the journal favors studies that explore collective movements and influences.

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