The American Outlaw and the Cultural Landscape

The interest in the American outlaw and outlaw studies has a long =
history. Scholars have considered the importance of the American outlaw =
in the construction or development of the American mind-set. They have =
also considered the importance of this figure throughout history and its =
emergence in literature, film, music, and art. However, the work in =
outlaw studies seems to have taken on three major directions. First, a =
great many of the studies have focused on the life and exploits of a =
single outlaw figure, major or minor-Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Pancho =
Villa, Pretty Boy Floyd, Railroad Bill, so on. Second, other works, =
while they have considered more than one outlaw, have focused on a =
specific region of the American landscape-most often the American West, =
but also the Southwest, the Mexican/American border, and in rare cases =
other non-western regions, the Pennsylvania region for instance. =
Finally, some scholars have considered the progression or development of =
the outlaw in literature and art, discussing the outlaw as a figure or =
type. This last approach has lead to discussions of the creation of =
outlaw through memory and the media and to analyses of the components or =
characteristics of the type itself and the outlaw figure's function =
within community.

What has not been considered in outlaw studies is a more specific =
analysis of these figures, especially as they connect to a specific =
place within a specific historical moment, and a comparative look at the =
outlaw figure as it occurs in various locales and forms. Addressing =
these new concerns is the purpose of this current volume of essays. This =
approach will offer new insight in the important relationship between a =
locale's cultural landscape and the outlaw figure and allow scholars the =
opportunity to determine what elements of the outlaw figure remain =
intact from place to place and what features can be adapted to fit the =
specific concerns of a locale's cultural landscape (i.e. its geography, =
economy, ethnicity, history, etc.). Using various theoretical and =
interdisciplinary approaches to examine diverse regions, especially =
those other than the American West, and lesser known outlaws (as well as =
fictional outlaw figures), this collection of essays will offer a more =
complex and comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the =
outlaw figure and the American mind-set by understanding the connections =
between elements of specific outlaw figures against specific cultural =
landscapes.

This call for papers is seeking essays from folklorists, historians, =
cultural geographers, as well as literary, art, and music scholars that =
address the issue of the outlaw and cultural landscapes. Although new =
approaches to well-known outlaws are welcomed, I am particularly =
interested in outlaws or regions that have been somewhat neglected. =
Moreover, specific attention should be paid to how the historical figure =
influences the cultural present and shapes the contemporary culture. =
Possible topics might include but are not limited to:

the outlaw and ethnicity

the female outlaw and her place in "place"

the outlaw and regional economics

the outlaw and the construction of the future

the outlaw and border consciousness

the outlaw in regional literature, art, and/or music

Those interested should initially send 300-500 word abstracts and a =
brief bio, which includes academic affiliation, via email to =
clejeune_at_mcneese.edu by 25 March 2005. (Final essays will be expected =
15 January 2006.) I will put together a publisher proposal once I have =
collected the abstracts that will be used in the volume and that =
proposal will be sent to prospective publishers in April/May. Informal =
inquiries may be made at the above email address.

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Received on Fri Feb 04 2005 - 12:00:14 EST