Call for Papers: Africana Area
Southwest/Texas PCA/ACA 31st Annual Meeting
February 10-13 2010
Albuquerque, New Mexico

The synergy many participants experienced during our gala anniversary meeting is being duplicated once again in the Land of Enchantment as we gather for our 31st Annual Meeting. This year we honor our Science Fiction & Fantasy area with special events, films, guests, and presentations hosted by the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Founded by Dr. Peter C. Rollins in the 1970s, the Southwest/Texas PCA/ACA has sought to foster the interdisciplinary study of our region through its fascinating legacy of literary, historical, visual, and media images. Since then the organization, affiliated with the National Popular and American Culture Associations founded by Ray B. Browne, has grown to include a wide range of offerings bringing participants together from across the nation and internationally. A core value of the organization is the belief that understanding of national concerns begins with regional and local learning. We particularly invite scholars to share their perspectives on American life in the diverse region of the Southwest.

The 2010 SW/TX PCA/ACA Conference will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico February 10-13 at the Hyatt Regency downtown. Further details regarding the conference (listing of all areas, hotel, registration, tours, etc.) can be found at http://www.swtxpca.org.

Proposals are now being accepted for inclusion on panels in the Africana Area. Papers that focus on music, literature, film, visual rhetorics, media, technology, sport, health, politics and politicians, the prison industrial complex, and any other relevant area of focus are invited as are complete panels organized around specific topics. Panels and/or individual submissions related to the "age of Obama" or the late Michael Jackson's career, identity and work are specifically requested. Likewise, papers and panels in diasporic film areas such as the emergence of filmmaking in Jamaica in the context of independence, neocolonialism, and the reggae industry; the idea of a "black Atlantic" in diasporic film; the role of soundtracks in black film; and the UCLA film program and African American film are requested. Finally, anyone interested in contributing to a panel that celebrates the work and career of the late Lindon Barrett is invited to contact the area chair. Graduate students are encouraged to apply for SW TX travel grants and awards.

Inquiries regarding this area and/or abstracts of 250 words may be sent to Linda Tucker at the email address below by August 15th, 2009. Please include a current curriculum vitae with your submission.

Dr. Linda Tucker
Associate Professor
Department of English
Southern Arkansas University
Magnolia, AR
lgtucker@saumag.edu 870 235-4210