The Curious Knot: The War on Terror and Post 9/11 Popular Culture

We are seeking contributions for a collection on popular culture and
its interrogation of the "War on Terror." Ten years before 9/11, Don
Delillo proclaimed that "there is a curious knot linking novelists and
terrorists," suggesting that "bomb makers and gunmen" have supplanted
books as a means to "alter the inner life of a culture." This
collection will explore how 9/11 and the subsequent War on Terror have
further tangled the knotted relationship between popular culture,
political discourse and terrorism. We are interested in exploring
whether and how American cultural production has responded to
Delillo's claim that "news of disaster is the only narrative people
need."

We welcome essays examining television, film, television journalism,
comics, music, video games, etc. While the essays can speak to
American culture in general, they should focus on some aspect of
popular culture that investigates the post 9/11 "War on Terror."
Essays may also address the war in Iraq vis a vis popular culture. All
theoretical approaches (e.g., feminist, deconstructionist,
postcolonial, Marxist, etc) are welcome; however, as we anticipate a
broad readership for the collection, we ask contributors to consider
accessibility as they develop their argument.

Please send abstracts (500 word max) or completed papers (6000 word
max) to Editors at popwar06_at_gmail.com by March 15, 2007. Preference
will be given to completed papers, as we are in the process of
securing a publisher. If you submit an abstract and it is accepted,
the final paper must be submitted by May 30, 2007. Please send all
attachments in MS Word format.

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Received on Sun Nov 19 2006 - 17:49:27 EST