Announcement of the 12th International Forum on Marxist Aesthetics (No.1)

The predecessor of the International Forum on Marxist Aesthetics is the Sino-British Bilateral Forum on Marxist Aesthetics. In 2011, it was founded by Professor Wang Jie, then Dean of the School of Humanities of Shanghai Jiaotong University, and scholars such as David Anderson and Robert Spencer of the Department of British and American Literature and Culture of Manchester University, England, and held once a year. Since the 5^th Forum, it has been officially renamed as “International Forum on Marxist Aesthetics”, and the venue has passed through Shanghai(China), Manchester(England), Hangzhou(China), Cardiff(England), Durham(England), St. Petersburg(Russia), Cork(Ireland) and other cities, with more than 1,000 scholars attending. At present, the forum has become a Marxist aesthetic forum with certain influence in the international aesthetic field. In 2023, the secretariat of the International Forum on Marxist Aesthetics discussed and decided that the forum would be held every two years from this year.

The 12^th Forum is scheduled to be held in Hangzhou, China on June 13-14, 2026 through consultation of the Forum Organizing Committee. The cooperation units include: International Council for Philosophy and Humanities (CIPSH), Marxist Aesthetics Branch of Chinese Aesthetics Society, School of Philosophy of Zhejiang University, School of Marxism Studies of China Academy of Art, College of Literature and Journalism of Sichuan University, etc.

The International Forum on Marxist Aesthetics has always been adhering to the principle of deeply cultivating Marxist aesthetic theory, actively paying attention to contemporary literary and artistic practice, attaching importance to the comparative study and exchanges and dialogues of different schools of Marxist aesthetics, creatively responding to the frontier issues of the times, and striving to build contemporary Marxist aesthetic theory with world significance. Combining the theortical areas of the previous 11^th Forum, facing the prevailing international situation of populism and the strategic turning point of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, it is suggested that the theme of the 12^th Forum are:

1. The relationship between left-wing aesthetics, critical aesthetics and Marxist aesthetic tradition,

2. Contemporary theoretical methods of Marxist aesthetics,

3. Comparative study of Chinese aesthetic modernity,

4. Aesthetic issues in the AI era,

5. The value of ecological civilization and natural beauty,

6. New forms of contemporary art and art therapy,

7. The world aesthetics and the community of human destiny,

8. New Utopia realism,

9. Others

The forum form and requirements:

1. Forum scale: 60 people.

2. Forum form: thematic report, sub-forum discussion and round-table dialogue (online and offline combination). The forum will invite famous scholars such as Kevin B. Anderson

, Tony Bennett and Julia Kristeva to deliver keynote speeches.

3. Forum languages: Chinese and English (simultaneous interpretation service will provid for the forum).

4. Paper submission: Please submit the receipt and the full text of the paper to the forum mailbox (mkszymx@163.com) before December 31^st, 2025. The title of the email is marked "Name+Organization Name+Paper Title". Scholars are requested to send the receipt and the paper to the forum mailbox. The forum secretariat will send invitation letters after reviewing the papers.

The forum will edit and publish essays in English and Chinese, and excellent papers will be published in Marxist Aesthetic Studies.

5. Forum information: In addition to the special guests, the participants are required to pay the 700 CNY conference fee, including the information fee and the catering fee during the conference, and the travel and accommodation expenses of the participants are self-care.

6. Contact information:

Liaison Officers: Teacher Zhang and Teacher Hu.

Contact: mkszymx@163.com.

Please pay attention to the further information release and push of the forum secretariat. Welcome everyone to participate actively!

Secretariat of International Marxist Aesthetics Forum

October 8^th, 2025