Extended Deadline: 117th Annual PAMLA Conference in San Diego, CA: "Send In the Clowns" Special Session CFP

CALL FOR SPECIAL SESSIONS (EXTENDED DEADLINE)

Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association (PAMLA) Conference

Thursday, November 14, 2019 to Sunday, November 17, 2019, Wyndham San Diego Bayside Hotel, San Diego, California

Conference theme: “Send In the Clowns”

The 2019 PAMLA Conference is being held over the November 14-17 weekend, in beautiful San Diego, California once again! Do consider joining us at the Wyndham San Diego Bayside hotel this year, and as many PAMLA attendees can attest, the conference itself is sure to be an incredibly enjoyable, friendly, and rigorous experience for scholars at all stages in their professional careers! More information about the conference hotel and our special PAMLA rate will be available in April.

At this time, you may now Propose a Special Session for the 2019 PAMLA Conference (perhaps on our 2019 Conference Theme "Send in the Clowns") via our new Ballast portal. You will first need to Create a User Account, and then you will be able to propose a session. When you create your account, you will be able to choose one of the many affiliations we have on file, or if your affiliation isn't there, choose "Not Listed" and then type your affiliation in. Should your special session proposal be accepted (once you've proposed a special session, you will hear back from PAMLA 1st VP Martin Kevorkian by April 10 as to whether your proposal has been accepted or not), you will automatically become the Presiding Officer for the session.

We are especially interested in special session proposals related to Spanish and Portuguese, British and Anglophone, Asian, French, Italian, or Multi-ethnic literatures and/or cultures, as well as any session focused on topics such as Creative Writing, Rhetoric, Composition, and Pedagogy. We are also interested in new proposals that could eventually, after a few successful years as special sessions, become general/standing sessions (Canadian Studies? Medical Humanities? Japanese Literature and Culture? Chinese Literature and Culture? Arabic and Hebrew Literature? Slavic Literatures and Cultures? Caribbean Literatures and Cultures? Australian Studies? Contemporary Visual Arts? Etc.)

While you’re at it, why not check out our diverse list of session formats (https://pamla.org/2019/session-formats)? We encourage all prospective members to test the waters and submit a special session that may be a bit more radical in its format, ranging from a Creative Conversation (perhaps a conversation with a clown, a poet, or a avant-garde performance artist), to a Roundtable (with multiple brief, informal presentations), to a Workshop (on professional or artistic skills, pedagogy, or innovative approaches), to a Special Event (a poetry reading, puppet show, face-painting and balloon folding, or an art walk or gallery talk of some kind).

We look forward to seeing your special session ideas submitted to our online application site by the end of the month! Apply at https://pamla.ballastacademic.com. Please also reach out to your friends, colleagues, and students who may have missed the original deadline and might be good candidates to propose a special session. Note the timeline below as well:

Special Session Proposal Deadline: Saturday, March 31
Abstract Proposal Deadline: Monday, June 10
Conference Early Bird Payment/PAMLA Membership Deadline: Monday, July 15
Late Conference Payment Fees: After Tuesday, October 1

Special session proposals should not replicate Standing/General Session topics. Should you have any questions about our special session review process, please email or call PAMLA Executive Director Craig Svonkin (director@pamla.org or 626-354-7526) or PAMLA Assistant Director David John Boyd (communication@pamla.org).