Sexing the Text: Gendered Works and Working Gender

November 3rd – 4th, 2006

Simon Fraser University—Vancouver, Canada

The increasing proliferation of sex talk and images in pop culture has
simultaneously opened up new spaces to discuss sexuality and gender, while
still rigidly enforcing what is "natural." When it comes to issues of
labour, of politics, of relationships, gender roles seem just as
confining—just as the lines between acceptable and unacceptable sexual
content may have changed, but are still rigid. Do we consider Britney
Spears kissing Madonna subversive? What about Transgendered narratives?
Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie? Slash fiction? Lolita? Kiddie porn? Do words
like cunt, cock and pussy, belong in academic discourse? While feminist and
queer theories have attempted to open up academic discourse by exploring
the roles of women and queer writers (both as creators and characters) in
our canon, and while harlequins, pornography, "chick lit," and popular
magazines like "Maxim" and "Cosmopolitan" have become hot topics of study,
we are clearly still struggling to decide where we fall on issues of sex
and sexuality.

We invite proposals for academic research, panels, individual
presentations, interactive workshops, and ideas related to the
constructions of gender and sexuality. In addition, we also have exhibit
space for visual artists and are looking for performance-based and creative
submissions for an evening panel. We encourage interactive sessions. We
also encourage proposals that link scholarship with contemporary issues.
Some suggested themes are:

-Does the academy have a role in challenging gender constructions?

-How does film uphold and subvert notions of gender and sexuality?

-What are the consequences of an author performing another gender?

-At what point does sexual content become pornography?

-How are aesthetic styles gendered?

-How do issues of gender intersect with issues of race and class?

-What role do self-identified women have in the canon?

-What are the implications of separating "women's" and "queer" writing.

-What role has the "coming out" narrative had on queer youth?

-How has the portrayal of gender and labour changed?

-What does the role of sex in texts reveal about our social and cultural
attitudes?

All proposals will be blind vetted. Partial funding and billeting may be
available.

Proposals should state whether they are creative or not and should include
a short summary & a brief biography and should be sent to Jen Scott either
by

Snail mail: Simon Fraser University , 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, B.C.,
Coast Salish Territory, V5A 1S6

Email: gradconf(at)sfu.ca Website: www.sfu.ca/~gradconf

The deadline for proposals is July 21st, 2006.

For further information, please contact Jen Scott at gradconf(at)sfu.ca.

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Received on Sat May 20 2006 - 10:08:49 EDT