Money Talks: Consumerism and Capitalism in Literature and Language

August 6-7, 2026

“...a bourgeois subject knows very well that there is nothing magic about money, that money is just an object which stands for a set of social relations, but he nevertheless acts in real life as if he believed that money is a magical thing.”         - Slavoj Žižek

Although the humanities, and the natural sciences, have traditionally been the cornerstone of learning, the shift in focus on STEM disciplines as well as neoliberal influences on education policies have fueled market-driven curricula in the 21st century that have undermined the importance of the humanities where the learning outcomes are not tangible or quantifiable. In Bangladesh, it can be observed that education policy is orchestrated by the economic  growth of the country. The form of economic governance that we have entered for decades now is labelled as neoliberalism, a specific phase of capitalism. Nothing escapes the eye of the neoliberalist agent and their enablers. They view education as a tool for “human capital development” that can be used “to maximize competitiveness,” Wendy Brown claims. How the universities should train its faculty and students or invest in research is dictated by the corporate world or the logic of capital enhancement. Humanities, arts, and education courses suffer as the English departments often ‘fail’ to produce a critique of a neoliberal syllabus and curriculum design that prioritizes market value only to negate public interest and the greater good of the society. Similar concerns, in terms of how consumerism affects fictional characters, society, culture, nature, language, and linguistic variations, appear in different forms in works of literature and in language debates. For example, Charles Dickens, in Hard Times, offers a severe critique of 19th century labor exploitation in an industrial town. In Don DeLillo’s postmodern novel White Noise, supermarkets become a means of distraction, and academia thrives by commodifying not just products but people as well. Consumerism, therefore, impacts both textual and nontextual spheres across the globe. 

It is in this context that the 12th DEH Inter-University Student Conference and Cultural Competition 2026 invites students of BA and MA in English to explore the impacts, portrayals, and reflections of consumerism within topics in cultural studies, communication studies, digital humanities, ELT,  literature, language, linguistics,  and translation studies. Submissions may explore:

In celebration of the 12th iteration of the conference, this year’s event will include some new segments in addition to the usual academic presentations and cultural performances. The new segments include an extempore speech competition, cosplay, and an art exhibition where prizes will be awarded for each category.

**ULAB WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE CULTURAL COMPETITION**

Segment: Extempore Speech
 

About this Segment

The Extempore Speech Competition is designed to assess participants’ ability to think critically, organize ideas quickly, and deliver a structured and persuasive speech on a specific topic under time constraints. The topics will be related to the central theme of the conference.

Participants are expected to demonstrate not only fluency in English but also depth of understanding, analytical thinking, and engagement with contemporary issues in literature, language, and related fields.
 

Participation Guidelines

• In this segment, each participating university can nominate up to three students/participants from the BA or MA programs of their English department.
• This is an individual (solo) competition. Each participant will complete the preparation and deliver the speech independently without any assistance.
• Participant details must be submitted in advance by the respective departments.

Topic Allocation & Preparation

• Each participant will be given a topic 5 minutes prior to their speech. 
• During this preparation time: 
              - Participants must remain in the designated room.
              - Use of any electronic device (mobile phones, laptops, smartwatches, etc.) is strictly prohibited during preparation and speech delivery.
              - Participants will be instructed to keep all devices aside before preparation begins. 
• Participants may prepare brief notes using pen and paper and use them during their speech.

Speech Delivery

• After preparation, participants will be guided to the competition room where they will deliver their speech.
• Each participant will deliver a speech of 5 minutes. 
• Time limit is strict: Speakers will be stopped immediately after 5 minutes.

Suggested Speech Structure

Participants are encouraged to organize their speech as follows:

1.      Introduction (30 seconds) 

• Start with a strong and engaging opening statement
• Define or interpret the topic 
• Present a clear stance or argument 

2.      Main Argument (3 minutes) 

• Develop 2-3 key points 
• Provide examples (literary, linguistic, social, academic, etc.) 
• If deemed relevant, connect arguments to the broader conference theme 

3.      Critical Insight (1 minute) 

• Offer analysis, comparison, or theoretical perspective 
• Address implications (social, cultural, educational, etc.) 

4.      Conclusion (30 seconds) 

• Summarize key ideas 
• Reinforce the main argument 
• End with a strong closing statement

Q&A Session

• A 2-minute question & answer session will follow each speech. 
• Judges will ask questions to assess: 
        - Depth of understanding 
        - Critical thinking 
        - Ability to respond spontaneously

Judging Criteria

Participants will be evaluated based on:

• Content Relevance (connection to theme and topic)
• Knowledge & Depth of Insight
• Organization & Structure of Argument
• Evidence & Reasoning
• Fluency and Accuracy in English
• Delivery Skills (voice, clarity, confidence)
• Non-verbal Communication (eye contact, posture, gestures)
• Response to Q&A (clarity, confidence, critical engagement)

Language Requirement:

All speeches and answers to questions must be delivered in English.

Judging Panel:

Judges will be invited from non-participating universities to ensure fair judgment.

