CFP: Designing, Teaching, Leading, & Theorizing Out-of-the-Box Student Travel (Domestic or Int’l; Edited Collection

Jeff Birkenstein Announcement
Location
Washington, United States
Subject Fields
Teaching and Learning, Sociology, Humanities, Environmental History / Studies, Communication

CFP: Designing, Teaching, Leading, & Theorizing Out-of-the-Box Student Travel (Domestic or Int’l; Edited Collection)

 

We seek essays of 3,000-5,000 words for an edited collection that explores unique and out-of-the-box faculty-led student travel, whether abroad or domestically. This book intends to argue for unique and innovative forms of undergraduate student travel, travel that eschews the sadly ubiquitous pre-packaged and overpriced program. We anticipate having three major sections: articles exploring the a) theory, b) implementation, and c) teaching (both in and outside the classroom, depending) of such journeys.

 

The purpose of this collection is to a) explore alternative means of travel that challenge the dominant paradigm of tourism, b) to share teaching methods, which show students how to be responsible and thoughtful members of the global community, c) to inspire wonder, curiosity, and serendipitous experiences in/of other cultures beyond the standard consumption of tourist clichés, and d) to contribute to an existing discourse about travel as a political act that impacts cultures and politics of places. The need for this comes from both an increasingly shrinking geography and increased mobility among the middle class. Having access to easy and cheap travel speeds up the consumption of cultures and places. It is, therefore, important to discuss issues of cultural imperialism, economic disparity and responsible travel that can help protect unique places from the homogenizing effects of global capitalism.

 

This collection will serve as an accessible volume for academics, university students, teachers at the university level, and even some general readers whose interests include education, global culture, travel, and getting beyond the pre-packaged travel experience that is the norm. Within the higher education sector, there are myriad undergraduate courses that offer perspectives on travel and travel experiences as seen through media, film, literature, communication, and/or visual culture as components of their major degrees.  Additionally, the inclusion of some form of study abroad into an undergraduate education is seen as increasingly mandatory for a complete college education.  The study of travel and travel itself is also incorporated into degrees in the social sciences and humanities, such as Psychology, Literature, History, War Studies, and Gender Studies programs, and many more.  Despite current, but hopefully ultimately limited, xenophobic tendencies in many countries, or perhaps because of them, we anticipate a growing interest among colleges and universities at all levels (students, faculty, staff, and administration) in non-standard travel models that challenge these narratives. We intend to have an academically rigorous, interesting, and cohesive volume on the topic, and expect that this book will be a pertinent text on selected course reading lists, and related areas. 

 

This collection will attempt to cover a variety of possible travel models, both international and domestic. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

  • History and culture of places through (Slow) food;
  • Exploring place through psychogeography and derive;
  • Finding and documenting insurgent and reclaimed public spaces;
  • Slow travel, being a flâneur in the 21stCentury;
  • Deconstructing the myths of historical markers and heritage sites;
  • Photography, video, and other digital means of (re-)producing travel;
  • Sustainability of travel.

 

Writer expectations:

Abstracts of around 500 words & CV by November 1, 2018 to:

 

          Jeff Birkenstein, Ph.D.                                                  Irina Gendelman, Ph.D.

                        Department of English                                                  Department of Society & Social Justice

                        jbirkenstein@stmartin.edu                                           igendelman@stmartin.edu                   

Saint Martin’s University

5000 Abbey Way SE

Lacey, WA  98503 (USA)

 

Completed first drafts between 3,000 and 5,000 words by June 30, 2019

Contact Information

          Jeff Birkenstein, Ph.D.                                                  Irina Gendelman, Ph.D.

                        Department of English                                                  Department of Society & Social Justice

                        jbirkenstein@stmartin.edu                                           igendelman@stmartin.edu                   

Saint Martin’s University

5000 Abbey Way SE

Lacey, WA  98503 (USA)

Contact Email
jbirkenstein@stmartin.edu