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Department of English
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356 Bachelor Hall
Miami University
Oxford, OH 45056
tel:513.529.5221
fax: 513.529.1392
english@muohio.edu

This page last updated
March 17, 2008

Miami’s English Graduate and Adjunct Association’s Symposium

Contested Histories

The fifth annual symposium will be held Saturday, March 29th, 2008 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in the Great Room of MacMillan Hall.

Historian Gerda Lerner asks, “Why does history matter?” We find that answering this question necessitates a collective and cross–disciplinary discussion, and we extend this question to include critical inquiries into what constitutes history—inquiries theoretically grounded in diverse research practices and methodologies. We specify our theme, “Contested Histories,” not as a call to further divide ourselves through differences but as a call to build a dialogic and contextual understanding of how various histories speak to and inform one another—and to conceptualize how seemingly disparate threads link together and become the bodies of knowledge that we refer to as History. Even within academic disciplines, disputing history complicates notions of community, truth, and knowledge.

We invite you to share your reflections on these complications with an interdisciplinary community at our fifth annual symposium, which will be held March 29, 2008, at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. We encourage proposals that question and analyze ideas fundamental to “Contested Histories.” It is our hope that the symposium will promote conversations that blur disciplinary borders as we examine practices and possibilities surrounding existing notions of history. The conference theme asks participants to reconsider history and confront the effects of histories across academic disciplines. We welcome individual and panel proposals from all departments as well as from persons not affiliated with any academic institution.

Presentations might address but certainly are not limited to the following questions concerning contested histories:

Or your presentation may address one of the following broad themes related to contested histories:

Along with proposals for traditional academic paper presentations, we encourage proposals for non–traditional presentations including performances, multimedia, discussion formats, interactive sessions, poster presentations, and video. This year, we are also offering work–in–progress roundtable feedback sessions. These informal sessions will allow you to ask questions and receive feedback from peers and professors concerning your project ideas, full or partial drafts, research questions, etc.

To submit Proposals:

Download the form (Word format | PDF format).

E-mail completed forms to toomeyms@muohio.edu or mail a hard copy of your form by February 15, 2008.

If mailing, please send to the following address:

Melissa Toomey
English Department
356 Bachelor Hall
Miami University
Oxford, Ohio 45056

Official acceptance invitations will be sent to presenters electronically by March 1, 2008.

Questions or comments regarding the symposium may be directed via e-mail to the following committee members:

Ann Updike (updikeas@muohio.edu)
Melissa Toomey (toomeyms@muohio.edu)

Symposium Schedule | Registration | Driving Directions, Parking & Maps  | Lodging | For Presenters