CfP:2010 MLG Institute on Culture and Society, June 14-20, 2010

2010 Marxist Literary Group, Institute on Culture and Society
Special Topic: “The Dialectic”
Deadline for Proposals: February 15, 2010.

The 2010 Marxist Literary Group's Institute on Culture and Society (MLG-ICS)
will convene this summer in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, June 15-20, on
the campus of St. Francis Xavier University. The (particularly timely)
special topic of the 2010 ICS will be “The Dialectic.”

The Institute will feature consecutive (as opposed to parallel/simultaneous)
sessions, consisting of traditional panels, roundtables, film screenings,
performances, and social events. Additionally, intensive daily reading and
discussion groups will be held on “Adorno and the Materialist Dialectic” led
by Rich Daniels, on Fredric Jameson’s Valences of the Dialectic led by
Nicholas Brown, and on other facets of dialectical thought (volunteers are
invited to submit proposals for further reading groups).

Well-known for its intellectual rigor and collegial atmosphere since being
founded by Fredric Jameson and a number of his graduate students in 1969/70,
the ICS brings together emerging and established scholars each year for 5
full days of dialogue and collaboration. As is custom, the Institute’s
organizers attempt to keep critical production high and participants’ costs
low. In 2010, participants will, once again, be able to select from several
on-campus housing options, which at StFX are cost-efficient, new and
beautiful, and will contribute to the friendly and social environment the
Institute thrives upon. Housing options include individual rooms, shared
apartment-style residences, hotel-style residences, and more—each option
will include generous common spaces and close proximity to the conference
center. Detailed information regarding housing, travel, and further
logistics will be sent out to all participants. For general information on
St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia and the facilities
the Institute will utilize, see: http://stfx.ca/ (StFX has just launched a
new website, so please excuse potential glitches as our webmasters
streamline content and infrastructure).

Confirmed speakers for the 2010 ICS include:

Ian Balfour (York University)
Karyn Ball (University of Alberta)
Timothy Bewes (Brown University)
Nicholas Brown (University of Illinois at Chicago)
Eric Cazdyn (University of Toronto)
Ainsworth Clarke (University of Illinois at Chicago)
Rebecca Comay (University of Toronto)
Rich Daniels (Oregon State University)
Len Findlay (University of Saskatchewan)
Barbara Foley (Rutgers University)
Jason Gladstone (Wake Forest University)
Peter Hitchcock (City University of New York)
Neil Larsen (University of California, Davis)
Leerom Medovoi (Portland State University)
Justin Paulson (Carleton University)
Modhumita Roy (Tufts University)
Imre Szeman (University of Alberta)
Daniel Worden (University of Colorado)

(this is only a preliminary list)

The organizing committee is now accepting proposals for individual
presentations and panels (3 presentations plus respondent/4 presentations).
We are particularly interested in work that engages with any facet of
dialectical critique and dialectical thought (including antecedents and
rigorous refutations thereof). However, as always, any work that engages
seriously with the Marxist tradition will be considered. Selected papers of
each Institute will be published in Mediations, the journal of the Marxist
Literary Group (http://mediationsjournal.org/). As indicated above, we also
accept proposals for reading groups, roundtables, film screenings, and
cultural performances that deal with the Institute’s special topic.

Proposals for individual papers should be 250 words in length, include A/V
requests (if necessary), a short bio sketch, and contact information.  Panel
proposals should include a brief rationale for the panel (100 words or
less), bio sketch and contact information of the panel organizer, as well as
presenters' names, bio sketches and contact information, paper titles, and
abstracts of no more than 250 words each. Proposals for all other events
should follow the same formula (descriptions should also not exceed a length
of 250 words for each presenter/performer). Please send submissions as .doc,
.docx, or .pdf files by Monday, February 15, 2010 to: 2010mlgics AT gmail.com.

For questions about the ICS, logistics, travel and other concerns, contact:
nilgesm AT gmail.com

--
Mathias Nilges, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of English
St. Francis Xavier University
PO Box 5000
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Canada, B2G 2W5