Southwest regional conference of the Popular Culture and American
Culture Associations,
February 8-11, 2006, Albuquerque, NM

Food Writing of the Southwest and Mexico: Call for Papers

        Over the last two decades, readers have seen a dramatic increase
in the publication of novels and autobiographies that include recipes
and extended discussion of food preparation. Situated on the cusp
between memoir and cookbook, many of these works play with genre
distinctions. Questions of ethnicity are highly prominent in these
narratives that often deliver reflections on cultural borders and forms
of memorialization. Papers that deal with literary works from writers of
the Southwestern United States, Western United States, and Mexico,
entertaining the following or related questions, are desired:

* What distinguishes food writing from the Southwestern U.S.
and/or Mexico? What place do expressions of ethnic or racial identity
occupy in these narrative(s)? What political stance do these works take
toward contemporary issues in food production, consumption, or
distribution?
* What kind of history does this writing have? Is it part of the
same literary tradition as M.F.K. Fisher and Elizabeth David?
* How does the recipe function in literature? Has its function
changed since the publication of Recipes for Reading (Bowers, 1997)?
* What is the relationship of these work(s) to various genre
conventions? What is the role of memory in these works and are they in
dialogue with the symbol of the madeleine in Proust?

        For consideration, please send an abstract of 750 words or less
describing your possible presentation. In addition, please include info
about yourself: past/present university positions, publications or
description of research, and contact info. Papers are acceptable in
English and Spanish. The proceedings of this panel will potentially
appear in a collection published by a major scholarly press.

Deadline: December 1, 2005

Send to: Dr. Lynn Marie Houston (email preferred, no attachments)
                EMAIL: lmhouston_at_csuchico.edu
                English Department
                California State University, Chico
                400 W. First St.
                Chico, CA 95929-0830
                Tel. (530) 898-5165
                Fax (530) 898-4450

Conference web site: http://www.h-net.org/~swpca/

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Received on Fri Sep 30 2005 - 12:31:42 EDT