CFP: Literature in Times of Violence (India) (5/31/06; MELUS-India, 3/07)

full name / name of organization: 
Manju Jaidka
contact email: 

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT - 2007=20

=20

MELUS-INDIA

(The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United =
States - India Chapter) =20

&

MELOW=20

(The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literatures of the World)

 will hold a conference on

 LITERATURE IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE

in Chandigarh, tentative date: March 2007

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THEME FOR MELUS-INDIA: =20

"LITERATURE IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE: THE AMERICAN RESPONSE"

=20

THEME FOR MELOW:

"CONTEMPORARY WORLD LITERATURES IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE"

=20

This will be the Eighth International Conference of MELUS-INDIA and the =
Second International Conference of MELOW. The MELOW Conference will =
dove-tail into the MELUS-India Conference.=20

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The major theme:=20

Out of the quarrels with ourselves, if we believe Yeats, literature is =
created. In fact it is not just the quarrel with ourselves but also the =
turbulence of the times that is responsible for the production of =
literature. These are times of upheaval and violence - when one is =
assaulted physically, emotionally and psychologically from all quarters. =
 Despite the trauma, however, one survives and carries on the best way =
possible. Artists continue to produce works of art, musicians create =
music and writers compose their masterpieces. But, one may ask, how =
does literature respond to the legacy of mass violence and political =
conflict? Does the creative mind buckle under the pressures or does it =
rise above them all to create mournful music? And how does the reader =
respond to the various tensions that go into the making of great =
literature? What models are available for understanding these literary =
responses to the turbulence of the times? Do poetry, fiction, drama and =
film help us find words and images to understand national catastrophe? =
Can literature narrate mass violence? Does it try to escape violence? =
Can it be a substitute for violence? Is it a cure or a panacea?=20

=20

The MELUS-India 2007 Conference will explore these and related issues, =
taking up diverse genres - literature, cinema, theatre, media, popular =
culture, etc. The focus will be American Literature but panel proposals =
which cross borders and disciplines are encouraged. 350-word PANEL =
PROPOSALS related to the theme are invited.=20

=20

The MELOW 2007 Conference will explore the same issues, focusing on =
literatures of the world. 350-word PANEL PROPOSALS are invited, related =
to the literature of the last fifty years.=20

=20

=20

PLEASE NOTE THE PROCEDURE BEING FOLLOWED:

Instead of individual papers we are inviting proposals for panels at his =
point. Once panels have been finalized, the call for papers will be =
circulated and abstracts of paper will be invited. Paper proposals will =
be sent directly to the Panel proposer who will serve as the Organizer / =
Chair of the panels. He / She, in consultation with the Conference =
Committee (the Governing Body comprising office-bearers), will decide =
whether or not to accept the proposals submitted to the panels. Any =
proposals not accepted by panels will be forwarded to a general pool of =
proposals, from which additional panels may be formed. If there is a =
shortage of submissions to a panel, the Organizer will be invited to =
consider proposals from the general pool. If there are still not enough =
papers, the panel may be canceled or combined with another, at the =
discretion of the conference committee.=20

We are seeking panels that deal with issues related - but not confined - =
to race, ethnicity, identity, and gender, in literary texts, films, =
popular culture, media. Comparatist and interdisciplinary perspectives =
are encouraged.

=20

MORE ON PANELS:

All Panels will have 5 members: a Chair (the Organizer / Proposer), and =
three paper presentations, followed by a Discussant. A panel may not =
have more than two participants from the same institution. Each panel =
will be allotted approximately 90 minutes. The suggested division of =
time is five minutes for introductions, fifteen minutes for each paper =
presentation, ten minutes for commentary from the discussant, and thirty =
minutes for questions and answers from the audience.=20

=20

Discussants will offer critical comments on each paper or on the papers =
as a group with an eye toward stimulating discussion. Accordingly, =
he/she should have read in advance all the papers to be presented in the =
panel.

=20

Who is eligible to submit a panel proposal?=20

Members and non-members of MELUS-India / MELOW may submit panel =
proposals (with the understanding that they will attend the conference). =
Proposals will then be examined by the Panel Organizer and the =
Conference Committee. Those accepted will be circulated widely and =
individual papers will be invited. =20

=20

Panel proposals may be submitted on any topic that relates to the themes =
of MELUS-India or MELOW (but not both). All Proposals should include =
the following information:=20

  a.. Name and contact information of the panel organizer.=20
  b.. Whether the panel is being proposed for MELUS-India or MELOW.=20
  c.. Title of the panel and an explanation of the relevant area.=20
  d.. Five key questions that will be addressed by the panel.=20
  e.. Two short paragraphs describing the panel subject matter and the =
rationale for it.=20
  f.. The above information should not exceed 350 words.
=20

ABSTRACTS OF INDIVIDUAL PAPERS will be invited only when the Panels have =
been finalized. Tentatively, the call for individual papers will go out =
by early June 2006.

NOTE: Membership of MELUS-India / MELOW is not required at the time when =
panel proposals or individual papers are submitted. Non-members may join =
the Association after the acceptance of their panels / papers.=20

Panel proposers should state clearly whether their proposals are for =
MELUS-India (related to American Literature) or to MELOW (related to =
world literatures).

=20

Deadline for all panel proposals is Sunday, April 30, 2006. Follow the =
instructions and email your panel proposal to mjaidka_at_sify.com not as an =
attachment but as part of the text message.=20

Send a copy to anilraina_at_glide.net.in=20

           =20

            Deadline (to be followed strictly):=20

            Acceptance of Panel Proposals: May 31, 2006.

Future deadlines:

Abstracts of Individual papers (send to panel organizers): Sept 30, 2006

            Acceptance of Individual abstracts to be dispatched by: Oct =
31, 2006.

            Final list of Panels, paper presenters and their abstracts: =
November 30, 2006

            Full papers and Delegate fee to come in by January 15, 2007

=20

For any clarification contact:=20

Manju Jaidka (Secretary, MELUS-India, MELOW) Email: mjaidka_at_sify.com=20

Or Prof. Anil Raina (Treasurer) Email: anilraina_at_glide.net.in=20

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Received on Sun Mar 12 2006 - 18:18:05 EST