CFP: Revisiting Literary Worlds: Prequels, Sequels, and Spin-offs
(grad) (2/27/09; (dis)junctions, 4/3/09-4/4/09)
        
This call for papers is for a proposed panel at (dis)junctions, the
University of California, Riverside’s 16th Annual Humanities Graduate
Conference, which will be held on April 3-4, 2009. This year’s theme
is “Brave New Worlds.”

In keeping with that theme, this panel seeks papers that consider worksâ€"
likely written, though appropriate film, television, and other media may
be analyzedâ€"that return to already-existing fictional worlds and approach
and re-imagine them with new eyes and new purpose. These may include
prequels concerned with the time prior to a well-known work’s events,
such as Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea or John Clinch’s Finn: A Novel,
which explores the life of Huck Finn’s father. It may also include
sequels (even those done by the some author, especially after the passage
of some years) that carry the story or follow its characters beyond the
bounds of the original tale, that provide new adventures, that present
new characters in the same world, or those that rewrite the same events
from a new perspective; examples include the various reincarnations of
the Sherlock Holmes stories, or fantasy writers Robin McKinley’s and
Peter S. Beagle’s respective returns to the land of their earlier
novels.

Despite the difficulty, perhaps, in drawing such a line, this panel
specifically does not seek papers on adaptations of other literary
works.

Analyses of the merits and function of the “new” works in themselves are
certainly welcome and encouraged, but of particular interest are papers
that relate them in some significant way to the original works from which
they arose and that deal with the implications, whatever those may be,
that writing such stories have for issues of authenticity and as
reflections on the merit of those originals tales. Potential panelists
should certainly not feel limited by these possible topics; surprises and
the unforeseen are hoped for. Consideration of works from all genres,
lengths, and media are encouraged.

Please send abstracts of 200-250 words to Susana Brower at
susana.disj_at_yahoo.com or maria.brower_at_email.ucr.edu by February 27,
2009. Please let me know of any potential A/V needs; every effort will
be made to accommodate you.

===================================
 From the Literary Calls for Papers Mailing List
            cfp_at_english.upenn.edu
             more information at
         http://cfp.english.upenn.edu
===================================
Received on Fri Feb 13 2009 - 16:53:20 EST