We hope you can join us for the Comparative Thought and Literature Graduate Symposium, to be held on April 17–18, 2026, presented by the graduate students of JHU’s Department of Comparative Thought and Literature. This biennial symposium brings together graduate students and faculty from across the humanities and social sciences to explore emerging interdisciplinary conversations.

This year’s theme is “Touching Earth: Queer Ecologies, Ecosexualities, and the Ethics of Relation.” We will examine how queer theory, feminist thought, and environmental humanities intersect in reimagining our relations to the more-than-human world. We’re thrilled to host Heather Davis (The New School) as our keynote speaker, as well as a roundtable of JHU professors.

The program includes:

Friday
– Opening remarks and roundtable: Caroline Lillian Schopp (History of Art), Lauren Russell (Writing Seminars), Jane Bennett (CTL), Harris Feinsod (English)
– Lunch
– Graduate student panels
– Keynote by Heather Davis

Saturday
– Breakfast & Lunch
– Panels & Paper Presentations
– Film Screening: Playing with Fire: An Ecosexual Emergency
– Closing Reception with DJ Set by The Soft Pink Truth

This year’s event is co-sponsored by the Ecological Design Collective, along with the departments of Modern Languages and Literatures, History of Art, Classics, The Center for Advanced Media Studies, and the Program for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality.

Space is limited. Please be sure to register for this free event!
Note: There may be additional seating for the film screening, so join the waitlist even if the event is full, and we will contact you if there are extra seats for the film.