cfp.english.upenn.edu

The animals of the world exist for their own reasons. They were not made for humans any more than black people were made for white, or women created for men. –Alice Walker

While we ourselves are the living graves of murdered beasts, how can we expect any ideal conditions on this earth? –George Bernard Shaw

In his Lectures on Ethics, Immanuel Kant observes that “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” Without question, animal rights are inextricably connected to human rights. Like humans, animals are subject to exploitation, domination, and discrimination. This session explores the interlocking systems of human and animal oppression and strategies for countering subjugation. We invite papers on literary texts that engage with the broader implications of human-animal relations. Suggested topics may include but are not limited to animal cruelty, portrayals of animal “consciousness,” and the ethics of domesticating animals. By May 15, 2009, please send proposals of approximately 250 words with presenter’s name, academic affiliation and contact information (including e-mail and mailing addresses) to Marisa Iglesias, University of South Florida, at miglesia@mail.usf.edu