The American Studies Program at Purdue University announces its 36th annual Symposium to be held April 14-15th, 2011. This event is organized by graduate students in the interdisciplinary program of American Studies and focuses on the presentation of graduate student research. The keynote speakers for this symposium will be Dr. David Roediger (Department of History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), and Dr. Joanna Brooks (Department of English, San Diego State University). Proposal deadline: December 20, 2010.
American Studies Symposium, "Interrogating Silence(s): A Critical Examination of Memories, Voices, and Identities in American Studies"
The American Studies Program at Purdue University announces its 36th annual Symposium to be held April 14-15th, 2011. This event is organized by graduate students in the interdisciplinary program of American Studies and focuses on the presentation of graduate student research. The keynote speakers for this symposium will be Dr. David Roediger (Department of History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), and Dr. Joanna Brooks (Department of English, San Diego State University). In acknowledging the importance of interdisciplinary studies, the Symposium Committee invites papers from students of all disciplines to engage with this year's theme. The symposium also welcomes public scholarship (and/or exhibits) which seeks to interrogate silences of various social groups.
Through the theme "Interrogating Silence(s): A Critical Examination of Memories, Voices, and Identities in American Studies," this year's symposium seeks to explore the ways structures of power either foster or suppress group's and individual's expression and voice. Some groups and individuals have been prevented from speaking. Some lack the means to voice their identities and struggle with memories of a traumatic past. Some have been repeatedly trying to give voice to their experience, but others simply would not listen. Yet some other groups have chosen to opt out and remain silent. We would like to dig into all these issues and ask: What does the American experience look like when all voices are present?
Possible proposal topics from interdisciplinary perspectives include, but not limited to:
• Othered Social Groups
• Whiteness Studies
• Inclusion vs. Exclusion
• Various Cultures or Communities (e.g. academic, institutional, etc.)
• Cultural Amnesia
• National and Global Citizenship
• Transnational Perspectives and Gaps
• Media and Class Representations of Silencing
• Gender and Sexuality
• Community Initiatives
• Online/Virtual Identities
• Silence of the Landscape and in the Built Environment
• Material Culture as a Representation of Voices and Silences
The Symposium Committee invites all those interested to submit proposals no longer than one page in length for panels, individual papers, workshops, exhibits, and performances no later than December 20th, 2010. Please also submit a biography of no more than 250 words, a current CV with contact information, especially your email address, and a list of any audio and/or visual equipment necessary for presentation. Submissions may be made electronically to amstsymposium@purdue.edu
