Submission Guidelines

Aspectus: A Journal of Visual Culture

Issue Five

Call for Proposals

Deadline – 9th December 2022

Call for Reviews

Deadline - 3rd March 2023


The editorial team is seeking submissions for Aspectus Issue Five to be published in October 2023. Aspectus is an annual, peer-reviewed journal of visual studies developed by the History of Art Department at the University of York.


We welcome submissions of new research by past and present PhD researchers working on visual culture at the University of York in the department of History of Art. We are also seeking proposals for book and exhibition reviews of upcoming significant publications and exhibitions in the fields of art history and art theory. Current MA students (and alumni) from the University of York engaged in visual culture are also welcome to submit proposals for the reviews section.


The editorial team welcomes scholarly articles that relate to any period of art history, conservation, and museum studies. We encourage prospective authors from a variety of methodological and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of art and visual culture.


To propose an Article:


Contributors are asked to supply a brief abstract (300 words max) by 9th December 2022. If an article is already completed, contributors are welcome to submit it alongside their abstract. Accepted articles must be completed by 3rd March 2023 to allow time for peer-reviewing and editing before publication.


Articles should be between 5,000 – 6,000 words in length (excluding endnotes). Updated versions/sections of particularly successful MA dissertations have often proved the ideal basis for an article. Illustrations should be supplied as necessary to support the text. All submitted articles must adhere to the Technical Guidelines and Style Guide.


To propose a Review:


Book and exhibition review proposals will refer to books published in 2023 and exhibitions ideally either still open one month prior to publication in October 2023. Accepted reviews should be between 800-1,000 words in length and must be finished by 11th August 2023.


Book review proposals should include: author’s/editor’s name, complete title of book (with a colon between the main title and the subtitle), place of publication, publisher, date of publication, total number of pages (including all front matter and illustrations that do not carry page numbers), number of illustrations (black and white and colour), price, as well as a short description (300 words max) on the text’s significant contribution to its field and/or why a review of the book is necessary.


Exhibition review proposals should include: title of the exhibition, location, exhibition dates, curators’ names, and a short description (300 words max) on the exhibition’s significant contribution to its field and/or why a review of it is necessary.


Aspectus accepts submissions electronically. All proposals should be sent as Word documents via email to histart-aspectus@york.ac.uk with the subject: Article/Review 2023, Surname, First Name, “Proposed Title”. In the body of your email please include: your name and your affiliation with the University of York History of Art Department (e.g. “current PhD student”).