CUJAH VOLUME TWENTY-ONE: CALL FOR PAPERS

Deadline: January 5, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Eastern

The Concordia Undergraduate Journal of Art History (CUJAH) invites submissions for its twenty-first volume, set to be published in print in March 2025! This year, we are launching two brand new Writing Awards in collaboration with the Art History Department to highlight the academic excellence of our undergraduate community. Read below for further details.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Candidates must be a current undergraduate student in the Fine Arts Faculty of Concordia University at the time of submission (Winter 2025 term).

  • Submissions must have been written for an Art History (ARTH), Film Studies (FMST) or related media-based history class and have received a grade of A- (80%) or higher.

  • Submissions must be between 750 to 2,500 words in length (footnotes, bibliography, and captions excluded).

Submission Instructions

If your submission fails to comply with the following conditions, it will be prematurely disqualified. Our jurying process relies on the following criteria to ensure fairness and objectivity in its adjudication.

  • Files must be anonymized. Remove your name, class, instructor, and date from all pages.

  • Indicate your word count in the first page header. This is how we will categorize your essay appropriately as we judge short and long essays separately.

  • Properly format your essay. Double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt., 1-inch margins, right-aligned text, no extra spaces between paragraphs, Chicago Style full notes - bibliography.

Submission Guidelines

  • Engaging introduction. Essays should open with an interesting topic or punchline that will reel in the reader.

    • Tip: Avoid starting with clichés such as "Throughout art history," "Across time and space," or "In modern art history." These sweeping generalizations can feel vague and disengaging to readers. Instead, begin with a specific topic or subject that relates to the theme of your essay without being too obvious. Aim to weave a connecting thread throughout your introduction that smoothly guides the reader toward your thesis, creating a compelling and focused entry into your argument.

  • Cohesive argument. Essays should present a clear, coherent argument supported by strong visual analysis.

    • Tip: Clearly state your thesis/argument in the introduction, setting the direction for your essay. In the conclusion, restate the thesis and provide a brief summary of your key sub-arguments to leave a lasting impression and reinforce your main idea.

  • Refined writing. Submissions should demonstrate confidence in argumentation through polished writing and logical structure.

    • Tip: Read your draft aloud, and get friends & family to read it. This will help catch any awkward wording, run-on sentences, and complex phrasing that slipped through the cracks.

  • Minimal to no use of class lecture notes in citations. Students are encouraged to engage with external academic sources rather than references to lectures.

    • Tip: Engage with your assigned course readings, articles recommended for further reading in your syllabi, and other scholarship your professor or instructor might reference in class.

Introducing CUJAH’s Writing Awards

This year, in collaboration with the Department of Art History, we are excited to launch CUJAH’s first-ever writing awards, celebrating excellence in undergraduate research and writing. These awards recognize students whose essays demonstrate originality, intellectual rigor, and polished academic writing.

The Aurora Writing Award

Symbolizing the sudden brilliance of new ideas and insights, this award honours a shorter essay (750 to 1,250 words) that shines brightly within a concise framework.

The Polaris Writing Award

Named after the North Star, this award celebrates a long-form essay (1,250 to 2,500 words) that serves as a guiding light, offering deep research and complex arguments that illuminate new academic directions.

Each winner will receive a $200 prize. Awardees will be celebrated at the launch event for the twenty-first volume, and their achievements will be featured on CUJAH’s website and social media channels. Through these awards, we aim to encourage critical engagement and highlight the exceptional talent within Concordia’s undergraduate community.

The Jury will consist of CUJAH’s executives, editorial team and board members, two undergraduate peers, and two faculty members of the Art History Department. The Jury will evaluate essays submitted for consideration following these criteria:

Evaluation Criteria for Award-Winning Essays

  • Extensive external research. The jury seeks submissions that extend beyond the frameworks covered in the course where the essay originated. Essays should demonstrate intellectual curiosity, initiative, and the ability to engage deeply with external sources, reflecting a commitment to pushing ideas further.

  • Original and compelling argument. The jury seeks submissions that present an original argument situated within broader discourses about the relevant artwork, theme, or theory. What has been written about this artwork, artist, or theme? How does your argument fit within existing scholarship? Does your argument disrupt established academic narratives, or does it add a new dimension to current debates?

  • Engagement with theoretical frameworks. The jury seeks for submissions that thoughtfully engage with relevant theoretical frameworks, situating the artwork or essay within broader academic conversations. These frameworks may include, but are not limited to, postcolonial, decolonial, anticolonial, intersectional, and feminist perspectives. Essays should demonstrate how these perspectives enrich the analysis and deepen the understanding of the subject matter.

  • Sophisticated writing and structure. The jury seeks submissions that showcase refined vocabulary, syntax and grammar throughout the essay. The essay should equally demonstrate a logical progression of ideas with smooth transitions between each section.

Adherence to academic standards. The jury seeks submissions that demonstrate the knowledge and correct application of the Chicago Manual of Style (18th edition, notes-bibliography), as well as proper page formatting (page spacing and layout).