The Fantastical Constellations after Magical Realism Working Group proposes an all-encompassing engagement with current issues in postmagical realism studies to explore the process of worlding; examine how speculative modes blend scientific and magical elements to create new forms of expression that move beyond traditional magical realism in our complex post-truth era of developing new technologies and unsettlement of global orders.

Our current CFP for the CCLA 2026 conference in Montreal: https://complit.ca/2025/12/09/ccla-fantastical-constellation-working-group-call-for-proposals/

CONTACT:

Jill Planche: jillplanche@gmail.com

Agata Mergler: agatamer@yorku.ca , agatamergler@hotmail.com

Elisa Leonzio: elisa.leonzio@gmail.com

HISTORY OF THE RESEARCH GROUP:

The Post-Magical Realist Worlds research group was founded in 2020 with its inaugural panels at the conference of CCLA, and its members participated actively between 2020 and 2022 in meetings online, outside the CCLA annual conferences.
In 2024, the group changed its name to Fantastical Constellations after Magical Realism to reflect the expanding field of its research focus. Since then, as Fantastical Constellations it prepared collectively CFPs to three CCLA conferences. In addition to planned CCLA 2026 sessions, the group this year is planning to continue its previous practice of holding activities outside the annual conference.

PUBLICATION:

In 2022 the founders, Justyna Poray-Wybranowska, PhD, and Agata Mergler, PhD, edited the special issue of Canadian Review of Comparative Literature journal (CRCL, 49.1-2) titled: “Post-Magical Realist Worlds: Contemporary Postcolonial Storytelling Modes, Critiques, and Perspectives.” The title reflects not only the theme of the gathered articles but also the discussions around the articles and presentations of our members. The discussions resulted in a “Post-Scriptum” to the special issue, with various members reflecting on the articles and their topics.

The table of contents for the issue can be found here: https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/crcl/index.php/crcl/announcement/view/361 .
The entire special issue of the Canadian Review of Comparative Literature 49.1-2 can be found on the Project Muse platform here: https://muse.jhu.edu/issue/50159 .

ACTIVE MEMBERS:

Jill Planche (Brock University/Toronto Metropolitan University) – co-leader of the research group.

Agata Mergler (York University Toronto; Magdalena Abakanowicz University of Fine Arts, Poznań) – co-leader, co-founder of the research group, co-editor of CRCL 49.1-2.

Elisa Leonzio (Freie Universität Berlin) – co-leader of the research group.

Maab Al-Rashdan (University of Waterloo).

Kurosh Amoui Kalareh (York University Toronto).

Sanjukta Banerjee (York University Toronto) – previous co-leader of the research group.

Paulomi Chakraborty (Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, India).

Gabriel Chin, (University of Sussex).

Mehraneh Ebrahimi (York University, Toronto).

Ivan Jimenez (University of Abuja, Nigeria).

Tamás Juhász (Károli Gáspár University in Budapest).

Bettina Juszak (York University Toronto).

Ellen Murray (University of Otago).

Shahab Nadimi (University of Alberta).

Layla Rosser (University Alberta).

Pooja Sancheti (Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India).

Nafiseh Shajani (Western University).

Krzysztof Witczak (Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań).

Previous leaders:

Justyna Poray-Wybranowska, PhD English (York University), independent scholar- co-founder of the research group and co-editor of the CRCL journal issue 49.1-2.

Members from previous years:

Salman Akhtar, York University Toronto.

Lieselot DeTaye, PhD, Gent University.

Ceyda Elgül, PhD, Professor at Boğaziçi University Department of Translation and Interpreting Studies.

Chinelo Ifeyinwa Ezenwa, PhD Lecturer, Writing Studies, University of Western Ontario

Travi Hay, PhD, Mount Royal University.

Cody Lang, PhD Film and Media Studies (York University).

Moira Marquis, PhD English (UNC Chapel Hill), Assistant Professor of English, Claflin University.

Ryan Milov-Cordoba, PhD (CUNY).

Thomas Nulley-Valdés, PhD, Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Spanish Studies, the Australian National University.

Angie Wong, PhD, University of Calgary.

Pınar İnceefe, Duzce University.

Sibel Kuşca Güngör, Eskişehir Osmangazi University.

Mark Terry, PhD (York University)

Ryan Hacek (New York University).

Mara-Elena Ciuntu (University of Oxford).

Noelia Gregorio-Fernandez, PhD (Universidad Internacional de La Rioja).

Leslie Katz.

Fiana Kawane.

Gulab Halibislam.