People in ethnic/racial minority groups, those from colonized countries,
and immigrants often carry with them a rich heritage of oral story telling and musical performance—from the Ananci stories out of Africa to the Klezmer music of Jewish immigrants. This panel invites papers on literary texts that represent, celebrate, rework, or otherwise engage with the conference theme of creativity in all of its manifestations. Topics might include, but are not limited to: the use of trickster figures in literature, reworking/rewriting of oral myths/legends, the use of music in literature, and the use of visual and/or performing arts in literature. Presentations should run between 15 and 20 minutes and allow time for discussion.

Second NeuroHumanities Dialogue
"Metaphors as source of creative thought"
4 - 6 June 2015
CATANIA- Italy

After an inspiring and groundbreaking First Neuro Humanities Dialogue about "Neuroaesthetics and Cognitive Poetics" at the University of Catania in 2014, the Neuro Humanities Research Group of the Department of Human Sciences in Catania will organize a second Dialogue between neuroscientists and humanists.

It will take place from the 4th to the 6th June 2015 at the Benedictine Monastery in Catania.

The topic of the 2015-Dialogue is: Metaphors as source of creative thought.

Exploring the Black W(hole): African American Speculative Fiction

Call for Papers: MCEA Conference on Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17, 2015

Theme: Conflicts and Resolutions

Featured Luncheon Speaker: Poet Linda Nemec Foster

Location: Davenport University, Robert W. Sneden Center, 6191 Kraft Avenue, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49512

The contemporary rebranding of Gothic as a global phenomenon has led to an exploration of previously unchartered cultural territories in search of texts that are open to such interpretation. In particular, the recognition of Asia as a promising site for Gothic Studies reveals complex intra-Asian connections and cultural influences, shared heritage, philosophical and religious worldviews, beliefs, and values that foreground the need to investigate the local forms that are associated with Gothic contexts. This underscores a non-generic understanding of Gothic and the need to develop a methodology that can be applied to study a variety of texts.

The theme of the 2015 Conference on the Black Experience (COBE) is: Civil Rights and Student Activism in America: Unfinished Business. The COBE Committee has selected this theme to mark the 50th anniversary of events, such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Bloody Sunday, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Such events are still very relevant and should be studied and discussed for insights into not just individuals, but ideas, organizations, and actions that changed the trajectory of America for the good.