James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues": Suffering and Sustainability (SAMLA 11/7-9 2014, Atlanta GA)
James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues": Suffering and Sustainability
SAMLA, November 7-9, 2014, Atlanta, GA
"For while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard." --James Baldwin, "Sonny's Blues"
To support and amplify this year's conference theme of Sustainability and the Humanities, this panel seeks discussion-friendly presentations on topics about any critique of James Baldwin's novella "Sonny's Blues," including, but not limited to, addiction studies; jazz/blues, America's classical music; religious views on suffering, especially the Hindu connection; and African-American studies.
When Baldwin writes that the musicians' effort at "keeping it new, at the risk of ruin, destruction, madness, and death" is an attempt to find "the only light we've got in all this darkness," he is invoking the ancient dilemma of how we can not only endure, but thrive throughout torment. This panel seeks submissions about sustaining our humanity through suffering as it is presented in "Sonny's Blues."
By JUNE 18, please submit a 300-word abstract, a brief bio, and A/V requirements to Geri Harmon, at gharmon@ggc.edu.
Ideally, presentations may range from 10-15 minutes, with 5-10 minutes of discussion following each paper, but panelists may wish to use more time to deliver their papers and forego discussion until the very end.
The 86th annual South Atlantic Modern Language Association conference will take place at the Atlanta Marriott Buckhead Hotel and Conference Center, November 7-9, 2014.
Visit the SAMLA website at http://samla.memberclicks.net/
Visit the Call for Papers link at https://samla.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/2014/2014_samla_cfp_list.pdf
Geri Harmon
Assistant Professor of English
Georgia Gwinnett College
Lawrenceville, GA