CFP-Kentucky-Tennessee American Studies Association (KTASA)

LeighAnn Gardner Discussion

The program committee for the Kentucky-Tennessee American Studies Association invites panel and paper proposals for its May 2014 conference in partnership with the Center for Historic Preservation and the Murfreesboro and Rutherford County Heritage Center. This year’s theme is “Crossing Over: Borders and Bridges.” The committee is especially interested in proposals that incorporate the conference theme: how borders and bridges, real or imaginary, shape the American experience broadly understood. We encourage proposals that creatively explore the meaning of crossing over, whether politically, culturally, economically, or socially. In keeping with the conference theme, we welcome cross-disciplinary work. Topics, might include, but are not limited to, people, consumer goods, and foodstuffs crossing national, state, or regional borders; the crossing of spiritual borders, moving from one world to the next and back, spiritualism and mediums, death and dying, new religious movements; moving from health and wellness to insanity or sickness; crossing gender borders, including transgender, cross dressing, and gendered workspaces; bridging cultures as in intermarriage across ethnic or racial lines, peace movements, international tourism, religious pilgrimage, or the slow food movement; and, finally, crossing the landscape quite literally—bridges, hedges, walls, and rivers.

Individual papers are welcome and graduate students are encouraged to submit. Panel proposals should be limited either two or three papers (commentator optional), or four papers and no commentator.

Proposals should include a current c.v. with contact information and a one-paragraph description of the proposed paper. If submitting a panel proposal, please include c.v., contact information, and paper description for each participant.

Please indicate any technology requirements at the time of submission.  The conference will be held May 16 & 17, 2013. Proposals are due by January 15th and may be submitted electronically to program chair, Leigh Ann Gardner at LeighAnn.Gardner@mtsu.edu or in hard copy to: Leigh Ann Gardner, MTSU Center for Historic Preservation, Box 80, Murfreesboro, TN 37132.