CFP: A Lacan Primer (10/5/06; Narrative '07, 3/15/07-3/18/07)

Society for the Study of Narrative Literature
2007 International Conference on Narrative
Washington D.C.
March 15-18 2007

A Lacan Primer: Children's Narrative Through Lacan, Lacan through
Children's Narrative

Papers are invited for a panel on children's narrative and Lacan at the
2007 International Conference on Narrative. Within the study of children's
narrative via psychoanalytic theory, a basic tension exists. In The Case
of Peter Pan: Or the Impossibility of Children's Fiction, Jacqueline Rose
analyzes children's fiction as a construct of adult desires or a
specifically adult subjectivity. In Looking Glasses and Neverlands: Lacan,
Desire, and Subjectivity in Children's Literature, Karen Coats argues that
stories for and about children play a part in shaping the subjectivity of
children. At issue in the debate is not only the place of narrative
within subject formation but also the place of the desiring subject within
any study of narrative.

What are the relationships between narrative and Lacan's symbolic subject?
What are the possibilities of understanding the basic principles of Lacan
through children's narrative? Can familiar tales help elucidate the
complexities of theory? Can children's texts be better understood as
formative narratives using Lacan's theory of subject formation? Do we risk
reductive readings of both Lacan and children's narrative through this
method of analysis?

Papers addressing any of these questions are welcome. Also of interest are
Lacanian readings of children's texts including canonical literary works
as well as popular films or television. Submissions will also be
considered for a prospective essay collection on this topic.

Please submit an abstract of 200-300 words and a brief vita via email to
Kelly McGuire at mcguirek_at_emmanuel.edu by October 5, 2006. Contact me if
you are interested in submitting a proposal for the essay collection but
are unable to attend the conference.

Kelly McGuire
Assistant Professor of English
Emmanuel College
400 The Fenway
Boston, MA 02115
617-735-9972

         ==========================================================
              From the Literary Calls for Papers Mailing List
                        CFP_at_english.upenn.edu
                         Full Information at
                     http://cfp.english.upenn.edu
         or write Jennifer Higginbotham: higginbj_at_english.upenn.edu
         ==========================================================
Received on Sat Sep 09 2006 - 11:48:45 EDT