CALL FOR PAPERS: Stereotypes in Literatures and Cultures

21-22 November 2008

Institutions involved: Azerbaijan Comparative Literature Association and Baku Slavic University
Submission Deadline: May 15
Notification of acceptance: the end of May - early June

Azerbaijan Comparative Literature Association and Baku Slavic University welcome papers, panel and roundtable proposals from scholars and doctoral students for interdisciplinary conference to be held at the Baku Slavic University on November 21 to 22, 2008.
This conference aims to bring together scholars from both the West and the East, with some various understanding and views to nations and cultures, offering a broad picture of current literary and cultural studies. Paper proposals are not confined only to the plenary themes, but also may cover any conceivable aspect of the field, from empirical research to issues of theory and investigation method. We invite participants from all areas and on all topics of relevance to Literary and Cultural Studies with special focus on Stereotypes and Nations.

We welcome proposals in the following categories, especially with pro and cons papers:

1. Individual papers
2. Panel sessions
3. Roundtable discussions

Research questions are, but not limited, to the following questions:

• How does stereotypes influence on perception of nation, culture and literature both inside and outside?
• How this question distributed in the period of crashed empires as Soviet Union, Yugoslavia:
• What is the nation? How does the definition of the nation change throughout the history?
• In this context, what is the national literature? What we share with “others”?
• Where are the borders between “own” and “others” elements in literature and culture?
• What is the national culture? How do the contours of national culture shape?
• Nation from “inside” and “outside”.

The scope of proposals may extend to any issues and approaches of the above-mentioned themes and questions.
Working languages of the conference are Azerbaijani, Russian and English.
Financial support for participants: The conference committee will be able to pay the costs for accommodation.

Applicants should submit proposal of 1500 words along with following information
attachment with:
Title of the paper
Name
Institutional affiliation
E-mail
Postal address
Brief Bio
till May 15 to e-mail addresses:

bakslavuniver@hotmail.com
rahilya_g@hotmail.com or
conference2008@azcla.com