Poorvam International Journal of Creative Arts & Cultural Expression is an open-access, peer-reviewed, biannual journal published by Dhvani Publication. We welcome original contributions that explore innovative perspectives in creative arts, cultural expression, and interdisciplinary studies. Please review the following guidelines carefully before submitting your manuscript.

1. Scope and Objectives

Scope

We invite submissions addressing topics in the following broad fields:

Aesthetics and Art Philosophy
Art History and Historiography
Visual and Material Culture Studies
Musicology and Sound Studies
Performance Studies and Theatrical Theory
Literary and Narrative Studies in Art
Media, Technology, and Digital Art Studies
Art and Society: Cultural and Political Perspectives
Museum, Curation, and Heritage Studies
Space, Geography, and Mobility in Art
Artistic Research and Practice-Based Studies
Arts, Well‑Being, Sustainability, and Crisis Studies
Esoteric Aesthetics and Philosophies of Liberation

Subfields

Relevant subfields for each category include, but are not limited to:

Aesthetics and Art Philosophy:
- Classical and Contemporary Theories of Aesthetics
- Philosophy of Art and Artistic Experience
- Semiotics of Art, Literature, and Performance
- Ethics and Representation in Art and Media
- Postcolonial, Decolonial, and Feminist Aesthetic Discourses
- Indian, Eastern, and Indigenous Aesthetic Traditions
- Phenomenology and Perception in the Arts
2. Art History and Historiography:
- Global Art Histories: Western, Eastern, Indigenous Perspectives
- Comparative History of Artistic Movements
- Histories of Theatre, Dance, and Music Traditions
- Literary and Narrative Histories
- Media and Cinema Historiography
- Evolution of Architecture, Design, and Urban Aesthetics
- Art Patronage, Markets, and Collecting Practices
- Political, Social, and Economic Histories of Art
3. Visual and Material Culture Studies:
- Theories of Visual Culture and Image Interpretation
- Iconography and Symbolism in Art
- Media and Popular Culture Studies
- Sacred and Ritual Art Traditions
- Cross-Cultural and Transcultural Art Exchanges
- Spectacle, Public Art, and Monumentality
- Fashion, Costume, and Textile Studies
4. Musicology and Sound Studies:
- Historical Musicology (Periods, Styles, Composers)
- Ethnomusicology (Cultural and Regional Music Traditions)
- Systematic Musicology (Acoustics, Psychoacoustics, Theory)
- Music and Ritual (Sacred and Devotional Music)
- Music and Performance Studies (Interpretation, Improvisation)
- Sound Studies (Sonic Environments, Noise, Technology)
- Music and Media (Film Music, Digital Soundscapes)
- Music and Identity (Gender, Race, Postcolonial Perspectives)
5. Performance Studies and Theatrical Theory:
- Theories of Performance and Performativity
- Gesture, Movement, and Embodiment in the Arts
- Ritual, Ceremony, and Theatricality
- Body Politics and Identity in Performance
- Intersections of Music, Dance, and Drama
- Space, Architecture, and Environment in Performance
6. Literary and Narrative Studies in Art:
- Theories of Narrative and Fictionality
- Poetics, Rhetoric, and Literary Criticism
- Dramaturgy, Playwriting, and Screenwriting Theory
- Comparative Literature and Intertextuality
- Myth, Folklore, and Oral Storytelling Traditions
- Ekphrasis and the Interplay of Literature and Visual Art
7. Media, Technology, and Digital Art Studies:
- Film and Television Studies (Theory, Genre, Auteurism)
- Digital Humanities and Artistic Research
- Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality in Art
- Artificial Intelligence and Computational Creativity
- Video Games and Interactive Media Studies
- Cybernetics, Posthumanism, and Art
8. Art and Society: Cultural and Political Perspectives:
- Art and Activism: Protest, Resistance, and Subversion
- Public Art, Community Engagement, and Social Practice
- Art and Religion: Devotional and Mystical Traditions
- Cultural Policy and Heritage Preservation
- Gender, Sexuality, and Queer Studies in Art
- Race, Ethnicity, and Decolonial Art Studies
- Ecology, Environmental Humanities, and Art
9. Museum, Curation, and Heritage Studies:
- Theories of Museology and Exhibition Practices
- Art Conservation and Restoration Studies
- Heritage and Intangible Cultural Practices
- Archival Studies and Cultural Memory
- Repatriation and Ethical Issues in Art Collection
- Digital Archives and New Media Curation
10. Space, Geography, and Mobility in Art:
- Cultural Geography and Artistic Landscapes
- Art and Sacred Geographies
- Migration, Diaspora, and Artistic Exchange
- The Role of Cities and Urban Spaces in Art
- Regionalism and Globalization in Art Movements
- Art and the Anthropocene: Climate and Environmental Influences
11. Artistic Research and Practice-Based Studies:
- Methodologies in Artistic Research
- Practice-as-Research in the Arts
- Interdisciplinary and Hybrid Art Studies
- Autoethnography and Reflexive Art Practices
- Documentation, Performance Archives, and Embodied Knowledge
- Collaborative and Participatory Art Practices
12. Arts, Well‑Being, Sustainability, and Crisis Studies:
- Theoretical Frameworks in Creative and Performing Arts for Holistic Well‑Being
- Psychocultural Dimensions of Artistic Expression: Exploring the Intersections of Psychology and the Arts
- Artistic and Cultural Practices for Sustainability and Experiential Well‑Being
- Cultural and Artistic Interventions in the Context of Climate Change
- Art as a Medium of Social Welfare and Psychological Resilience in Post‑Disaster Contexts
13. Esoteric Aesthetics and Philosophies of Liberation:
- Aesthetics of Tantra, Yoga, and Mysticism
- Ritual Theory and Performative Transformation
- Indian and Eastern Esoteric Traditions in Art and Thought
- Consciousness, Non-Duality, and Phenomenology in Ritual Aesthetics
- Philosophies of the Subtle Body and Embodied Awareness
- Symbolism, Iconography, and Invocation in Sacred Art
- Comparative Studies of Liberation and Aesthetic Transcendence
- Esotericism in Performance, Text, and Visual Culture
- Post-secular and Interspiritual Approaches to Art
- Metaphysics and Altered States in Artistic Practice
- Mythic, Magical, and Alchemical Imaginaries in Aesthetics

