[Discussion] CFP: Material Culture Symposium for Emerging Scholars (11/11/05; 3/18/06)

[gpultar@cstgroup.org]

From: Material Culture Symposium <emerging.scholars@gmail.com>

The Center for Material Culture Studies at the University of Delaware is pleased
to announce its call for papers for the Fourth Annual Material Culture Symposium
for Emerging Scholars (MCSES) to be held Saturday, March 18, 2006 at the
Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library in Winterthur, Delaware.

Purpose of the Forum: This symposium provides emerging scholars with a venue for
interdisciplinary dialogue centering on material culture. By freeing scholars of
chronological and topical restraints, the symposium encourages discussion across
perceived boundaries of time, space and discipline. We seek papers that are
grounded in the study of a particular object or objects but that address
multidisciplinary themes, for example, the Atlantic World, comportment and the
body, or texts and contexts. We invite graduate students from American Studies,
Art History, Archaeology, English, History, Consumer Studies, and other
departments to reevaluate the field of material culture studies, share their
research, and explore new avenues of interpretation and critical thinking.

Format: Nine graduate students will give twenty-minute papers in panels of three
speakers each. There will be two morning sessions and one afternoon session,
each followed by a comments by established scholars in the field and a
discussion period. Coffee and pastries will be provided during a short morning
break; lunch will be available for purchase in the Winterthur Visitors Center at
the midday break. Following lunch, participants will have opportunities to tour
Winterthur's library and its unparalleled collection of early American
decorative arts.

Sponsors: The symposium is co-sponsored by the Center for Material Culture
Studies and Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. CMCS is an umbrella entity
that comprises the allied programs in material culture at the University of
Delaware. These include the Black American Studies Program, Center for Historic
Architecture and Design, History of American Civilization Program, Museum
Studies Program, Visual Communications Group and Winterthur Program in Early
American Culture, as well as the University Gallery and related departments,
such as Anthropology, Art History, Art Conservation, Consumer Studies, English
and History. Winterthur maintains the nation's premier collection of early
American decorative arts and is an important catalyst for American material
culture scholarship through its journal, Winterthur Portfolio, its publications,
and the funding of original research through its fellowship program.

How to submit your proposal: The proposal, not to exceed one single-spaced page,
should clearly indicate both the subject matter of your paper and the
interpretive or methodological problems that you intend to address. Preference
will be given to papers that promise to generate provocative, productive
discussion about issues central to material culture scholarship. Send your
proposal, along with a current c.v. (no more than two-pages), to
emerging.scholars@gmail.com

Deadline: Proposals must be received by November 11th. Speakers will be notified
of the vetting committee's decision in early December. Upon notification
speakers will be asked to provide conference organizers with digital images for
use in publicity. By February 17, 2006, speakers will need to submit a final
draft of their papers so that commentators may have ample time to review them
prior to the symposium.

Website: http://materialculture.udel.edu
Check it often for updates during the year!

--
The Fourth Annual Material Culture Symposium for Emerging Scholars (MCSES)
emerging.scholars@gmail.com
http://materialculture.udel.edu
===================
MCSES 2006 Committee Chairs:
Janneken Smucker, History of American Civilization, University of Delaware:
janneken@udel.edu
Lori Miller, Art History, University of Delaware: lamiller@udel.edu



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