Vol. 4 Issue 17 – ELT Conference: ‘Language, Literature, and Cultural Studies in the 21st Century: Translocating / Transgressing Boundaries’ Dhaka, Bangladesh – May 25-26, 2012

  POSTGRADUATE CONFERENCE 2012

Language, Literature, and Cultural Studies in the 21st Century: Translocating / Transgressing Boundaries

25 & 26 May 2012

Department of English | Jahangirnagar University

Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh

Thematic Introduction

We welcome both scholarly and creative submissions from the early career scholars and postgraduates including MPhil and Phd students who are studying and interested in the vibrant fields of English language, literatures in English, and cultural studies. We also offer graduate sessions to accommodate papers presented by the students in the MA and BA (Hons) programmes. There will be three WORKSHOPS and/or PLENARY SESSIONS that will address the formation of ‘boundaries’ erected by or around the academic disciplines. Confirmed plenary speakers include Prof. Fakrul Alam,University ofDhaka and Prof M Shahidullah,RajshahiUniversity.

This interdisciplinary conference will address the problems and potential of the humanities in the 21^st century vis-à-vis late capitalism, postmodernism, and convergence culture. Concentrating on the study of language, literature and cultural studies, the conference intends to locate and analyze the shifts – epistemic, generic, ontological, linguistic, etc. – that have taken place and study the effects – for example, syncreticity, sublimation, subordination, convergence, and decadence – these shifts have made:. The central theme of the conference – ‘boundary’ – alludes to its numerous connotations and ramifications. The conference aims to explore how different discourses and praxis have been engaged in dialogue and negotiation with the ‘boundaries’ – geographical, linguistic, ontological, racial, cultural, etc. – and if and how these interventions have modified or been resisted by the boundaries. Conceptualizing ‘boundaries’ as ‘constructs’ and often hegemonic, the conference intends to see how these interventions are viewed in the present academia: as acts of transgression, or of translocating? While ‘transgression’ entails a negative connotation and pre-supposes sanctioned origin, ‘translocating’ is rather liberating, suggesting shifts but does not privilege the originary location.Proposal for Paper Presentation (20-minute), Panel (45-minute), Workshop (60-minute), Poster Presentation, Performance Session (20-minute), and Virtual Presentation (20-minute) may address any of the areas included in but not limited to the following list:

• Language and Linguistics: code-switching; pidgin, creole, ‘nation language’; interlanguage; etc.
• EIL: teaching and learning EIL; EIL skills, grammar and vocabulary; culture and EIL; postmethod pedagogy, etc.
• Critical Applied Linguistics
• Minority Discourses
• National, Transnational and Ethnic Writings
• ‘Popular’ Culture vis-à-vis ‘High’ Culture
• Question of Culture: Leavisian culture; culture industry; subculture; pop culture
• Generic Transitions
• Humanities vis-à-vis ‘Posthumanities’
• Re-thinking the Body: ethnicity, race, caste, gender, sexuality, trans-human, vampirism, etc.
• ‘Disciplinary Decadence’
• New ‘Spaces’: diaspora criticism, cybercriticism, ecocriticism, body studies, disability studies, etc.
• Performance: linguistic, business, theatrical, etc.

Submission Information : Scholarly Works

Abstracts of 20-minute (i) papers, (ii) panels, and (iii) thematic workshops are due by Thursday, 03 May, 2012.

• All presentations should be accessible to a multidisciplinary audience.
• Please submit the abstract (400-500 words) or panel proposal (500 words) both as attachment and pasted into the body of an e-mail message to both ju.english@yahoo.com and mashrursh@yahoo.co.uk.
• Panels should consist of three papers and may include a respondent.
• Please include your name(s), contact information, department(s), designation(s), and institution(s).
• Prospective conference participants will be notified on/before Sunday, 06 May, 2012.
• The publication of a selection of papers following the conference is planned.

Submission Information : Creative Works

• Description or abstracts of (i) poster presentation, (ii) 20-minute performance, and (iii) 05-20-minute video/film presentation are due by Thursday, 03 May, 2012.
• All presentations should be accessible to a multidisciplinary audience.
• Please submit the description (400-500 words) or abstract (500 words) along with visuals of the presentation if any both as attachment and pasted into the body of an e-mail message to both ju.english@yahoo.com and mashrursh@yahoo.co.uk.
• Please specify the space and logistics required for the presentation. Proposal for performance must mention the number of performers.
• Please include your name(s), contact information, department(s), designation(s), and institution(s).
• Prospective conference participants will be notified on/before Sunday, 06 May, 2012.
• The publication of a selection of performances following the conference is planned.

Virtual Presentation : Scholarly and Creative Works

• We welcome ‘virtual presentation’ in case a participant is not able to visitBangladeshdue to problem with visa or financial restrictions.
• ‘Virtual Presentation’ denotes presentation of paper or performance through video-conferencing. After the proposal is approved, the participant will make a video of their presentation or performance and will send both a CD of the presentation or performance to the mailing address of the conference and a soft copy of the same to the e-mail addresses. On the payment of registration fees required for ‘virtual presentation,’ the presentations will be made during the conference.
• All presentations should be accessible to a multidisciplinary audience.
• Please submit the description (400-500 words) or abstract (500 words) along with visuals of the presentation if any both as attachment and pasted into the body of an e-mail message to both ju.english@yahoo.com and mashrursh@yahoo.co.uk on/before Thursday, 03 May, 2012.
• Please include your name(s), contact information, department(s), designation(s), and institution(s).
• Prospective conference participants will be notified on/before Sunday, 06 May, 2012.
• Details of the other procedures will be notified once the proposals are approved.
• The publication of a selection of performances following the conference is planned.

Registration

• Scholars, Teachers, MPhil and PhD Students: BDT 1500 (Bangladeshi participants); $200 (overseas participants); $80 (for ‘virtual presentation’).Registration fees

Student participants: BDT 800 (Bangladeshi participants); $100 (overseas participants); $50 (for ‘virtual presentation’).

• All participants need to be pre-registered. The registration fee is non-refundable. The registration fee from the overseas participant will cover accommodation, the conference volume, and breakfast, lunch and dinner on 24, 25 and26 May 2012. The registration fee from the Bangladeshi participant will cover the conference volume, lunch and conference coffee on 25 and26 May 2011. All participants are invited to the Conference Dinner on26 May 2012.
• All participants will receive certificates.
• Last date of Registration is Thursday, 17 May, 2012.
• Early Bird Registration: By Thursday, 10 May, 2012 (10% discount on the total registration fee).

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Members   Prof. M Maniruzzaman | Prof. Shahinoor Rahman | Rumana Hossain | Jahurul Islam

Visit us at www.juenglish.com, or Facebook

Golam Rabbani | Shwagota Sayeed | Department of English, Jahangirnagar University