CFP: Call for Papers

Seminar on Popular fiction

Improbable plots? Making sense of contemporary popular fiction

4-6 March 2010

Further details »

The notion of popular fiction calls forth several associations which highlight its distinction from “serious” or “high” literature. It is seen as one form of popular or mass culture that emerged with the rise of industrial capitalism, the mass media and the mass culture industry and as therefore indubitably encompassing the process of production, mass marketing and mass reception. The textual strategies deployed in works of popular fiction, the generic forms, formulaic plots, stereotyped characters and clichéd language, beg the question about their function in the social, political and economic milieu within which they participate in powerful ideologies and discourses as they successfully reach out to stir the hearts and fire the desires of millions of readers.

The shifting trajectories of popularity of individual works, or rather of authors, and the transmutation of genres underscore their connection to the concerns of the specific historical period. From adventure in primitive or exotic landscapes to encounters with alien, technologised universes in outer space, from the civilisational horrors of colonial and imperialist wars to the apocalyptic terrors of planetary ones, from tear-jerking romance in the security of the monogamous family to erotic transgressions of family ties and sexual norms, from the perilous mysteries of burgeoning cities to the global sites of espionage and organized crime, from the gothic worlds of witchcraft and sorcery to the dark fantasies of the digital age, the imagined worlds of popular fiction seem to set themselves off from and simultaneously point a finger at the everyday realities of its readers.

What are the driving forces of such texts and their readers in today’s globalised world? How do they relate to other popular cultural forms, such as film, music, the emergent forms of digital entertainment? The conference aims at bringing together interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives that turn the spotlight on contemporary popular fiction in order to explore its preferred genres and modes of engagement with the preoccupations and predicaments of the current age.

[Deadline for submission of abstracts (200-300 words): 15 December 2009]

Further details

This is a call for papers for a conference being organised by the Department in March 2009. The conference is planned as a concluding event to the year long course on the theme “Popular Fiction” offered to M.A. and M.Phil students. A conceptual outline for the conference is given below.

Please send the title and a brief abstract (200-300 words) of your proposed paper by 15 December 2009. Each paper will be allotted 20 minutes for presentation. Given the shortage of resources, the Department is unable to offer travel fare. However, we would provide local hospitality in the University Guesthouse for outstation participants. A selection of papers of the conference will be subsequently published.

 

CFP: Call for Papers

IIT, Delhi: International Conference on EXCELLENCE IN SCHOOL EDUCATION

CONFERENCE THEMES

1. EVOLUTION OF EDUCATIONAL THOUGHT AND SYSTEMS
2. EDUCATION AND SOCIETY
3. INFLUENCES ON EDUCATION
4. INFORMAL EDUCATION
5. QUALITY IN EDUCATION
6. IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON SCHOOL EDUCATION
7. IMBIBING VALUES IN CHILDREN
8. MANAGING A SCHOOL EFFECTIVELY
9. GLOBALISATION OF SCHOOL EDUCATION
10. FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND TRENDS IN SCHOOL EDUCATION
11. THE TRANSFORMATIONAL TEACHER

Last date of submission of Abstract:         November 1, 2009

For submission of Research Papers:          November 15, 2009

Intimation of acceptance of Papers:           November 30, 2009

For registration for the Conference:           December 15, 2009

Conference:                                                            December28-30, 2009

GUIDELINES FOR PAPER SUBMISSION

1. Only .pdf or .doc files will be accepted for paper submission. All received papers will be acknowledged.
2. All papers should be submitted through e-mail
3. A soft copy of the abstract not exceeding 200 words should be mailed on or before November 1, 2009 to: educonference09@gmail.com
4. The authors of the short listed papers will be communicated by November 30, 2009.
5. All manuscripts should be in English, typed in MS Office Word in Times New Roman, font size 12 in double space. All tables must be consecutively numbered using Arabic numerals with appropriate titles. Footnotes should be listed consecutively in the text with super script Arabic numerals.
6. Manuscripts should not exceed 5000 words.
7. Papers should contain an abstract not exceeding 200 words and conforming to the Harvard style of writing or the style of American Psychological Association.
8. The cover page should contain the title, abstract of not more than 200 words full authorship, authors’ academic degree, professional titles and e-mail addresses
9. A brief resume of author should accompany the abstract.

Publication of Papers: Selected papers presented at the conference will be considered for publication in the conference proceedings/ edited volume. A CD containing all the accepted papers will be given to the participants.

Registration Fees         Before Dec 2, 2009         After Dec 2 2009

Teachers, Principals    Rs. 2500                                             Rs. 3000

and Owner-Managers

For Full time Research              Rs. 500                    Rs. 750

Scholars/ Students

For Industry Delegates              Rs. 3000                       Rs. 3500

For International Delegates       $ 100                            $ 125

The registration fees will include the conference kit, lunch and refreshments on all three days plus conference dinner on first two days. The participants will have to send the duly filled registration form and the demand draft drawn in favor of “Indian Institute of Technology Delhi” payable at New Delhi before December 15, 2009.

