The Art of Storytelling: Archetypes in Focus

The Art of Storytelling: Archetypes in Focus A Transdisciplinary Conference

May 30-31, 2026

Where:

Oxford University (and Online)

Fees**:

£180 (In person participation)

£100 (Online participation)

Proposal deadline:

April 20, 2026

Note: Participants interested in attending the conference without presenting a paper are also welcome.Call for Papers
Call for Papers:

“The power of stories lies in their ability to access the deep layers of the psyche, providing a mirror to our inner world.” – Marie-Louise Von Franz

As aptly stated by Jimmy Neil Smith, “We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.” What distinguishes humans is not merely our consciousness, but our innate capacity to craft narratives—myths being the earliest manifestations of this unique trait, as noted by Margaret Atwood, “built in the human plan. We come with it.”

This conference aims to convene screenwriters, performance storytellers, digital storytellers, authors, educators, practitioners, journalists, scholars, researchers, psychologists, visual artists, and other creatives to explore the diverse types, functions, and significance of storytelling. In addition to delving into the fundamental question, “what truly constitutes a story?”, we seek to delve into why storytelling remains vital, how it continues to resonate in contemporary society, and the profound impact narratives have on shaping our perceptions and identities. With a comparative lens, we will examine various narrative forms, tracing their roots in mythology to the latest innovations in storytelling.

We invite 15-minute presentations on topics including (but not limited to) the following:

• Common archetypes in stories
• Sandplay and its narrative implications in therapy
• Storytelling as a therapeutic tool
• Murals and visual storytelling
• The intersection of storytelling and technology
• Storytelling in media and journalism
• Digital storytelling: Innovations and challenges
• Exploring cross-genre storytelling through the prose poem
• Ekphrastic storytelling: The dialogue between image and text
• Performance storytelling: Oral traditions in modern contexts
• The role of research in storytelling practices
• Fairytales, fables, and their enduring relevance
• Contemporary renditions of mythology
• Evolution of archetypal themes in children’s films
• Children’s pop storytelling culture: Trends and impacts
• The function of storytelling in pedagogy
• Storytelling in drama
• Analysing shifts in archetypal reflections in children’s stories
• Understanding the psychology underpinning storytelling processes
• Surrealism and magical realism: Expanding narrative boundaries
• The art of visual storytelling: From illustration to graphic novels to sequential art
• For creatives: Sharing and discussing your own creative storytelling work

The full conference programme will be announced following the proposal deadline, once all presenters have been selected.

Note: Participants interested in attending the conference without presenting a paper are also welcome.

Submission Guidelines: Abstracts should be submitted through https://forms.gle/RNGZfmDqQymGKLHA9 by April 20, 2026.

Conference Fee (for in-person participation) includes:

• Tea/coffee breaks and lunch on the first day
• Access to the fully online conference format on all days
• Conference booklet, raffle gift, and invaluable networking opportunities

Contact Information: For inquiries or clarifications, please email us at [email protected]

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Host or Publisher London Arts-Based Research Centre