“The kingdom of poetry has collapsed from within. . . . Salvation is not a premium on existence, but the last way out for a man whose path, as Kafka puts it, is ‘blocked . . . by his own frontal bone.’”
—Walter Benjamin
To encourage the reproduction of more—and better—criticism and research on anime, comics, and games, and to foster exchange among those who undertake such work, Lab on Roof has decided to hold an annual call for ACG submissions beginning in 2020. Its name is Rags Drum 2020.
Fields and Format Requirements
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We welcome original critical essays and comparative research on works, creators, histories, industries, and other phenomena in video games, anime, and comics—regardless of country and including derivative works—from perspectives such as philosophy and the social sciences, the humanities and arts, technology and media, and industry and production. Straight translations and game guides will not be accepted.
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We recommend, but do not require, an academic-paper format including notes and citations, an abstract, keywords, and a bibliography. Submissions may take the form of an article, a video essay, or an audio recording. Chinese-, English-, and Japanese-language entries are accepted, though Simplified Chinese is recommended. Authors must affirm that their submissions are original and have not been, and will not be, used commercially; quoted materials and ideas must comply with accepted standards of scholarly use. If plagiarism or misappropriation is discovered before or after judging, the organizers will announce the finding and revoke any honorarium already granted.
Schedule and Procedures
To give writers greater flexibility and make it easier to take part in this festival, the call is divided into two participation tracks.
1. Entering the “Eve Festival” Only
Eligibility: Previously published original work that the author has not used commercially—commercial use includes first publication by a commercial outlet in return for payment—and unpublished original work that the author has not used commercially.
Submission format: Both kinds of work must be submitted as a complete, full-length manuscript.
Schedule:
- May 11: submissions to the “Eve Festival” open on the first day of the event.
- August 1: submissions close for both tracks.
- August 7: qualifying “Eve Festival” entries are announced, including entries submitted only to the “Eve Festival” and entries continuing through the “Eve Festival” and the “After Festival.” The “Eve Festival” ends and the “After Festival” begins.
Judging:
Entries submitted only to the “Eve Festival” will be forwarded to the judging panel promptly after the organizers receive them.
The panel will determine whether an entry qualifies by majority vote, following a policy that places particular weight on originality, intellectual substance, and critical force.
Publication and honoraria:
Once the panel has reached a decision on an “Eve Festival”-only entry, the organizers will contact its author as quickly as possible. Qualifying entries will then be scheduled for prompt publication across Lab on Roof’s accounts on multiple platforms.
The organizers will pay approximately RMB 200–300 for each qualifying entry.
2. Entering Both the “Eve Festival” and the “After Festival”
Eligibility: Unpublished original work that the author has not used commercially.
Submission format: For the “Eve Festival,” a proposal of 200–500 characters may be submitted, though a complete manuscript is also welcome. For the “After Festival,” a complete, full-length manuscript is required, and its subject must remain consistent with the “Eve Festival” proposal. Only writers and submissions that qualify in the “Eve Festival” may enter the “After Festival.”
Schedule:
- May 11: submissions to the “Eve Festival” and “After Festival” track open on the first day of the event.
- August 1: submissions close for both tracks.
- August 7: all qualifying “Eve Festival” entries are announced, including entries submitted only to the “Eve Festival” and entries continuing through both stages. The “Eve Festival” ends, and the “After Festival” opens for submissions.
- October 7: submissions to the “After Festival”—the second half of this two-stage track—close.
- Late October: all qualifying “After Festival” entries are announced. The “After Festival” and the event as a whole conclude.
Judging:
Entries in the two-stage “Eve Festival” and “After Festival” track will be forwarded to the judging panel promptly after the organizers receive them.
The panel will determine whether an entry qualifies by unanimous vote, following a policy that places particular weight on originality, intellectual substance, and critical force.
Publication and honoraria:
Qualifying entries in the two-stage track will be announced on August 7 and October 7, in accordance with the panel’s decisions. They will then be scheduled for prompt publication across Lab on Roof’s accounts on multiple platforms.
If five or more entries qualify, the organizers will divide RMB 10,000 by the number of qualifying entries and pay that amount for each. If zero to four entries qualify, the organizers will pay RMB 2,000 per qualifying entry.
Submission methods for both tracks—choose either:
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Email the entry to lab_on_roof@163.com, including a QQ contact.
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Join the event QQ group, upload the entry to the group files, and notify the organizers: 254735319.
If exceptional circumstances make both methods impossible, contact Lab on Roof through its Zhihu or Bilibili account to make alternative arrangements.
Judging Panel
- 马小掛, ACG enthusiast.
- 钟子默, ACG enthusiast.
- 塔塔君, ACG enthusiast.
- rocefactor, ACG enthusiast.
- 屋顶第七任所长 (Lab on Roof’s seventh director), ACG enthusiast.
Additional Provisions
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For qualifying entries submitted only to the “Eve Festival,” Lab on Roof requires only permission to publish them nonexclusively and without any claim to first publication across its accounts on multiple platforms; for qualifying entries submitted to both the “Eve Festival” and “After Festival,” Lab on Roof requires only permission to publish them first, but nonexclusively, across those accounts. All rights not specified here remain with the author.
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To encourage the reproduction of more—and better—criticism and research on anime, comics, and games, Lab on Roof may adapt qualifying entries into video essays or other formats. It will notify the author and obtain permission before doing so, and the author’s rights will be protected in any resulting video essay.
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We thank 唯一指定真实August_Rush for creating the event posters and promotional video, and we thank the critics, organizations, and platforms that have offered kind advice and sincere assistance.
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Given our limited experience in organizing such events, the organizers reserve the right, to the fullest extent permitted by law and platform rules, to interpret and revise the event’s procedures and schedule. We ask writers and readers for their understanding.
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Readers and critics are warmly invited to share and circulate this announcement, join the discussion, and submit work.
