cfp.english.upenn.edu

Following the success of the previous nine international Irish Studies conferences, this year the University of Sunderland, in association with NEICN, invites papers for an interdisciplinary conference, which will run from 9th to 11th November 2012.

The conference organisers hope to represent a wide range of approaches to Irish and Scottish culture from academics and non-academics alike. Performances, roundtables, collaborative projects, and other non-traditional presentations are encouraged in addition to conference papers. We welcome both individual submissions and proposals for panels. In connection with the conference theme we welcome submissions for panels and papers based around the often overlapping and interconnected histories and cultures of Ireland and Scotland. Possible themes include, (but are not limited to) :

Theory; Gender; Advertising and Commodity Culture; Gothic; Fantastic; Tartan and/or Emerald Noir; Romanticism; Revolution; Evolution; Language; Immigration; Diaspora; Borderlands and Border Identities; Devolution; Ulster; Partition; Celticism.
Along with papers specific to the conference theme, we are interested in using this conference to highlight the most recent work in the field. Therefore, we welcome submissions addressing any and all topics or themes relevant to Irish and/or Scottish studies. Following the interdisciplinary nature of the conference we welcome proposals from the areas of:

Literature, Linguistics, Creative Writing, Performing Arts, History, Politics, Folklore and Mythology, Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, Tourism, Art and Art History, Music, Dance, Media and Film Studies, Cultural Studies, Celtic Studies and Studies of the Diaspora.
North American and other international scholars, practitioners in the arts, and postgraduate students are all encouraged to submit proposals to the conference organisers.
Each session will include three or four 20-minute presentations followed by discussion. A selection of accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings. The University of Sunderland houses the North East Irish Culture Network, established in 2003 to further the study of Irish Literature and Culture. Speakers at the seven previous conferences included: Terry Eagleton, Robert Welch, Luke Gibbons, Ailbhe Smith, Kevin Barry, Siobhan Kilfeather, Shaun Richards, Lance Pettitt, Stephen Regan, Lord David Puttnam, Andrew Carpenter, John Strachan, John Nash, and Willy Maley, with readings from Ciaran Carson Medbh McGuckian, Bernard O’Donoghue and Eilis Ni Dhuibhne.

LENGTH: Papers should not exceed 2000 words / 20 minutes’ delivery. DEADLINES: Enquiries and submissions (name, affiliation, title of contribution, and abstract of no more than 200 words) should be submitted by 10th August2012 to:

Mr Colin Younger (NEICN Manager) - colin.younger@sunderland.ac.uk

CONFERENCE VENUE: The Chester Road Campus of the University of Sunderland

FURTHER DETAILS AND INFORMATION: Registration details, and relevant information on travel arrangements and accommodation will be included in the second CFP. For more information on NEICN, see www.neicn.com