FinnFest USA Conference
August 1–3, 2025
Duluth, Minnesota
A Panel on Tove Jansson
Call for Papers

Eighty Years of the Moomins: Approaches to Tove Jansson’s Life and Her Work

“It all began with the first Moomin tale, The Moomins and the Great Flood, published in 1945” (https://www.moomin.com/en/moomin80/). To celebrate the 80-year-old Moomins, FinnFest USA is organizing a panel on Tove Jansson as part of the Moomin conference theme during this year’s FinnFest in Duluth, Minnesota, August 1–3, 2025.

This Call for Papers invites abstract submissions examining aspects of Tove Jansson’s life and work through different disciplines and through varying scholarly lenses. While the focus of all the proposed presentations will be on Tove Jansson or her work, the possible topics include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Biographical angles to Jansson
• Cultural and historical approaches
• Tove Jansson as an artist
• Twentieth-century (world) literature/Post-World-War-II children’s literature
• The reception of the Moomins
• Fan studies
• The Moomins in translation
• The Moomins in popular culture
• Film studies
• Gender studies and sexuality
• Ecocriticism
• Finland’s Swedish-language literature

We welcome a broad view of the topic that considers historical and contemporary themes. Any additional approaches to Tove Jansson and her work are welcomed. Questions concerning any related topics or proposals can be sent to Helena Halmari: halmari@shsu.edu.

Submit an up-to 300-word proposal to halmari@shsu.edu detailing your panel presentation. The deadline is March 31, 2025. Acceptance notices will be sent by April 15, 2025.