CFP: Miami's English Graduate and Adjunct Association 5th Annual Symposium

CONTESTED HISTORIES

Historian Gerda Lerner asks, “Why does history matter?” We find that
answering this question necessitates a collective and cross-disciplinary
discussion, and we extend this question to include critical inquiries into
what constitutes historyâ€"inquiries theoretically grounded in diverse
research practices and methodologies. We specify our theme, “Contested
Histories,” not as a call to further divide ourselves through differences
but as a call to build a dialogic and contextual understanding of how
various histories speak to and inform one anotherâ€"and to conceptualize how
seemingly disparate threads link together and become the bodies of
knowledge that we refer to as History. Even within academic disciplines,
disputing history complicates notions of community, truth, and knowledge.

We invite you to share your reflections on these complications with an
interdisciplinary community at our fifth annual symposium, which will be
held March 29, 2008, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. We encourage
proposals that question and analyze ideas fundamental to “Contested
Histories.” It is our hope that the symposium will promote conversations
that blur disciplinary borders as we examine practices and possibilities
surrounding existing notions of history. The conference theme asks
participants to reconsider history and confront the effects of histories
across academic disciplines. We welcome individual and panel proposals from
all departments as well as from persons not affiliated with any academic
institution.

Presentations might address but certainly are not limited to the following
questions concerning “Contested Histories”:
        
• Who owns ‘history’?
• What is the role of the historian?
• How is history used to construct/subvert power structures?
• How can contested histories help us rewrite pedagogy, literature,
history, assessment, research, admissions, and/or publishing?
• How has history changed (within) your discipline?
• How does history get ignored, inscribed, and/or connected to other
social, political, and cultural moments or identities?
• How does history affect/construct identity?
• How does history affect/construct physicality or bodily identity?
• How does history affect rhetorical strategies?
• How can examining history help us represent self and others more clearly
and ethically?
• How do histories influence/co-construct one another?
• Why does history matter?

Or your presentation may address one of the following broad themes related
to contested histories:

 
• Materiality of History
• Histories of Marginalized Groups
• Identity and History
• Historical Metaphors
• Fiction and Nonfiction in History
• Living History
• Memorials
• Historical Spaces
• Local History
• The Archives
• Genealogy
• Technology and History
• Cultural Memory
• Pedagogical History
• Performative History
• Queer History
• Invisible or Silenced History
• Disciplinary History
• Subversive History
• Representations of History
• Political History
• Myth, Legend, or Folklore in History

Along with proposals for traditional academic paper presentations, we
encourage proposals for non-traditional presentations including
performances, multimedia, discussion formats, interactive sessions, poster
presentations, and video.

This year, we are also offering work-in-progress roundtable feedback
sessions. These informal sessions will allow you to ask questions and
receive feedback from peers and professors concerning your project ideas,
full or partial drafts, research questions, etc.

Our featured speakers for this symposium are to be announced. Check the
symposium website www.muohio.edu/english/gradsym for updates.

To submit Proposals:
Download the form located at www.muohio.edu/english/gradsym.

E-mail completed forms to toomeyms_at_muohio.edu or mail a hard copy of your
form by February 1, 2008.

If mailing, please send to the following address:

Melissa Toomey
English Department
356 Bachelor Hall
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio 45056

Official acceptance invitations will be sent to presenters electronically
by February 15, 2008.

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Received on Mon Jan 14 2008 - 13:58:03 EST