ethnicity and national identity

As recent events in Virginia demonstrated, blackface minstrelsy is far from being a thing of the past. Despite its taboo status and overtly racist underpinnings, blackface continues to happen. In his seminal work on the phenomenon, Eric Lott argued that early blackface minstrelsy emerged out of the “intersection of slave culture and earlier blackface stage characters such as the…clown of English pantomime and the clown of the American circus.” What might this lineage tell us about the ongoing prevalence and relevance of blackface? This session invites proposals that consider and examine modern and past manifestations of blackface minstrelsy, its legacies, and its influence.

The Permanent Section on Native American Literature seeks proposals exploring the MMLA conference theme of “Duality, Doubles and Doppelgängers” in any genre of works by Native American authors of any historical period. Possible topics may include analyses of dual texts, doubled characters, transcultural identity, translation, reproduction, or narrative or poetic appropriation. Please send proposals of 200-300 words by April 19 to the panel chair, Dr. Kate Beutel, at kbeutel@lourdes.edu. The MMLA meets in Chicago, November 14-17, 2019.

Across Europe, the critical engagement with the history of colonialism and its significant ongoing legacies has gained purchase – not least because of the critique, pressure, and demands of postcolonial intellectuals from, or with ties to, Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia. Matters of postcolonial justice, such as reparations to former European colonies, the restitution of human remains and cultural artefacts, and calls for the removal of national symbols and monuments that reproduce racist ideology have gained increased public attention in recent years.

Situations Emerging Scholar Award

Call for Submissions

Irish Migration Studies in Latin America 

2020 Special Issue:

HISTORY, ART & IMAGE

In this special issue of Irish Migration Studies in Latin America,the journal of the Society for Irish Latin American Studies (SILAS), we are seeking:

 • IMAGES with entries or articles on Irish artistic figures/subjects in Latin America, the Iberian Peninsula, and the Caribbean.