cfp.english.upenn.edu

We seek essays for an edited collection on the topics of family, tolerance, and trauma management in Kurt Vonnegut’s oeuvre. Vonnegut has exhibited an anomalous and ambiguous attitude towards family and familial relationships throughout his life, which is apparent in his public addresses just as much as in his writing. The different aspects and appearances of the notion of tolerance are likewise core topics in his works, as is the exploration of diverse theories of handling trauma experienced previously. This collection aims to assemble essays that explore the possible readings of, approaches to, and practices of trauma management in Vonnegut’s works, as well as how such trauma management is related to family and tolerance. The notions of family and tolerance as well as that of trauma management shall be understood as broadly as possible.
We are particularly interested in essays addressing the above topics that are grounded in recent and historical proceedings, concepts, and ideas in literary theory, philosophy, psychology, religious studies, and anthropology.
Submit an abstract of at most 300 words, a CV, and a brief biographical statement by April 14, 2013 to both Rebeka Sára Szigethy (rbksra@gmail.com) and Ádám T. Bogár (adam.bogar@gmail.com). Abstracts (and later on, essays) may be submitted in Hungarian and/or in English. The editors can provide both Hungarian and English translations of essays by authors who lack sufficient command of any of the collection’s official languages.