I would like to present a paper.  What is the process?

We typically send a call for papers/presentations roughly a month before a quarter begins. Check back in September for our Autumn 2025 CFP.

What kind of work is acceptable for the workshop?

RAVE is intended for graduate students, faculty, and visitors to present works-in-progress in a welcoming, collegiate, and intellectually robust environment. We invite projects that take up material culture or treat visual materials in any capacity whatsoever. Preliminary drafts of conference papers, articles, dissertation proposals, or book/dissertation chapters are welcome.

How do I choose a respondent?

In general, we will help you find a respondent that is appropriate for your paper.  We welcome your ideas, though, and will do our best to accommodate you.

How far in advance should I be in touch with my respondent?

We recommend that you contact your respondent and settle on a presentation format 7-10 days before your presentation date.  Please make sure that if you are giving a presentation, your respondent has a hard copy of your presentation in advance of the date.

I would like to pre-circulate a paper.  Are there guidelines?

Pre-circulated papers are welcome, though they shouldn’t be much more than 25 pages maximum. Please make efforts to send your pre-circulated paper to Aidan or Lucia no later than a week before your presentation.

I would like to give a short introduction to my pre-circulated paper.  How long should it be?

Please try to keep your introduction to a maximum of around 15 minutes.  This time should be used to present new images or focus questions in preparation for discussion, not to reiterate the arguments of the paper.  The respondent will provide a summary of the paper.

I am choosing to give a presentation in lieu of a pre-circulated paper. How long should it be?

In order to allow for adequate discussion, presentations should not be much longer than 40 minutes maximum.

 I’m a MAPH/ MAPS/ MFA student.  Can I attend and/ or present at RAVE?

RAVE welcomes the participation of all students and we hope you will join us at our workshop!  We have had Master’s students present at the workshop before.  Please be aware, though, that CAS workshops give preference to doctoral student papers.

Are Post-docs, faculty members, undergrads, etc. welcome to attend?

RAVE encourages the participation of the entire UChicago community!

Can I be added to the RAVE email listserv?

Of course! You can add yourself by going to this website. Or you can simply email Lucia Neirotti (lneirotti@uchicago.edu) or Aidan Valante (valenteaidan@uchicago.edu) with your request.

I have dietary restrictions. Will there be anything for me to eat?

RAVE’s refreshments always include vegan and vegetarian options.  Please let us know if you have a gluten allergy or other dietary restriction and we are happy to accommodate that as well.