From the dawn of time, love has been equated to a reckless and liberating sense of lawlessness and trickery. The phrase "All's fair in love and war" originated from the novel “Frank Fairlegh” by Frank E. Smedley in 1850. Similar phrases sharing the same meaning are found in the 1620 translation of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote II by Tom Sheldon and the 1845 novel Smuggler II by G.P.R. James. Love and hate both defy the bounds of logic and perplex the human mind. The destructive, overwhelming power of these emotions accounts for the thin line separating one from the other. This year's conference is an exploration of the emotion, depth and complexity found in varying manifestations of both love and war as depicted in a multitude of artistic and literary mediums.