cfp.english.upenn.edu

Call for Papers: Anthology on the Work of Michael Chabon, edited by Bob Batchelor and Jesse Kavadlo

Scholarly essays sought on the work of Michael Chabon. This collection of essays (edited by Bob Batchelor, Kent State University, and Jesse Kavadlo, Maryville University) will be the first volume in the Scarecrow Press “Contemporary American Literature” Series edited by Batchelor. Its goal is to provide scholars, faculty members, student readers, and the general reading public with creative, well-researched, and well-written analyses on the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Michael Chabon.

While Chabon is one of America’s most celebrated and prolific authors, this book will be the first of its kind, aiming to place Chabon’s work in the heart of defining the American experience. Toward this end, the book’s essays together should cover as much of Chabon’s oeuvre as possible—The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (1988), Wonder Boys (1995), The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2000), The Final Solution (2004), The Yiddish Policemen’s Union (2007), Gentlemen of the Road (2007), and the upcoming Telegraph Avenue (2012); short story collections A Model World and Other Stories (1991) and Werewolves in Their Youth (1999); the young adult novel Summerland (2002) and collections of nonfiction Maps and Legends (2008) and Manhood for Amateurs (2009).

Topics may include but are not limited to the following, as they relate to Chabon’s work:
-genre, in any sense of the word: blending genres; high, low, and middle; revisionist approaches to genre
-uses of specific genres: detective fiction, superhero stories and comics, action and adventure
-as nonfiction writer, critic, short story writer, children’s book writer, public speaker, and anthologist
-metafiction, writing itself, writing style, and the writing process
-fictional history and historical fiction
-gender and masculinity
-Jewish themes and tropes
-creativity, fantasy, and the imagination
-influence of mass communications, popular culture, technology, publishing, and other forces on the literature
-other topics as appropriate that examine Chabon, his influence, and work

All chapters will also be expected to provide solid, thoughtful close readings of the works in question.

Please send 250-500 word abstracts and brief CV/biography to both Bob Batchelor (rpbatche@kent.edu) and Jesse Kavadlo (jkavadlo@maryville.edu) by October 15, 2012. Also, please send questions or comments regarding the anthology to the editors at your convenience.

Authors of accepted abstracts will need to submit completed essays of 5,000-7,000 words by March 2013.