ISTP 2026 Conference – “Theorizing in Dark Times – Art, Narrative, Politics”

The conference theme “Theorizing in Dark Times – Art, Narrative, Politics” invites scholars, artists, and practitioners to critically reflect on the ways in which theory operates not only as an intellectual tool but as a form of political engagement.

At the heart of the conference lies the question: What is the role of theory in dark times? Theoretical psychology has long sought to understand the human condition, yet in moments of global crisis, theory itself becomes a site of political resistance. The conference will examine how theory functions as a political force, shaping narratives of power, ideology, and agency. It will address the political implications of psychological theory, asking how psychological concepts, often regarded as neutral or apolitical, become entangled with broader social and political dynamics.

The conference will also provide the room to explore how the arts, through their ability to create alternative narratives and question existing power structures, play a pivotal role in advancing theoretical inquiry in times of crisis. Art, in this context, is not merely reflective; it is transformative, offering new ways to theorize human experience and political realities.

We welcome contributions from theoretical psychology, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, literature, the arts, and beyond. Contributions beyond the conference theme are also welcome.

• Paper Presentation: 30 minutes, including discussion.
• Symposium: Symposia combine the contributions of three or four presenters. 
• Pitch an Idea: 15 minutes including discussion (novel idea, project or initiative, work in progress, etc.)

Abstracts should be around 250 words.

Proposal Submission Deadline: October 31, 2025.

Acceptance letters will be provided by December 15, if not earlier.

 For questions, please contact: istp-2026@pratt.edu

A conference dinner will be held on Wednesday, June 10. The dinner fees are $90 per person.

Several thematic New York City tours will be offered on Wednesday for additional fees. 

*The following groups are eligible for the reduced fee: students, PhD students,and delegates from countries on this list.

**Online only: Please note that the number of events offered online will be limited.

For questions, please contact: istp-2026@pratt.edu

Pratt provides affordable accommodations in the Institute’s Emerson Place Residence Hall. 

Arrival Day is Saturday, June 7, 2026 (i.e., the day before the conference)

Departure Day is Friday, June 12, 2026 in the evening (the conference runs until noon)

A booking link will be provided once the registration process is completed

 For questions, please contact: istp-2026@pratt.edu

Roger Frie 

Dr. Frie’s scholarship reflects his interdisciplinary interests. He has written numerous books, articles and chapters. His area of focus is historical trauma, cultural memory and moral responsibility related to mass racial violence, genocide and the Holocaust. He has also written extensively on such themes as human interaction, psychoanalysis and social theory. He is invited to give lectures and hold workshops nationally and internationally for professional and general audiences alike. He speaks frequently in Germany, Austria, England, France, Japan and the United States.

Alexandra Rutherford

Dr. Rutherford uses critical historical and qualitative approaches to analyze the development and contemporary status of the human sciences. She is interested in how psychologists have used their scientific ‘expertise’ to impact society and how, in turn, social and political factors have shaped the nature of this expertise and its influence. In her current project, she examines the relationship between feminist psychology and policy in the United States from the 1940s-present.

Robert Beshara

Dr. Beshara is an artist first and a scholar second, so in a sense, his thinking as a scholar is grounded in being an artist. As such, while his terminal degrees are in film & psychology, he creatively draws from a variety of fields in his scholarship in a transdisciplinary fashion. He has expertise in psychoanalysis, decoloniality, terrorism studies, Islamophobia studies, discourse analysis, and film/media studies. His research praxis is based on a commitment to human scientific approaches, which include radical qualitative research methods, critical theory, and world philosophy & history.

  For questions, please contact: istp-2026@pratt.edu