cfp.english.upenn.edu

Call For Papers: “Oil + Water: The Case of Southern California”

As part of its “Oil + Water” series, the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center at UC Santa Barbara will be holding a two-day conference on “Oil + Water: The Case of Southern California” on April 9 and 10, 2010.

The conference will explore how these two elements have created and transformed the history and culture of Southern California; speakers may address both elements, or focus on either oil or water. Topics can range widely and could include the history of oil in Southern California; culture’s role in Southern California’s use of oil and water; surfing; car culture; marine life and coastal development; suburbia and urban planning; water use and ownership; the civic and moral implications of oil production and the depletion of water reserves; oil, water and the politics of race in Southern California; Southern California after oil; oil, water and agriculture in Southern California; global networks of exchange in oil and water that involve Southern California; and eco-activism in Southern California. Papers should be 20 minutes long.

Application: please send a cv and one page abstract to oilandwaterUCSB@gmail.com. For further information, visit http://www.ihc.ucsb.edu/oilandwatersocal.

UCSB has small travel subventions available for UC presenters coming from outside Santa Barbara. Please indicate in your application if you wish to be considered for one.

Application Deadline: Friday, January 15, 2010