In early modern England, travel has the disruptive potential to alter the female traveler as well as to question, defy, and change the shape, rules, and parameters of her social space. Physical journeys open up opportunities for more impalpable travel, including but not limited to social, political, and internal journeys. As Rosi Braidotti has said, "some of the greatest trips can take place without physically moving from one's habitat. It's the subversion of set conventions that defines the nomadic state, not the literal act of traveling" (Nomadic Subjects, 5). This panel seeks to draw a connection between the physical act of traveling itself and the variety of figurative journeys that ensue because of a woman's movement in the world.

Chaos has long been a tormentor as much as a liberator. In addition, it has been a master by way of intimidation and fostering dread. The great fear of the unknown has terrorized many a person into submitting to comfort in a cage. The exploration of chaos and its relationship to consciousness may yield fruitful results as the absence of structure and order has the potential to give to a new worldview. What kind of relationship does chaos have with the development of consciousness? How does literature present chaos and its effect on consciousness? Whatever the conclusions, it is likely to prove rich and abundant for furthering human understanding.

Submissions are being accepted for a panel that discusses depictions of or references to Eastern religious traditions (e.g. Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, etc.) in ethnic U.S. texts.

Topics of interest include (but are certainly not limited to):

~ how religious traditions, beliefs and practices are altered for a U.S. context
~ how they assist and/or interfere with the process of Americanization
~ how they promote and/or hinder community identity
~ how they are viewed by people from other traditions
~ etc.