Awards & Recognition:

Winners (Champion, 1st Runner-Up, and 2nd Runner-Up) will be announced during the Closing Ceremony of the event. Each winner will receive prize money, a crest, and a certificate.
All the participants will get a certificate of participation.

Segment: Cosplay

About the Segment

As part of the 12th anniversary celebration, the Cosplay Event invites participants to creatively engage with the conference theme by embodying characters, concepts, or critical positions drawn from literature, language, and cultural theory.
 

Eligibility & Participation

Each university may nominate a maximum of three (3) students.
Department heads or representative faculty members will select the participants for the cosplay.
 

Rules

1. Participants must align their cosplay with the core theme and subthemes outlined in the CFP.

2. Cosplay entries may be based on:

• Literary characters reflecting capitalism/consumerism (e.g., characters from Hard Times, White Noise, or similar texts mentioned in the CFP)
• Theoretical figures or ideas (e.g., Marxist critique, neoliberal subject, “human capital”)
• Abstract or symbolic representations, such as: Consumerism in digital media, Language as commodity, The “neoliberal student” or “market-driven university”
• Themes explicitly mentioned in the CFP

3. Each cosplay must clearly demonstrate a critical engagement with consumerism/capitalism—not just a general literary character portrayal.
 

Performance Format

i) Each participant will have 1 minute to introduce and perform their character, and highlight its relevance to the theme/subtheme
ii) Performances may include monologue, short dramatic enactment, spoken-word or symbolic gesture
 

Costume & Conceptual Design

i) Costumes must clearly reflect the chosen character or concept, and demonstrate intellectual and thematic depth, not just visual appeal
ii) Participants are encouraged to use symbolism and metaphor, incorporate sustainable/recycled materials, reflecting critique of consumerism
iii) Minimal props are allowed, but must be safe, manageable, and relevant to the concept
iv) Performances must maintain academic integrity, and respect for all identities, cultures, and communities
v) Any offensive, insensitive, or irrelevant portrayal will result in disqualification.
 

Pre-submission Requirement

Each participant must submit a 100–150 word concept note, explaining the chosen character/concept. its connection to the conference theme or subtheme, and the critical perspective it represents (e.g., Marxist, sociolinguistic, cultural critique)
 

Technical & Logistic Notes

i) No elaborate stage setup will be provided. Participants must be ready before their turn.
ii) Any audio must be pre-submitted and strictly within the time limit
 

Judging Criteria

Thematic Relevance & Critical Insight – 30%
Creativity & Conceptual Originality – 25%
Character/Concept Interpretation – 20%
Costume & Symbolic Representation – 15%
Performance & Delivery – 10%

Segment: Art Exhibition
 

I. Eligibility

• Participants must be currently enrolled BA or MA students in English or related disciplines at their respective universities.
• Each participant may submit one artwork.
• Artwork must respond to the conference theme, Money Talks: Consumerism and Capitalism in Literature and Language.
• Submissions may engage with themes such as consumer culture, capitalism, labor, commodification, neoliberalism, identity, technology, media, class, language, education, digital culture, or related social and literary concerns.
• All forms of visual art, including but not limited to painting, drawing, photography, mixed media, installation documentation, printmaking, and digital art, are welcome.

II. Artwork Specifications

• Maximum artwork size (including frame or canvas): 18 x 24 inches (48 x 61 cm).
• Artwork must be original and unpublished.
• All artworks must include a caption label in the following order:
  1. Title of the Artwork
  2. Name of the Artist
  3. Department and University Name
  4. Caption / Artist Statement
• Framing, mounting, and hang readiness are the responsibility of the artist.
• Artworks intended for physical display must arrive exhibition-ready.
• AI-assisted or digitally generated works are permitted only if clearly acknowledged in the artist statement.

III. Submission Process: 

• Soft copy submission deadline: July 15, 2026, 11:59 PM (BST).
• Submission Format: High-resolution digital images (JPEG or PNG) of the artwork.
• Image file names should include the participant’s name and artwork title.
• Each submission must include:
  • Title of the artwork
  • Participant’s full name
  • Department name
  • University name
  • Email address
  • A brief caption / artist statement (maximum 50 words)
• Submit to: https://forms.gle/6HNsgsEjHA2sbRu3A
• Participants will be informed about submitting the display-ready physical artworks for exhibition.

IV. Judging Process

A panel of judges will review and assess the submissions.

Judging criteria include:

• Creativity and originality
• Artistic merit and conceptual depth
• Relevance to the conference theme
• Effective engagement with questions of consumerism, capitalism, language, literature, media, or culture

V. Copyright & Ownership

• By submitting artwork, participants grant the Department of English and Humanities at University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh the non-exclusive right to display and promote the artwork during the exhibition and related promotional activities.
• Artists retain full copyright ownership of their work.
• Artworks will not be used for purposes beyond exhibition and promotional use without the artist’s explicit consent.
• Any sales inquiries regarding artworks will be forwarded directly to the artists, and the university will not take any commission from sales.

VI. Return of Artworks

• Artworks must be collected by the artists at the end of the exhibition on August 7, 2026, by 4:00 PM.
• Failure to collect artworks within the specified time may result in the university taking temporary custody of the artwork until further arrangements are made.