The English Department of Hope International University is holding a writing contest to give prospective students the opportunity to win a scholarship and participate in a college-level academic experience. High school junior or senior level high school students are encouraged to submit academic essays on the topic of Dystopian Fiction or to submit original, creative works that fit within the genre. Selected participants will present their works at an academic conference entitled “Dystopian Fiction and Faith.”

The “Dystopian Fiction and Faith” academic conference will be a one-day event, held on HIU’s Fullerton Campus on Saturday, October 21, 2017, from 10 am-5 pm. Special guest speaker and former HIU professor, Phil Roh, will present the keynote address. Professor Roh’s academic expertise in Contemporary Literary Fiction and religious faith makes him a source of wisdom and inspiration. Lunch will be provided, and the day will conclude with an awards ceremony and High Tea at 4:00pm.

Dystopian fiction has long been a subject of interest for young adult readers, and many list dystopian novels, such as H.G. Wells’s The Time Machine, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, George Orwell’s 1984, and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, as some of their favorite books to read. Recent scholarship suggests that dystopian works offer readers an opportunity to process fears and anxieties about our current moment even though the texts are often set in a speculative future.

To be considered, students should send submissions to [email protected] by October 10, 2017.

// For more information, please contact Associate Professor Natalie Hewitt.