Full Title: Exploring Tim Burton’s Universe: Linguistic and Literary Perspectives on his Filmography

Date: 16-Oct-2025 - 17-Oct-2025
Location: University of Verona, Italy
Contact Person: Sara Corrizzato
Meeting Email: [email protected]

Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics; Ling & Literature
Subject Language(s): English (eng)

Call Deadline: 01-Apr-2025

Meeting Description:

We are pleased to announce the upcoming conference titled “Exploring Tim Burton’s Universe: Linguistic and Literary Perspectives on His Filmography”, to be hosted by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Verona (Italy). The event will be held on October 16 and 17, 2025.
This interdisciplinary conference seeks to examine Tim Burton’s filmography through the analytical frameworks of linguistics and literature. By engaging with the richly textured and thematically layered nature of Burton’s works, the event aims to bring together scholars interested in exploring the cinematic universe of the acclaimed American director.

2nd Call for Papers:

Conference Focus
Tim Burton’s movies, known worldwide for their timeless stories, Gothic aesthetic, whimsical yet charming characters and multilayered plots, have marked international contemporary cinema and popular culture. Hence, many of us remember the heartbreaking narrative of Edward Scissorhands, the alternation of light and shadows in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or the linguistic playfulness of Alice in Wonderland. Tim Burton’s oeuvre, constantly reinventing itself while maintaining its distinctive trait, invites multifaceted readings that intersect different areas, such as linguistics, literature and culture. This conference aims to investigate how Burton’s filmography meets, or challenges, linguistic constructs, literary approaches and socio-cultural traditions, offering a forum for discussion for scholars’ diverse interpretations.

We invite submissions that address, but are not limited to, the following areas:

Cultural and Literary Perspectives on Burton’s World of Tim Burton:
- Adaptations of literary works;
- Gothic tropes, setting and characters;
- Intertextuality: References and inspirations drawn from literary sources in Burton’s narratives;
- Unconventional storytelling in Burton’s movies;
- Use of literary techniques in Burton’s dialogues and visual storytelling;
- Socio-cultural commentary and cultural memory in Burton’s work;
- Representation of gender roles, non-conformity, and fluid identities;
- Depictions of misfits, outcasts, marginalized and countercultural figures;
- American Gothic Identity.

Language in Burton’s movies:
- The role of dialogue, silence, and non-verbal communication;
- Semiotics and storytelling;
- Linguistic creativity in titles, scripts, and promotional materials;
- Audiovisual translation strategies;
- Linguistic representations of identity, otherness, and marginality;
- Multimodal semiotics and visual-linguistic interplay;
- Discursive-pragmatic strategies in communicative exchanges;
- Humor, satire, and the absurd in Burton’s linguistic choices.

Submission Guidelines
Abstracts should be between 300/350 words (excluding references) and should clearly state research question(s), theoretical approach, data sources, methodology, and (expected) outcomes.

The document (.doc) should include:
- Title of the proposed paper
- Abstract
- Name, affiliation, and contact information of the author(s)
- A brief biographical note (max 100 words)

Deadline for Abstract Submission: Submission must be sent by April 1st, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: June 1st, 2025
Submissions should be emailed to [email protected] and [email protected] with the subject line: “Tim Burton CFP Submission.”

Publication Opportunity
Selected papers may be considered for publication in an edited volume or a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal. Details will be provided during the conference.

Key Information
Conference Date: mid-October, with specific dates to be confirmed upon acceptance of proposals.
Venue: University of Verona, Italy
Organizer: Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Verona (Italy)
For inquiries, please contact [email protected] - [email protected]