PANEL PROPOSAL for THE NINTH ANNUAL RED RIVER CONFERENCE ON WORLD
LITERATURE

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CALL FOR PAPERS

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APRIL 21, 22, 23 2006

NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY

FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA

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Television Nation: Cultural complexities of popular narrative

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We've all had that moment when we are watching popular television or a
mainstream movie, and we see (or imagine that we see) those subtle
references to our own particular field of interest in literature. For
example, a 'Babylon 5' fan will see in the show references to Tolkein's
'Lord of the Rings'; a Shakespearian will see Hamlet's tragedy when
viewing 'Firefly' or the 'Tempest' while watching 'Lost'; others will
see Dickens or Joyce in the 'Harry Potter' films, or the 'Iliad" while
watching 'Battlestar Galactica'.

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We invite papers that explore this cross-connection between narrative
and culture. We are most interested in papers that explore the 'cultural
complexities' of popular culture and canonical literature. How does the
'canon versus popular' argument reflect on academic marginalization or
privilege? If popular culture reflects a common voice, does that
marginalize the academic or literary voice? If a show or movie earns
the sub-cultural label of 'cult fiction,' then how does that reflect on
the language borderlands within the larger popular culture or academic
canon? Which has more cultural (or classroom) power, the literary text,
or the reworked or re-envisioned television show or movie? Does this
discussion reflect on any view of nation as narrative? Are scholars who
enjoy or teach from popular culture self-made exiles within the academy?

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Please submit a 250-word abstract via e-mail to
Dominique.Hoche_at_northern.edu on or before NOVEMBER 1, 2005, and include
your name, complete mailing address, institutional affiliation, and
e-mail address. Please note: final papers should not exceed a reading
time of 20 minutes.

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Additional information on the conference may be found at:

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/rrcwl/

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Dr. Dominique Hoche

Northern State University

Dominique.Hoche_at_northern.edu

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Received on Mon Sep 12 2005 - 11:14:26 EDT