Call For Papers

The American Studies Graduate Committee at the University of Texas at Austin calls for papers for its upcoming graduate conference, "Mongrel America," to be held in Austin on October 2-3, 2008. Our keynote speaker will be Dick Hebdige.

Constructions and representations of America and American identity are fluid and contested. Our conference theme, "Mongrel America," plays on ideas of hybridity and melange, boundaries and transgressions, authenticity and artificiality. In order to complicate the term "mongrel," we seek papers which look at ideas and aspects of America in the musical, literary, artistic, religious, political, visual, psychological, natural, built, social, and transnational realms, including work which looks beyond the political borders of the United States to the "Americas" and beyond.

In addition to standard conference papers, we also invite other presentation formats and creative works, such as short films and poetry/fiction/drama readings.

Though our conference program committee will primarily be assembling the panels out of individual submissions, we also will consider pre-formed panels. Jointly-authored presentations are acceptable. We also invite any graduate students collaborating with community partners on service, activist, educational, artistic, or other projects to present in conjunction with those partners.

To propose a presentation, please submit an abstract of no more than 200 words and a brief CV of no more than one page to the American Studies Graduate Committee by email at utamst08@gmail.com no later than 15 August 2008. Submission text may be embedded in the email or included in a Word attachment. If accepted, each graduate student presenter will be asked to pay a $15 registration fee to help cover conference expenses.

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For more information or any questions please feel free to contact committee chair: Irene Garza or send general inquiries to utamst08@gmail.com