Call For Abstracts- The Psychology of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

We are pleased to announce a call for abstracts for an upcoming book that examines the the psychological depth of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This collection will explore the rich psychological themes embedded in the series, uncovering the complexities of their relationships, personalities, and direct confrontations with grief and loss. By connecting the deep philosophies, psychospiritual lessons, and personalities to real-world psychology, this book aims to offer insights that resonate with fans, academics, and psychology enthusiasts alike.

Synopsis:

This is a book for those who come after. This collection of essays touches on themes of identity, grief, art therapy, suffering and mortality. From the people facing death each year due to the Gommage, to the Expeditioners sacrificing themselves year after year for the sake of the future, to the Dessendre’s family dynamic and intergenerational trauma, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects and dares to ask its players great questions like: What gives life meaning? And, Who are you in a world of ideas? This book will touch upon each of these deep, psychological, and psychospiritual concepts, while also touching on the psychology of its numerous characters. Similarly the book will touch on broader psychological themes of free will, loss, and self-actualization in a world of supposed indifference. The application of these numerous themes with real-world psychology will allow the readers to better understand their own relationship with grief and identity that are ever-present within the world of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Call for Abstracts:
We invite submissions for chapters that explore psychological themes related to Claire Obscur: Expedition 33 Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

1. Finding Self in Survival: An examination of how identities are forged amidst ongoing trauma, conflict, and strife, and how to embrace true authenticity.
2. Tomorrow Comes: A study in grief, death, and the willingness to accept loss in order to move on. 
3. How Art Heals: An exploration of art’s role in self expression, understanding, and processing complex emotions and ideas through the lens of the Dessendre family.
4. For Those Who Come After: Intergenerational trauma, epigenetics, and the path to break cycles of trauma and strife. 
5. Suffering, Attachment, & Aversion: How Buddhist Psychology confronts suffering head on, and how radical acceptance is the only way to empower oneself to move forward without rejecting history.
6. Death Gives Meaning: Memento Mori, remember death. An inevitable fate that the people of Lumiere are acutely aware of every day. This chapter will examine how embodying the inevitability of death can give life meaning, and how fear can keep one from truly thriving.
7. Existential Escapism & Returning:  The Dessendre family all face the world in the way they know how, through their art and trying to control outcomes. Ironically,  is only by truly sitting with reality that one can create something meaningful, beautiful, and timeless. This chapter will cover how certain members of the family tried to understand the world through art, others tried to escape through art, and some are deemed monstrous for wanting to face the world head on.
8. The Butterfly Dream: SPOILER ALERT FOR ENDING. The reality you occupy for a majority of Clair Obscur is revealed to be a false, painted reality. Yet, the experiences you had as a player, and the characters had were very real, impactful, and had important stakes. As the Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi once asked, is he a “man who dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he is a man?” In a world where you realize that you may not be “real” and God may be indifferent, how then might you find meaning and identity?
9. Holding Space and Presence in Expeditions: Navigating trauma, recovery, and despair within community systems and learning to create a new tomorrow together with your own expeditioners. *Must be a licensed Clinician for this chapter.

Submission Guidelines:

• Abstracts should be between 250–300 words and clearly indicate the topic(s) being addressed.
• Include a brief biography (100 words max) detailing your expertise or interest in the subject.
• Submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere or created using AI.
• Deadline for Abstract Submission: 5/1/2026
• Accepted Chapter Deadline: 9/30/2026