The PG Department of English, St. Joseph’s College of Arts & Science (Autonomous), Cuddalore, successfully organized a one-day International Conference on “New Directions in Narratology” on 12 December 2025 in hybrid mode (online and offline). The conference aimed to explore emerging trends, theories, and interdisciplinary approaches in narratology across literature, digital media, film, games, and pedagogical contexts.

The conference was organized under the able guidance of the college management and administration. Rev. Fr. Dr. M. Swaminathan, Secretary of the College, served as the Chief Patron, with the Principal Dr. M. Arumai Selvam and the Vice-Principals providing academic and administrative support. The event was coordinated by Dr. Ann Lanka Jeyadharshini X, Head & Assistant Professor and Mr. B. Prabakaran, Assistant Professor (Department Secretary), with Mr. A. Arul Benito Gerard and Mr. J. R. Kewin Anten Raj serving as Organising Secretaries, supported by an active team of faculty members from the department.

The conference brought together scholars, researchers, and academicians from India and abroad to deliberate on contemporary narrative forms and practices. The keynote addresses were delivered by eminent scholars including Dr. S. Samuel Rufus (Madras Christian College (Autonomous) Chennai), Dr. K. Kannan Prasad (Loyola College (Autonomous), Chennai), Dr. Amanda Furiasse (Nova Southeastern University, USA), and Dr. Brenton D. G. Dickieson (University of Prince Edward Island, Canada). 

Dr. Samuel Rufus spoke on “Trajectories in Multiliteracy and Multimodal Literacy”, Dr. K. Kannan Prasad  spoke on “The Body as Story: Affective and Embodied Turns in Contemporary Narratology”, Dr. Brenton D. G. Dickieson “A Walk within the Walls of the World: The Deeper Magic of Meaning” in Fantasy Dr. Amanda Furiasse “The End Before the Beginning: How AI is Reversing the Flow of Narrative Time.”

71 papers were presented in the conference across seven panels: 

• Narrative: Beyond the Human

• Narrative and the Body 

• Narrative and Popular Culture 

• Narrative Design in Literature 

• Autobiography, Affect and Narrative 

• Narrative and the Canon Revisited

• Narrative, Technology and Language Learning