This year's Midwest Modern Language Association Conference will be held November 3-6, 2011 in St. Louis, MO. I am soliciting papers for one of the permanent sessions, English II: English Literature 1800-1900, and I am hoping to form several different panels. We are looking for papers that investigate the conference theme "Play" in problematic or evocative ways. You might consider play in terms of performance, identity or representation, seriousness vs. dallying, wagering, strategy, being a player in a game, movement or action, or diversions/recreation. You might also consider idioms such as 'fair play' or 'foul play.'
Please send 300 word abstracts and a brief CV to Stacey Kikendall at kikendal@unm.edu by April 30, 2011.