The American Anthropological Association invites students to participate in the 2025 Anthro Day Unessay Competition. This contest encourages students to think critically about an anthropological question, but unlike a traditional essay contest, students can be creative and respond to the prompt in a way that is meaningful to them.
Theme
Ghosts, apparitions, spirits, spectors — for our 2025 Annual Meeting we take inspiration from the popular reputation of New Orleans as “the most haunted city in America.” The theme for the Unessay Contest is “Ghosts,” corresponding with this year’s Annual Meeting Theme. Submissions should address how the theme of ghosts evokes the ways that the past haunts the present, and how the immaterial becomes tangible to inflect the everyday. Students must submit an original piece of work that responds to one of the following topics:
- How can something invisible, like an idea, emotion, or memory, shape ordinary experiences, like family dinners, school, or friendships? Write about how the “unseen” influences the everyday.
- The uncanny — things familiar yet strange, or blurring the line between real and imaginary — permeates everyday life, whether through AI-generated imagery or resurgent conspiracies. How does the uncanny challenge our understanding of reality, and what does this reveal about cultural anxieties or shifts in contemporary society?
- How can physical objects, like heirlooms, monuments, or ruins, serve as “ghosts” of the past? Focus on an object that connects the past and present in a meaningful way.
The contest is open to students in sixth through twelfth grades. Submissions will be judged in two separate grade divisions:
- Middle: 6th – 8th grade
- High: 9th – 12th grade
What is an Unessay?
Unlike a traditional essay competition, an unessay invites students to choose the format they submit. Students are encouraged to think creatively about the topic and respond to the prompt in a format they see fit.
Examples of unessay submissions include but are not limited to a comic strip, playlist, podcast interview, script for a play, a game, a film/video clip, a series of photographs, visual artwork, or a magazine-style article. You can find examples of previous unessay submissions here.
Students are welcome to submit entries in any format, including ones not listed above, as long as they meet the following criteria.
Submission Criteria
- Students must submit an original piece of work that responds to the theme of “Ghosts”. This theme is open to the student’s interpretation.
- Submissions must comply with the following time limits, word counts, and submission formats:
- Maximum of 500 words for any text-based responses, such as poetry and essays.
- Maximum of 5 minutes for any audio and video submissions, such as podcasts, music, and performances.
- All image-based submissions should be submitted as a JPEG file, such as photos of artwork or photography.
- Students are welcome to use artificial intelligence tools to assist with the creation of their submission; however, they must indicate the tool used and how they used it in developing their piece.
- Students under 13 must have a parent / guardian submit their work.
Notification and Prize
Entries must be submitted before midnight on Anthropology Day, February 20th.
Due to the high volume of applications, the winners of the unessay contest will now be notified via email by February 28, 2025 to ensure that every submission is properly reviewed. The winning unessay(s) will have their content published by the American Anthropological Association in Anthropology News and will receive a $50.00 gift card.
Submit Your Entry
Please email us to submit your entries or if you have any questions.