Midwest Popular Culture Association
Book Awards
MPCA/ACA Book Awards
Each year, the Midwest Popular Culture/Midwest American Culture presents book awards at its annual conference.
Procedures
Entries are due by May 31st of the year in which works are to be considered for the award. The Awards Coordinator, elected by the Executive Council of MPCA/ACA, oversees the committees that select the winners. Recipients and publishers will be notified before the conference where the awards are presented. Recipients need not be present to receive the award.
Awards Criteria
Book award submissions will be judged on:
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Quality of research and scholarship
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Originality
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Contribution to popular and/or American studies scholarship
The award for BEST SINGLE WORK BY ONE OR MORE AUTHORS:
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Purpose: To recognize the most notable, newly published, English-language monograph in the field of popular and/or American culture study.
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Eligibility: At least one author must be a current member of MPCA. The Best Single work by one or more authors in Popular and American Culture must have been published in the previous two years (e.g., the 2017 prize will be given to a book published in 2015 or 2016). Second editions of monographs, edited collections, and textbooks are not eligible.
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Application Process: Nominations, including self-nominations and nominations by presses, are made by sending one electronic, published copy of the book to the Awards Coordinator of MPCA/ACA. Applicants may submit only one title during an application cycle.
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Application Deadline: Postmarked by May 31 of the year in which the works are to be considered for the award. Send Application To:
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The award for BEST EDITED COLLECTION
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Purpose: To recognize the most notable, newly published English-language edited collection in the field of popular and/or American culture study.
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Eligibility: At least one author must be a current member of MPCA. The collection must have been published in the previous two years (e.g., the 2023 prize will be given to a book published in 2021 or 2022). Second editions or subsequent editions are not eligible.
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Application Process: Nominations, including self-nominations and nominations by presses, are made by sending one electronic, published copy to the Awards Coordinator of MPCA/ACA. Applicants may submit only one title during an application cycle.
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Application Deadline: postmarked by May 31 of the year in which the works are to be considered for the award. Send Application To:
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The award for BEST BOOK FOR USE IN THE CLASSROOM
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Purpose: To recognize the most notable, newly published English-language book that is intended for classroom use (i.e. textbooks or anthologies) in the field of popular and/or American culture study.
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Eligibility: At least one author must be a current member of MPCA. The book must have been published in the previous two years (e.g., the 2023 prize will be given to a book published in 2021 or 2022). Second editions or subsequent editions are not eligible.
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Application Process: Nominations, including self-nominations and nominations by presses, are made by sending one electronic, published copy of the book to the Awards Coordinator of MPCA/ACA. Applicants may submit only one title during an application cycle.
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Application Deadline: postmarked by May 31 of the year in which the works are to be considered for the award. Send Application To:
Any questions regarding awards should be directed to Aisha Powell, chairperson of the Awards Committee, at Awards@mpcaaca.org