cfp.english.upenn.edu

Seeking articles (5000 – 7000 words) dealing with libretto’s transformation as text during Enlightenment, delineating Italian from French cultural ideals, bringing in play theories of language and cultural literacy. Themes that are of interest include following :

- reformulation of opera
- gender roles and the writing of libretti
- the philosophes
- readership and libretti
- musical mimesis and the libretto
- restyled libretti
- the libretto as mise-en-abîme of linguuistic liberation
- the libretto and the French Revolution

Study explores libretto's role as revolutionary genre and as mise en abime of linguistic liberation, while focusing on ways its evolution reflected Enlightenment thought. Especially welcome are explorations of individual libretti, as well as topics addressing their readership

Please address abstracts by September 15, 2009; completed manuscript April 15, 2010: pdgaywhite@gmail.com.