“The Marginalized”

Deadline for abstracts: February 28, 2010

Replies will be posted by April 30, 2010

(No abstracts will be accepted after the deadline)

In a globalized world, which is, paradoxically, also a world of growing dissent, marginalized groups with diverse ideological mindsets are likely to emerge on various levels. Women find themselves at the periphery of an oppressive patriarchal society, ethnic groups endure diasporic mobility to flee political subjugation, and the wretched at the bottom of the social ladder lack their bare necessities, to mention but a few of the groups. In such instances, the marginalized is relegated to the periphery of the dominant authority, against which s/he struggles so as to assert his/her position.

The Symposium seeks to explore the dynamics of various marginalized voices, as it is concerned with what Bill Ashcroft et al. call “discourses of marginality.” It is interested in readings of marginality in both literary and linguistic studies. Papers submitted must be original, unpublished, and not previously presented at any other conference.

Proposed topics include, but are not restricted to, the following:

§ Literature of the diaspora

§ Resistance literature

§ Prison literature

§ Immigrant literature

§ Hybridity in language and literature

§ ‘Englishes’

§ Gender studies

§ Oral literature

§ Children’s literature

§ New forms & the mainstream (e.g. graphic novels, blogs, e-literature, etc.)

§ Popular culture

§ Visual culture

Presentations may be in one of the following forms: papers (20 minutes), workshops (45 or 90 minutes), and poster sessions.

The languages of the Symposium are English and Arabic.

Fees:

USD 300 for non-Egyptian participants

LE 300 for Egyptian participants and foreign residents

The above fees include registration, 2 social and cultural events, and—if paper is accepted—publication in The Proceedings.

§ LE 50 for attendance only

§ Free admission for students.

Please complete the form below and send it to the following address: cairosymposium@yahoo.com.

The Tenth International Symposium on Comparative Literature

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Abstract (300 words):*

* Abstracts must be submitted in English along with an Arabic translation (non-Arab presenters are exempted from Arabic translation).