The registration form is enclosed. The form can also be downloaded from http://www.iitd.ac.in/events/conf.html under the head ‘Excellence in School Education’. Accommodation The participants have to make their own arrangements for stay. The organizers are in the process of tying up with some leading hotels in the city the details of which would be communicated to the participants. Some rooms on twin sharing basis are available at the IIT Guest House at nominal rates. It will be offered on first cum first served basis. Address all Communication to: Priyanka Dewan 507, Department of Management Studies, Vishwakarma Bhawan, Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg, IIT Delhi, New Delhi-110016 Contact: 011-26591170, +919582337659

email: educonference09@gmail.com

 

CFP: Call for Papers

CFP: Language and Society

International Conference

International Conference on Language, Society, and Culture in Asian Contexts

January 6 -7, 2010 at Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand

website: www.lscac.msu.ac.th

Organized by

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Thailand and Centre for Study of Foreign Languages, School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad, India

CALL FOR PAPERS

Conference Overview: It is undeniable that Asia is an indispensable part of our intricate global civilization. Asian languages, societies, and cultures have never failed to be the sources and foundations of modern development (i.e., art, literature, medicine, religion). However, in spite of this fact, there is a rapid decline and disappearance of Asian languages, societies, and cultures. Attempts should be made to preserve them as world heritage as much as the rainforest, ancient cities, and endangered wildlife. By doing so, we are helping to maintain multicultural and diverse characteristics of human civilization as a whole. With this in mind, the conference aims to raise awareness of the essence and significance of Asian languages, societies, and cultures, especially those which have been overlooked or marginalized as inferior to those in the Western world. Since foreign language teaching plays an important role as a medium in launching Asian languages, societies, and cultures into the world stage where those languages operate, foreign languages taught and studied in Asia are also the main focus of this conference.

Aim of the Conference: This International Conference would like to bring together scholars from different areas of knowledge related to society, language, literature and culture in Asia and analyze them with a view to identifying co-influences and differences.

Areas to be Covered:

• Asian linguistics

• Language and translation

• Literature

• Folklore and storytelling

• History

• Philosophy

• Cultural diversity

• Ethnic diversity

• Community development

• Sustainable development

• Alternative development

• Foreign language teaching

Working Language: English

Format of Presentations: The abstract should not exceed 300 words, while the full paper should be between 10-15 pages (including references, notes, and tables). Biographical data should not exceed 100 words. Your work must be double-spaced and typed using 12 pt. Times New Roman font. All submissions must be written in APA style, i.e., conform to the requirements of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6^th edition. Visit the following website for reference to APA style: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/. With the abstract and paper submissions, please include: the title of your paper or poster display; your name and title; institution; e-mail address; and mailing address.

Important Dates: Abstracts and papers are requested to be sent as an e-mail attachment (Microsoft Word document) to lscac@msu.ac.th by October 30, 2009 (abstracts) and by December 15, 2009 (full papers). In the content of your e-mail message, please specify the area of your presentation along with the format. Accepted abstracts will be notified by November 15, 2009.

All papers will be reviewed by the Program Review Committee. Selected papers will be published in the conference proceedings (CD-ROM).

**The conference committee reserves the right to edit typographical errors in the abstracts and papers prior to publication.**

Registration Fee: Types of Registration	Early Bird (by November 30)	Standard (after November 30)
International Participants	US $100	US $150
Thai Participants	1,500 Baht	2,000 Baht
Thai Students	1,000 Baht

1,500 Baht

 

cfp: Book on Indian English Novelists of 1981 And After

A book on Indian English novels post Rushdie’s MC.

Children of Midnight: Indian English Novelists of 1981 And After (October 31, 2009)

full name / name of organization:

Dr. Nilanshu Kumar Agarwal and Dr. Ludmila Volna

contact email:

nilanshu1973@yahoo.com, ludmila.volna@free.fr

Children of Midnight: Indian English Novelists of
1981 And After
The publication of Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children in 1981 assertively changed the fate of Indian English fiction. It has now become a force to count with. New explorations in the narrative technique in addition to a great variety of themes has made it sure that this creativity has left its indelible impression on the world literary map. The novelists since Midnight’s Children have struck diverse notes in their novels. There is a greater deciphering of the individual’s alienated soul in the world. Marooned colonized/feminine/weak/Dalit/Black/queer individual struggling against the colonial/patriarchal/powerful/ Brahmin/white/orthodox market forces is the favourite subject of the fiction-writers. The masters of Post-1981 Indian English fiction have exerted themselves to present the inner emotional ripples of their characters. It is not that the earlier novelists’ voice was mute to the interior struggles of the individual. Nevertheless, contemporary voices are more vocal in expressing the inner torments of the marginalized and their murmurings are taken more seriously the world over. The novel has moved from homogeneity of themes and techniques to heterogeneity of subjects and methodology. There is an evolution from the simple to the complex.
The present anthology of critical research papers which will be entitled Children of Midnight: Indian English Novelists of 1981 And After seeks to explore the works of major Indian English fiction writers published since 1981. Previously unpublished research papers on the subject are invited which will follow the latest edition of MLA stylesheet for citation purpose with the references given in the parenthetical form in the text and with Works cited at the end. Papers should be marked by a sharp critical acumen and analyze the novels in the light of the contemporary critical thought.
Papers together with a brief bioprofile should be sent to Dr. Nilanshu Kumar Agarwal {Feroze Gandhi College Rae Bareli U.P., India, } and/or to Dr. Ludmila Volna {Charles University Prague, Czech Republic, ) before 31 October 2009.