Manuscript Types

Research Articles: Empirical or theoretical studies (5,000-8,000 words)
Critical Essays: Analytical discussions on artistic/cultural phenomena (3,000–5,000 words)
Creative Works: Poetry, fiction, or creative pieces with commentary (1,000–3,000 + 800–1,200 words)
Review Articles: Comprehensive literature reviews (1,500–2,000 words)
Case Studies: Innovative practices in arts/culture sector (2,000–3,000 words)

All Creative Works must be accompanied by a short reflective or critical commentary situating the work within broader aesthetic and cultural contexts.

2. Manuscript Preparation

Language and Style

All manuscripts must be written in clear, formal academic English. Authors are expected to maintain consistency in spelling (UK or US) throughout the manuscript. Submissions must conform to the MLA 9th Edition style guide for in-text citations and works cited.

Formatting Guidelines

Please use the official PIJCACE Template for manuscript formatting. Submissions not adhering to the template may be returned for revision prior to peer review.

Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt; margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides
Heading style: Bold, Left-aligned, Title Case
Image resolution: minimum 300 dpi
Maximum images: 8 per article
Tables must be in editable text format, NOT images.
Line spacing: Double-spaced throughout (including block quotes, notes, and works cited)
Paragraphs: Indented first lines (0.5 inch); no additional spacing between paragraphs
Page numbers and continuous line numbering on all pages
Use italics for titles of full works; use quotation marks for shorter works (articles, chapters, etc.)
Use footnotes sparingly and only when necessary for explanatory content
File name: Poorvam_FirstAuthor_ShortTitle.docx

Title Page

A separate title page must include the manuscript title, full names of all authors, institutional affiliations, ORCID iDs, and email address of the corresponding author.
Do not include author names within the main body of the manuscript to facilitate blind peer review.
Author bios (50–60 words each) will be requested post-acceptance for the final publication version.

