CFP: Theorizing the Asian American Literary Labyrinth (12/15/06; ALA/CAALS, 5/24/06-5/27/06)

full name / name of organization: 
Stephen H. Sohn
contact email: 

The Asian American Literary Labyrinth: Theorizing Disciplinary Boundaries
(American Literature Association/Circle of Asian American Literary Studies)

The topic of this standing panel derives from the exponential growth in
Asian American literary productions over the last half century and the
ongoing need to understand how these texts function within the framework of
ethnic and Asian American Studies. This panel seeks to engage what literar=
y
critic Susan Koshy has marked as a limitation in Asian American literary
studies. That is, "Although substantial historical scholarship has been
produced, the field has been weak in theoretical work=85. The lack of
significant theoretical work has affected its development and its capacity
to address the stratifications and differences that constitute its
distinctness within ethnic studies" (316) (Fiction, 1997). Consequently,
the Circle of Asian American Literary Studies solicits conference paper
proposals which address theoretical conceptions of Asian American
Literature. Papers might investigate: how the field must be reconstructed
or redefined through discursive intersectionalities with queer studies,
gender studies, class studies, postethnic theory; area studies, diaspora,
transnationalism, globalization, and/or postcolonialism; authors/works
which arguably fall out of disciplinary boundaries and/or authors/works
which have spawned debates within the field (e.g. Ha Jin's *Waiting*,
Chang-rae Lee's *Aloft*, Angel Island poetry, Lois-Ann Yamanaka's *Blu's
Hanging*, among others); canon formation in Asian American literary studies
and its East Asian centered focus; poststructuralist discourses which
de-stabilize essentialist Asian American literary definitions ("real vs.
fake"); conceptions of ethnic/racial heritage and mixed-race within Asian
American literature; the possibility of Asian American literature being
produced by writers of non-Asian descent (e.g. David Guterson's *Snow
Falling on Cedars*, Deborah Iida's *Middle Son*); regionalism in Asian
American literature (South Asia/East Asia/Southeast Asia).

Please send an abstract of 250-500 words, accompanied by an abbreviated 1
page C.V., to Stephen.H.Sohn_at_gmail.com by December 15, 2006. All
queries concerning the panel are welcome and may be forwarded to the same
e-mail.

American Literature Association Annual Conference/ Circle of Asian American
Literary Studies

May 24-27

Boston, MA

Stephen Hong Sohn

Postdoctoral Fellow

University of California, Irvine

--------=_Part_52423_9756493.1162856124369Content-Type: text/html; charset=WINDOWS-1252Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printableContent-Disposition: inline<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">The Asian American Literary Labyrinth:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun:= yes">&nbsp; </span>Theorizing Disciplinary Boundaries (American Literature= Association/Circle of Asian American Literary Studies)</font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">&nbsp;</font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><f=ont face=3D"Times New Roman">The topic of this standing panel derives from =the exponential growth in Asian American literary productions over the last= half century and the ongoing need to understand how these texts function w=ithin the framework of ethnic and Asian American Studies.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>This panel seeks to engage =what literary critic Susan Koshy has marked as a limitation in Asian Americ=an literary studies.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>That is=, "Although substantial historical scholarship has been produced, the field= has been weak in theoretical work=85. The lack of significant theoretical =work has affected its development and its capacity to address the stratific=ations and differences that constitute its distinctness within ethnic studi=es" (316) (Fiction, 1997).<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Consequently, the Circle of= Asian American Literary Studies solicits conference paper proposals which =address theoretical conceptions of Asian American Literature.<span style=3D="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>Papers might investigate:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&n=bsp; </span>how the field must be reconstructed or redefined through discur=sive intersectionalities with queer studies, gender studies, class studies,= postethnic theory; area studies, diaspora, transnationalism, globalization=, and/or postcolonialism;<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span>authors/works which arguabl=y fall out of disciplinary boundaries and/or authors/works which have spawn=ed debates within the field (e.g. Ha Jin's <i style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style:= normal">Waiting</i>, Chang-rae Lee's <i style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Aloft=</i>, Angel Island poetry, Lois-Ann Yamanaka's <i style=3D"mso-bidi-font-st=yle: normal">Blu's Hanging</i>, among others); canon formation in Asian Ame=rican literary studies and its East Asian centered focus; poststructuralist= discourses which de-stabilize essentialist Asian American literary definit=ions ("real vs. fake"); conceptions of ethnic/racial heritage and mixed-rac=e within Asian American literature; the possibility of Asian American liter=ature being produced by writers of non-Asian descent (e.g. David Guterson's <i style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Snow Falling= on Cedars</i>, Deborah Iida's <i style=3D"mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Mid=dle Son</i>); regionalism in Asian American literature (South Asia/East Asi=a/Southeast Asia).<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span></font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" al=ign=3D"center"><font face=3D"Times New Roman">&nbsp;</font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">Please send an abstract of 250-500 words, accompanied by an abbrev=iated 1 page C.V., to </font><span style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: '=Courier New'">Stephen.H.Sohn_at_gmail.com</span><font face=3D"Times New Roman"> by Decemb=er 15, 2006.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span><span style=3D"=COLOR: navy">&nbsp;</span>All queries concerning the panel are welcome and =may be forwarded to the same e-mail.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </span></font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style=3D"COLOR: =navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">&nbsp;</span></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">American Literature Association Annual Conference/ Circle of Asian= American Literary Studies</font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">May 24-27 </font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">Boston, MA </font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">&nbsp;</font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">Stephen Hong Sohn</font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">Postdoctoral Fellow</font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">University of California, Irvine</font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font face=3D"Times Ne=w Roman">&nbsp;</font></p><br clear=3D"all"><br>-- <br>------=_Part_52423_9756493.1162856124369--Received on Sun Nov 12 2006 - 23:45:31 EST