from: http://call-for-papers.sas.upenn.edu/

 

CFP: Socio-Cultural Approaches to Translation

Here is the cfp for the Hyderabad Central Univ seminar on Socio-Cultural Approaches to Translation: Indian and European Perspectives

Socio-Cultural Approaches to Translation: Indian and European Perspectives
University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India  -  10 -12 February 2010
Deadline for proposals: 31 October 2009

In recent times translation has taken on a more central role in societies, whether in India or in the rest of the world. Far from being considered as a linguistic activity only it is now seen as bridging, and sometimes broadening, gaps between different cultures. In Translation Studies, its socio-cultural dimension has been taken into account. It has been shown translation may bring new inputs into local cultures to the extent that it may even reshape them. It may develop national cultures to the detriment of more regional ones, or the reverse, or also play ambivalent roles. In contexts where many languages coexist, its role as a vehicle for mediation and communication is sometimes questioned as it may elevate one language to a higher status while downplaying the others. It may reinforce jingoism or enculturation, prejudices or awareness of differences. In other words translation modifies, or preserves, the perception of the other. Hence, translating as an activity and translation as the result of this activity are inseparable from the concept of culture.

From this viewpoint words are not taken for themselves but for their communicative functions. Translation methods and strategies, different linguistic systems and their constraints in terms of meaning and construction, worldviews, etc. are still analyzed, but in so far as they reveal and contribute to a particular case of intercultural communication.

Besides, translations never only affect words. Texts do not appear on their own but accompany or are accompanied by pre-textual elements such as book covers, figures, diagrams, colour, real products, etc. so that translation studies should analyze translations in their overall environments. As can be seen, the concept of translation that is developed here is all-embracing. Is translation only an inter-linguistic process or does it also constitutes an inter-semiotic activity across cultures and languages?

The time has now come to analyze and estimate the socio-cultural value of translation in terms of its contribution to the receiving cultures, and also the translated cultures at times.  One of the possibilities to understand a culture is to learn its language(s) and the sign systems operating within it. Another complementary one is to study what parts of it are preserved in translating. Besides being a daily activity, translation is thus a means for understanding and maybe improving inter-linguistic, inter-semiotic and intercultural communication. The question whether cultural synthesis can be achieved deserves attention.

Aim of the conference: This international conference would like to bring together Indian and non-Indian perspectives on translation with a view to setting up a platform for discussion, comparison and long-term collaboration. It aims to analyze how different cultures interact and interfere with one another through translation.

Venue: Centre for Study of Foreign Languages, School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India.

Hyderabad is the capital city of Andhra Pradesh and is served by an international airport.

Organizers:

- Prof. J. PRABHAKARA RAO, Coordinator, Centre for Study of Foreign Languages, School of Humanities, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad-500 046, INDIA, <pjandhyala1@gmail.com>.
- Prof. Jean PEETERS, Université de Bretagne-Sud,  4, rue Jean Zay, BP 92 116 , 56 321 Lorient Cédex, FRANCE,  <jean.peeters@univ-ubs.fr>.

Scientific committee:

Prof. J. PRABHAKARA RAO, University of Hyderabad, India.
Prof. Pramod Talgeri, Vice-President, Inter-Disciplinary University, Pune
Prof. B.R. Bapuji, CALTS, University of Hyderabad, India
Prof. Jean PEETERS, Université de Bretagne-Sud, France.
Prof. Michel BALLARD, Université d’Artois, France
Prof. Teresa TOMASZKIEWICZ, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.

Participants
Scholars in the fields of Translation Studies, Cultural Studies, Sociolinguistics, Languages, Indology or with an interest in Intercultural Communication.
No. of Participants: 10 (from Europe) + 10 (from India)
Working language:    English

Hospitality: The hosting Institution, i.e. Centre for Study of Foreign Languages, University of Hyderabad will provide local hospitality to participants.

Registration fee: Indians: Rs.1,000/-, Non-Indians: Rs.2,000/-

Paper Proposals: The conference encourages paper proposals in relation with the above-mentioned theme.
The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 31st October, 2009. Participants intending to give a paper should email an abstract of 600 words maximum as an attached file (MSWord format or RTF) to:
<pjandhyala1@gmail.com> and <jean.peeters@univ-ubs.fr>.

The maximum number of papers is 20 (10 Indian and 10 non Indian). The proposals will be assessed by the scientific committee on the basis of their relevance to the conference’s topic.

The scientific committee will return its decision by 30th November, 2009.
The papers should be no longer than 25 minute and will be followed by 10 minutes for discussion.
A selection of papers will be published.