cfp.english.upenn.edu

For Louisiana State University’s upcoming graduate student conference on the theme of “In Momentum: Literature, Travel, and Alterity,” this panel seeks to explore the exciting field of Arab American/immigrant literature. Of particular interest are the ways immigrant writers have approached American culture in their writings (Arabic and English), given the fact that their cultural background is rich with values, principle, ideals, and so on. We invite students and scholars who are interested in Arab American/immigrant literature to submit conference paper abstracts that discuss the Arab literary presentation of American (and western) cultures.
How do Arab immigrant writers understand American culture and how do they respond to its demands? Can we see any resistance to the perceived American culture? How do Arab writers situate or position themselves within American culture? And does such a potential positioning involve altering or adapting one’s cultural ideals to fit into the “new” culture? As well, in what ways do second-generation immigrants struggle with some of the concerns encountered by first-generation immigrant writers (writers born and raised in the “Arab Home”)? How would the former approach these cultural issues differently? Any discussions of how perceptions might vary from first to second generations are welcome as well.
The LSU graduate student Mardi Gras Conference will take place on February 7th and 8th, 2013. By December 1st, please submit an abstract of 250 words and a working title as an attachment along with contact information, including name, institutional affiliation, degree level, email address, and phone number to: arabimmigrant@gmail.com