CFP: Truth in Genre: Great Expectations in Contemporary Memoir (4/10/06; MMLA, 11/9/06-11/12/06)

full name / name of organization: 
Galbus, Julia A
contact email: 

M/MLA special session, Chicago 11/9-12, 2006
Session Title: Truth in Genre: Great Expectations in Contemporary Memoir

Truth within memoir has again received media attention thanks to James Frey's admission that he lied to tell a better story. Responses to Frey's book remind us that the reading public, reporters, critics, and writers of creative nonfiction might hold the genre of memoir to a different set of standards than some editors, publishers, and scholars. Is the public outrage justified? How might competing definitions of memoir be used to further a discussion of genre, literary quality, and reader's expectations? Theoretical, popular, journalistic and/or historical approaches are welcome. Analysis of individual texts is discouraged except as an example to further an argument about genre or truth in memoir.
 
Note: panel acceptance is pending. All participants must become 2006 M/MLA members and pay the 2006 convention registration fee by JUNE 1 in order to be included in the printed program.

contact: Julia Galbus, Associate Professor of English, University of Southern Indiana at jgalbus_at_usi.edu

Please send 250-word abstract and 1-page CV by April 10, 2006.

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Received on Thu Mar 02 2006 - 11:44:31 EST