cultural studies and historical approaches

The superhero-as-outsider has been a narrative told for decades since Superman’s parents sent him on a rocket from Krypton to Earth. The immigration narrative is closely aligned with extraterrestrial heroes, including refugees such as the Martian Manhunter and Icon. Yet a superhero does not have to be from another planet to experience the process of immigration: in just X-Men, Charles Xavier, Deadpool, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Storm all work outside their nations of birth, and Magneto forms Genosha as an international sanctuary for mutants persecuted by their governments. Recent films such as Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther examine the challenges of being forced out of one’s home and taking on the role of an exile.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Humanities, Special Issue:

“Disturbances of Home/land in Anglophone Postcolonial Literatures”

Call for Papers:

Please consider attending or joining the panel of the following roundtable session at the 2019 NEMLA conference this spring. In case you are unfamiliar, a roundtable does not require a paper submission, just an abstract of your informal presentation: “Roundtable — 3-8 participants give brief, informal presentations (5-10 minutes) and the session is open to conversation and debate between participants and the audience” (NEMLA).

We are considering proposals for sessions organized around a theme, special panels and/or individual papers.  Sessions are scheduled in 1-½ hour slots, typically with four papers or speakers per standard session.  Presentations should not exceed 15 minutes.  We encourage the submission of topics on African American and African-derived performance and culture. 

Should you or any of your colleagues be interested in submitting a proposal or have any questions, please contact:

E. Gaynell Sherrod, Ed.D., Associate Professor

Department of Dance and Choreography

Virginia Commonwealth University

1315 Floyd Avenue

P.O. Box 843007

Richmond, Virginia 23284-3007

(804) 828-1711

The Charles Olson Society will sponsor a session at the annual Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture since 1900, to be held at the University of Louisville, February, 21-23, 2019.