The 52nd Annual International Conference of American Culture Scholars  «Мифы Америки и об Америке / Myths of America and about America» will take place from December 8 to 11, 2026, with the support of the G.A. Arbatov Institute for US and Canadian Studies and the A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The theme, selected by a vote of the Society’s members, encompasses key elements in the formation of the American cultural landscape over the centuries, including the myths of indigenous peoples and those of the various waves of immigrants who have populated the North American continent later. It is also of interest to examine more closely the construction and cultural presence of enduring popular figures—such as superheroes—whose evolution can offer significant insights into contemporary American culture.

Besides traditional myths, a process of myth-making is actively unfolding in contemporary culture. This process reflects the influence of various groups—both within and outside American society—seeking to strengthen their positions by crafting narratives that serve their interests, often distorting the true nature of ongoing developments. Therefore, it is also timely to examine ideologically driven myths that have shaped historical evolution—such as the myth of “Manifest Destiny” and the Southern “Lost Cause” myth, as well as the myths of who are the “true Americans” that dictate current US immigration policy.
Quite a number of myths existing in the United States and Canada media and transmedial culture can be approached, that were constructed throughout the ages both within the America(s), and also in Transatlantic context.

The conference is traditionally interdisciplinary in nature; however, it requires that the concepts under discussion be explored through the lens of culture, rather than strictly through linguistics or political science, for example.

The event will be held in a hybrid format (with the option for international participants to join online). The following sessions are planned:

·                 US Journalism

·                 Modern Myths in the Making: American Culture (17th–19th Centuries)

·                 Contemporary American Culture (20th–21st Centuries)

·                 Ethnic Aspects of American Culture

·                 Gender Aspects of American Culture

·                 The Fantastic in the Arts

·                 The Canadian Dimension of American Culture

·                 Roundtable: “Imprints: The Image of America and the Image of Russia”

Proposals for additional panel discussions, roundtables, and sessions are accepted until October 1. Please send applications to: larmih@gmail.com. To organize a discussion or roundtable, you must submit a list of questions (in both Russian and English) and name three participants (abstracts of their presentations must be submitted at registration). For a session, a concept outline is required.

The Organizing Committee will decide on inclusion in the program by November 20, 2026; invitations will be sent electronically. Abstracts of accepted papers will be published on the Society’s website in both Russian and English.

Following the discussions at the sessions, papers will be recommended for publication in the conference proceedings. The best papers will be recommended for publication in the journals *USA & Canada: Economics, Politics, Culture* and *Russia and America in the 21st Century*. Full texts of the papers are to be submitted after the conference; formatting guidelines will be sent to participants individually.

Contact Information:

·                 RSACS Academic Secretary : Larisa Mikhaylova, email: larmih@gmail.com

Abstracts in Russian and English (with titles provided in both languages) will be accepted via the “Lomonosov” portal until 9:00 PM on November 10, 2026 (inclusive). Length of the abstract is up to 500 words in each language, including the method and main conclusions of the suggested paper. Link for the registration