Tulane University

Space and Identity: The Politics of Expression in Latin America

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Call for Papers

Extended Deadline: October 31, 2009
Submit abstracts to: LAGO

The Latin American Graduate Student Association (LAGO) of Tulane University invites you to submit an individual paper or a panel for our conference entitled “Space and Identity: The Politics of Expression in Latin America” to be held December 4-5, 2009.

The history of Latin American has maintained a legacy of struggle at the intersection of space and identity. The manifestation of this struggle has been expressed in various forms ranging from political, social mobilization, artistic expression, literary movements, and multifaceted trends in music and popular culture.

We welcome abstracts relating to the theme from all disciplines. Please submit a 250 word abstract (Microsoft Word format) that includes your name, phone number, paper title and institutional affiliation. Conference presentations may be up to 15 minutes in length.

Conference Details

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: JEAN FRANCO, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Professor Franco has been decorated by the governments of Mexico, Chile and Venezuela for her work on Latin American literature and has received awards from PEN and from the Latin American Studies Association for lifetime achievement. She has served as President of the Latin American Studies Association in both Great Britain and the United States. Some of her noted publications include:

The Modern Culture of Latin America (1967)
César Vallejo. The Dialectics of Poetry and Silence (1976)
An Introduction to Latin American Literature (1969)
Plotting Women. Gender and Representation in Mexico (1989)
Marcando diferencias. Cruzando Fronteras (1996)
The Decline and Fall of the Lettered City: Latin America and the Cold War (2001)

Preliminary Conference Program Coming Soon

Photo by Ph.D. Candidate Hilary Smith, Stone Center for Latin American Studies

Seventh Annual Tulane Maya Symposium & Workshop

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GREAT RIVER CITIES OF THE ANCIENT MAYA
February 26 – 28, 2010

The ancient lowland Maya civilization of Mexico and Central America is often celebrated for its achievements in an environment unique for its lack of rivers, unlike that of the ancient Egyptian, Sumerian, Indus, and Chinese civilizations. Nevertheless many major lowland Maya cities were indeed located along important rivers such as the Usumacinta, Pasión, Belize, Motagua, among others. These "River Cities" provided the rest of the Maya lowlands access to the resource-rich highlands to the south, as well as contact with to both the Caribbean and Gulf coasts. Moreover, they facilitated the movement of peoples throughout the region, allowed for critical movement and trading of exotic goods, and gave rise to innovative artistic and architectural styles. For these reasons, this conference will focus on how and why the great river cities of the ancient lowland Maya represent some of the most intriguing, opulent, and important segments of this civilization. Speakers at this year’s conference include: David Freidel, M. Kathryn Brown, Takeshi Inomata, Robert J. Sharer, Arthur A. Demarest, Charles Golden, Rodrigo Liendo Stuardo, Jason Yaeger, Nicholas Dunning, Marc Zender, Gabrielle Vail, Christine Hernandez, and Marcus Eberl.

The Middle American Research Institute [MARI] is organizing this year’s Seventh Annual Maya Symposium & Workshop with the collaboration of the Stone Center for Latin American Studies.