[Bilimsel Haber] CFP: Modernism and Theory (3/1/06; collection)

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

From: Stephen Ross <saross@uvic.ca>

"In Theory Lies Modernism"

This volume asks about--and offers multiple perspectives on--the 
relationship
between modernism and theory. As the most recent modernist studies 
association
conference (November 3-6, 2005) made abundantly clear, the last decade's
tendency to expand the temporal, geographical, and material boundaries of
modernism continues unabated. Yet, in a twofold irony, this renewed 
vitality of
modernist studies has come at the expense of a key area of inquiry that 
is both
intimately linked to modernism and largely responsible for the 
rejuvenation of
modernist studies: critical theory.

On the one hand, critical theory clearly develops alongside of and 
emerges from
modernism, and yet it is all-too-often seen as decisively breaking with 
it or
(worse) as constituting the phantasm of postmodernism. This initial irony is
compounded by the fact that the massive rejuvenation of modernist 
studies was
enabled precisely by theory's confrontation with the predominant notions 
of the
literary, canon formation, disciplinary formations, high and low culture,
progress, civilisation, and imperialism.

By repressing theory's fundamental continuities with modernism along 
with its
power to enable the "new modernisms," modernist studies have run 
precisely the
kind of risk its new inclusive ethic strains so hard to avoid: it 
forecloses a
critical perspective on modernist studies a perspective whose claim to
consideration is all the stronger because it is not simply on modernism 
but part
of it as well.

Breaking with the mechanisms of repression and foreclosure which see theory
excluded from the "new modernist studies" in all but the most instrumental
capacities, "In Theory Lies Modernism" will begin from the assertion that
modernism and theory have deep and enlightening affinities. It will 
continue the
"new modernist" project of expanding what qualifies as modernist, and it 
will
restore theory to the realm of modernist studies.

To this end, "In Theory Lies Modernism" will use a dialogical format whose
effectiveness has recently been demonstrated in Olson and Kerby's _Voices in
Dialogue_ (University of Notre Dame Press, 2005). This format places 
original
contributions and replies to those contributions in direct conversation. 
Several
prominent modernist critics have already indicated an interest in 
writing such
responses.

With this engaging format "In Theory Lies Modernism" will bring to the 
forefront
of critical study a set of relations, correspondences, continuities and 
ruptures
which have gone seriously understudied thus far, not simply inaugurating and
setting the terms of discussion, but also initiating sustainable lines of
inquiry that can generate productive dialogue for years to come.

Interested? Please contact Stephen Ross at saross@uvic.ca for a full 
description
of the project. 500-word proposals are due by 1 March, 2006; full papers 
will be
required as soon as six weeks after that date.


Stephen Ross,
Assistant Professor of English,
University of Victoria,
P. O. Box 3070 Stn CSC,
Victoria, BC V8W 3W1
Canada.

Email: saross@uvic.ca

URL: http://web.uvic.ca/~saross/index.html



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