poetry

This panel explores the sense of place as part of the indigenous language of American artistic production of Modernism in the context of the European avant-garde. Though U.S. poets and artists were influenced by the formal techniques of Cubism, Futurism, Expressionism, Dadaism and Surrealism, they were also determined to search for the essence of an expressive language that defined its authenticity as opposed to European foreignness. One of their avenues of research was the exploration of the distinctive features of the American soil as a means of contributing novel aspects to modern aesthetics. The genuine character of the environment is closely linked to the strong attachment to rural or urban spaces and the value they acquire for the observer.

November 7, 2017 will mark the first anniversary of the death of Leonard Cohen. Known predominantly for his music, Cohen’s artistic contributions extend into the genres of poetry, fiction, and visual art. This year’s SAMLA conference theme, “High Art/ Low Art: Borders and Boundaries in Popular Culture,” presents a timely and appropriate venue for an examination and celebration of the artist’s life and work.

South Atlantic Modern Language Association Conference, November 3-5, 2017

Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta, Georgia

Southeast Renaissance Conference, SAMLA Affiliate

CFP: Paradox and Form: High and Low Art in Early Modern Literature

Dr. Ruth McIntyre, Kennesaw State University

Repasting the Elegy: Public Mourning

For this panel, we seek poets working in the elegy form. More specifically, we seek works of contemporary elegy that challenge the foundational components of the historic elegy. The panel will explore the use of the elegy as praxis for protest, whether by vocalizing unheard voices or advocating social justice issues.  How do you mediate between personal and public lamentations as a form of protest? How do you challenge the historical foundations of the elegy to account for recent political events and personal reactions to them?

The international conference on the gender of sovereignty in European politics and aesthetics, organized in Leuven, Belgium (18 - 20 December 2017) wants to bring together investigations that revisit issues of gender and sovereignty from a variety of disciplines. The historical scope of the conference ranges from the beginnings of modernity to the present. We invite papers that address imaginations of sovereignty in political and cultural discourse either through case-studies or in comprehensive analyses envisioning a modified history. Topics of interests include but are not restricted to: