The American Studies Department at Leipzig University invites paper submissions for the 2011 Graduate Conference "American Pornographies: Consumerism, Sensationalism, and Voyeurism in a Global Context" scheduled for April 1-2, 2011. Calling for an interdisciplinary angle, and welcome contributions by MA-level students from all fields related to American Studies. Proposals due by January 6, 2011.
Call for Papers: Leipzig University "American Pornographies: Consumerism, Sensationalism, and Voyeurism in a Global Context"
The previously understudied and often silenced subject of pornography thus brings new impulses to the study of consumerism, particularly in light of the rising influence of globalization and the Internet. We therefore invite proposals that investigate the intricacies of pornography as well as those that frame 'pornography' in the broader context of consumerism and related notions like sensationalism, voyeurism, materialism, or exhibitionism. Accordingly, contributions could address questions such as: Which new challenges to the concept of pornography have arisen since feminism has complicated simplistic notions of pornography as always being oppressive? How has consumerism, in turn, reconfigured notions of gender, 'race,' and sexuality? How do shifting understandings of consumption create transnational and individual narratives or turn previously unidirectional phenomena like Americanization into reciprocal processes? In what ways is consumerism both vilified and cherished--in terms of individualism, modernization, social mobility, power dynamics, or materialist re-readings of the American Dream? In how far do terms like 'food porn,' 'torture porn,' and the 'pornography of violence' complicate understandings of 'consuming,' e.g., information, religion, and war through sensationalist depictions in the media and pop culture?
As a platform to discuss the complexities of 'pornography' and consumerism within the wide spectrum of academic contexts, our conference invites all interested MA-level students. Please note that there will be no conference fee. Also, to encourage nationwide and international participation in our conference, we will be able to award several travel and accommodation grants to students in Europe, ranging from about 100€ to 250€.
Please submit your proposal (max. 300 words) for a 20-minute presentation with your name, current level of graduate study, affiliated university, and email address to asl-gradconference@uni-leipzig.de by January 6, 2011. We will notify all authors by January 17, 2011.
For further information, please refer to http://americanstudies.uni-leipzig.de/asl-gradconference2011 or contact us via email.