Abstract and Keywords

The manuscript must begin with an abstract (150–250 words) summarizing the research scope, methodology, and findings.
Include 4–6 keywords separated by semicolons (;) below the abstract.
The abstract must include the research context, methodology, primary argument, and key conclusion/implications.

Sections and Headings

Use numbered section headings for clarity. Typical sections include: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results/Findings, Discussion, Conclusion, Acknowledgments, Appendices, and Works Cited.

Figures and Tables

Include high-resolution images as separate files (JPEG, PNG, TIFF) with clearly labeled figure numbers.
Each figure or table must have a title and a descriptive caption. Indicate their placement within the manuscript using in-text placeholders (e.g., [Insert Figure 1 here]).
Authors are responsible for securing reproduction rights for any copyrighted images or materials.

Works Cited

List all references in MLA 9th Edition format under the “Works Cited” section at the end of the manuscript.
Use a hanging indent (0.5 inch) for each entry. Arrange entries in Latin alphabetical order by author surname.

3. Submission Process

How to Submit

All submissions must be made via the online official submission form. No other submission methods are accepted.

Submission Checklist

Required Documents:

Complete manuscript file (DOCX preferred, PDF for reference only)
Properly formatted citations and references

Optional Documents:

Cover letter summarizing the work's significance
Suggested peer reviewers with contact information

4. Peer Review Process

Review Method

All submissions undergo a rigorous blind peer review process by domain experts to ensure academic quality and relevance.

Timeline

Initial feedback within 6-8 weeks
Revision periods typically 4-6 weeks
Final editorial decision within 12 weeks of initial submission

5. Ethical Considerations

Originality and Plagiarism

All manuscripts must be original. Plagiarism detection software is used to ensure content integrity. Overlap with published work will lead to rejection. Authors must disclose the use of AI tools (ChatGPT, Midjourney, etc.) in the preparation of the manuscript. AI-generated content must not replace critical scholarly thinking, analysis, or research integrity. Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data, images, or citations will result in immediate rejection and blacklisting.

Conflict of Interest

Disclose any potential conflicts of interest in the cover letter.

Informed Consent

Ensure proper consent is obtained for research involving human subjects or sensitive cultural materials.

6. Copyright and Open Access

Copyright

Authors retain copyright while granting Poorvam the right to publish under a Creative Commons license.

Open Access Policy

All articles are freely accessible, ensuring wide dissemination of ideas and research.

7. Fees

Article Processing Charge

At Poorvam, we do not charge any fee for article submission. However, upon acceptance, authors are required to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC) to support the publication process. Poorvam is committed to keeping APCs minimal to ensure accessibility for independent scholars, artists, and researchers from underrepresented communities. Waiver possibility for students / developing regions.

In order to encourage inclusive scholarly participation, Poorvam may grant a full or partial waiver of the Article Processing Charge for students, independent researchers, and authors from economically developing regions, subject to review upon written request.

Amount

The APC is ₹2000 for authors residing in India and $40 for those outside India. Payment can be made securely via our payment gateway. Once accepted, a "Pay APC" button will appear in your profile dashboard under the submission tab.

Purpose

This charge covers publication costs, including web hosting, editorial and review activities, formatting, indexing, marketing, archiving, DOI registration, and post-publication care. The fee applies only after acceptance. We value your contributions and thank you for joining our scholarly community.

8. Publication Process

Post-Acceptance

Accepted manuscripts will be copyedited, formatted, and proofread before publication.

Biannual Schedule and DOI

Poorvam publishes two issues per year and assigns a DOI to each article for easy citation and discoverability.

9. eCertificate

Upon publication, an eCertificate is automatically generated and made available in your author dashboard. This certificate, downloadable as a PDF, serves as official recognition of your publication in Poorvam International Journal.

Submission Guidelines

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