Southeast Asians in the Diaspora Conference

Call for Proposals

Location: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign,
Date: 15-16 April 2008
Submission Deadline: Postmarked or Emailed by 16 November 2007.
 
This two-day conference examines the emerging field of Southeast
Asian/American studies, which because of specific histories of colonialism
and imperialism, has produced subjects and objects of analysis that
confound categories of diaspora, citizenship, and affiliation. Studies of
the Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese diasporas investigate and trouble
the structuring effects of Cold War geopolitics; while studies of Hmong,
Mien, Cham, and other stateless ethnicities necessarily reconsider the
bases for global and local practices of identification as well as strategic
claims to rights and resources.

Given this, the field foregrounds important epistemological and
methodological shifts that productively disrupt the analytic conventions of
area studies, American studies, ethnic studies, and Asian American studies.
Thinking across these fields, Southeast Asian/American studies fulfills the
intellectual and political promise of what Kandice Chuh imagines as
“studies in comparative racialization and intersectional projects that
deliberately unravel seemingly stable distinctions among identificatory
categories and disciplinary divisions.” Complicating the examination of
nationalisms and transnationalisms, Southeast Asian/American studies
questions the circulation of, the negotiation with, or challenges to the
knowledge regimes of U.S. nation and empire.

In order to explore the dissolution of disciplinary distinctions and the
complexities of intersectional analyses, we are soliciting papers, panels,
roundtables, workshops, films, videos, readings, and performances.
Submissions are open to scholars, artists, and community members. This is
an interdisciplinary event welcoming individual and panel proposals from a
wide variety of disciplines including, but not limited to, queer studies,
literature, history, sociology, art history, visual cultures, political
science, ethnic studies, women’s and gender studies, performance studies,
cultural studies, postcolonial studies, Asian studies and area studies, the
performing arts, film or video making, writing, and community activism and
leadership. Participants will be informed of acceptance in December 2007.

The conference is being held to coincide with the Association of Asian
American Studies (AAAS) conference in Chicago, 16-20 April 2008. As a
note, AAAS does have limited funding for which graduate students may apply.

Panel or Roundtable Proposal

1. A one-page description of your panel or roundtable
2. One-page abstracts of each paper or presenter
3. One-page CV from each presenter, the panel chair, and/or
     the discussant or facilitator
4. AV needs
5. Contact information for each participant

Individual Paper Proposal

1. A one-page abstract of your paper
2. One-page CV
3. AV needs
4. Contact information

Performance, Reading, Video or Film Proposal

1. A one-page description of your project
2. A one-page artist resume
3. If a film, video, or performance, send a sample video or
     DVD, if available (this can be returned to you upon request)
4. AV needs
5. Contact information

Please mail all materials to

Fiona I. B. Ngô,
ngo_at_uiuc.edu

or

Asian American Studies Program
1208 W. Nevada St., MC-142
Urbana, IL 61801

Contact:

Fiona I.B. Ngô Mimi Nguyen
ngo_at_uiuc.edu or mimin_at_uiuc.edu
(217) 265-6240

For updates and more information:
http://www.aasp.uiuc.edu/SEAsianDiaspora

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Received on Tue Oct 02 2007 - 14:34:38 EDT