[Bilimsel Haber] CFP: Literature in Times of Violence (India) (5/31/06; MELUS-India, 3/07)

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT - 2007

MELUS-INDIA (The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of
the United States - India Chapter)

&

MELOW (The Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literatures of the
World)

will hold a conference on LITERATURE IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE

in Chandigarh, tentative date: March 2007

THEME FOR MELUS-INDIA:
"LITERATURE IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE: THE AMERICAN RESPONSE"

THEME FOR MELOW:
"CONTEMPORARY WORLD LITERATURES IN TIMES OF VIOLENCE"

This will be the Eighth International Conference of MELUS-INDIA and the
Second International Conference of MELOW.  The MELOW Conference will
dove-tail into the MELUS-India Conference.


The major theme:

Out of the quarrels with ourselves, if we believe Yeats, literature is
created. In fact it is not just the quarrel with ourselves but also the
turbulence of the times that is responsible for the production of
literature. These are times of upheaval and violence - when one is
assaulted physically, emotionally and psychologically from all quarters.

Despite the trauma, however, one survives and carries on the best way
possible. Artists continue to produce works of art, musicians create
music and writers compose their masterpieces.  But, one may ask, how
does literature respond to the legacy of mass violence and political
conflict? Does the creative mind buckle under the pressures or does it
rise above them all to create mournful music?  And how does the reader
respond to the various tensions that go into the making of great
literature? What models are available for understanding these literary
responses to the turbulence of the times? Do poetry, fiction, drama and
film help us find words and images to understand national catastrophe?
Can literature narrate mass violence? Does it try to escape violence?
Can it be a substitute for violence? Is it a cure or a panacea?


The MELUS-India 2007 Conference will explore these and related issues,
taking up diverse genres - literature, cinema, theatre, media, popular
culture, etc.  The focus will be American Literature but panel proposals
which cross borders and disciplines are encouraged. 350-word PANEL
PROPOSALS related to the theme are invited.

The MELOW 2007 Conference will explore the same issues, focusing on
literatures of the world. 350-word PANEL PROPOSALS are invited, related
to the literature of the last fifty years.


PLEASE NOTE THE PROCEDURE BEING FOLLOWED:

Instead of individual papers we are inviting proposals for panels at his
point.  Once panels have been finalized, the call for papers will be
circulated and abstracts of paper will be invited. Paper proposals will
be sent directly to the Panel proposer who will serve as the Organizer /
Chair of the panels. He / She, in consultation with the Conference
Committee (the Governing Body comprising office-bearers), will decide
whether or not to accept the proposals submitted to the panels. Any
proposals not accepted by panels will be forwarded to a general pool of
proposals, from which additional panels may be formed. If there is a
shortage of submissions to a panel, the Organizer will be invited to
consider proposals from the general pool. If there are still not enough
papers, the panel may be canceled or combined with another, at the
discretion of the conference committee.

We are seeking panels that deal with issues related - but not confined -
to race, ethnicity, identity, and gender, in literary texts, films,
popular culture, media. Comparatist and interdisciplinary perspectives
are encouraged.


MORE ON PANELS:

All Panels will have 5 members: a Chair (the Organizer / Proposer), and
three paper presentations, followed by a Discussant. A panel may not
have more than two participants from the same institution. Each panel
will be allotted approximately 90 minutes. The suggested division of
time is five minutes for introductions, fifteen minutes for each paper
presentation, ten minutes for commentary from the discussant, and thirty
minutes for questions and answers from the audience.

Discussants will offer critical comments on each paper or on the papers
as a group with an eye toward stimulating discussion. Accordingly,
he/she should have read in advance all the papers to be presented in the
panel.


Who is eligible to submit a panel proposal?

Members and non-members of MELUS-India / MELOW may submit panel
proposals (with the understanding that they will attend the conference).
Proposals will then be examined by the Panel Organizer and the
Conference Committee. Those accepted will be circulated widely and
individual papers will be invited.

Panel proposals may be submitted on any topic that relates to the themes
of MELUS-India or MELOW (but not both). All Proposals should include the
following information:

   a.. Name and contact information of the panel organizer.
   b.. Whether the panel is being proposed for MELUS-India or MELOW.
   c.. Title of the panel and an explanation of the relevant area.
   d.. Five key questions that will be addressed by the panel.
   e.. Two short paragraphs describing the panel subject matter and the
rationale for it.
   f.. The above information should not exceed 350 words.


ABSTRACTS OF INDIVIDUAL PAPERS will be invited only when the Panels have
been finalized.  Tentatively, the call for individual papers will go out
by early June 2006.

NOTE: Membership of MELUS-India / MELOW is not required at the time
whenpanel proposals or individual papers are submitted. Non-members may
join the Association after the acceptance of their panels / papers.

Panel proposers should state clearly whether their proposals are for
MELUS-India (related to American Literature) or to MELOW (related to
world literatures).


Deadline for all panel proposals is Sunday, April 30, 2006. Follow the
instructions and email your panel proposal to mjaidka at sify.com not as an
attachment but as part of the text message.

Send a copy to anilraina at glide.net.in


Deadline (to be followed strictly):

Acceptance of Panel Proposals: May 31, 2006.

Future deadlines:

Abstracts of Individual papers (send to panel organizers): Sept 30, 2006

Acceptance of Individual abstracts to be dispatched by: Oct 31, 2006.

Final list of Panels, paper presenters and their abstracts:
November 30, 2006

Full papers and Delegate fee to come in by January 15, 2007


For any clarification contact:

Manju Jaidka (Secretary, MELUS-India, MELOW) Email: mjaidka at sify.com

Or Prof. Anil Raina (Treasurer) Email: anilraina at glide.net.in




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