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Papers and Presentations Invited for Delta Symposium XXV

08/24/2018

JONESBORO – The Department of English, Philosophy and World Languages at Arkansas State University has opened a call for papers and presentations to be given at the 25th annual Delta Symposium, which is scheduled for Wednesday through Saturday, April 10-13, 2019.

The theme will be "Dislocation and the Delta," according to Dr. Gregory Hansen, professor of English and folklore, and chair of the symposium committee.

At the annual symposium, speakers present a variety of scholarship that focuses on the Delta’s history and culture. Individual and panel presentations on topics relevant to the history and culture of the Arkansas and Mississippi Deltas and surrounding regions are encouraged.

"The focus is on how people have been dislocated from their own communities as well as on ways that dislocated people have come to live in the region," Hansen said.  "Papers may explore a range of topics that are relevant to historical dislocations, such as the dislocation of people in connection to the early 20th century’s great migration. The symposium will provide opportunities to explore the social, cultural and political implications of contemporary dislocations."

The Delta Symposium is open to work from multidisciplinary approaches including literary criticism, cultural studies, history, anthropology, folklore, ethnomusicology, sociology, speech communication and heritage studies. 

Proposals with a direct connection to Arkansas and the Delta are especially welcome, while more general proposals that address this year's symposium theme and Southern history and culture will be carefully considered.

As in recent years, the four-day symposium will conclude with the annual Roots Music Festival, which is supported by KASU, the university's public broadcasting service.

The complete call for papers is online.

The deadline for entries is Dec. 17.  Each entry should consist of presenter’s name and affiliation, a 150-word abstract of the presentation; contact information including address, telephone and email; technical needs; and one or two-page vita.

Entries and inquiries may be directed to the Delta Symposium Committee, c/o Dr. Gregory Hansen, chair, Arkansas State University, Dept. of English, Philosophy and World Languages, P.O. Box 1890, State University, AR 72467, or ghansen@AState.edu, (870) 972-3043.

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