Southeast Asians in the Diaspora Conference
Call for Proposals
Location: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign,
Date: 15-16 April 2008
Submission Deadline: Postmarked or Emailed by 16 November 2007.
This two-day conference examines the emerging field of Southeast Asian/ American studies, which because of specific histories of colonialism and imperialism, has produced subjects and objects of analysis that confound categories of diaspora, citizenship, and affiliation. Studies of the Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese diasporas investigate and trouble the structuring effects of Cold War geopolitics; while studies of Hmong, Mien, Cham, and other stateless ethnicities necessarily reconsider the bases for global and local practices of identification as well as strategic claims to rights and resources.
Given this, the field foregrounds important epistemological and methodological shifts that productively disrupt the analytic conventions of area studies, American studies, ethnic studies, and Asian American studies. Thinking across these fields, Southeast Asian/American studies fulfills the intellectual and political promise of what Kandice Chuh imagines as “studies in comparative racialization and intersectional projects that deliberately unravel seemingly stable distinctions among identificatory categories and disciplinary divisions.” Complicating the examination of nationalisms and transnationalisms, Southeast Asian/American studies questions the circulation of, the negotiation with, or challenges to the knowledge regimes of U.S. nation and empire.
In order to explore the dissolution of disciplinary distinctions and the complexities of intersectional analyses, we are soliciting papers, panels, roundtables, workshops, films, videos, readings, and performances. Submissions are open to scholars, artists, and community members. This is an interdisciplinary event welcoming individual and panel proposals from a wide variety of disciplines including, but not limited to, queer studies, literature, history, sociology, art history, visual cultures, political science, ethnic studies, women’s and gender studies, performance studies, cultural studies, postcolonial studies, Asian studies and area studies, the performing arts, film or video making, writing, and community activism and leadership. Participants will be informed of acceptance in December 2007.
The conference is being held to coincide with the Association of Asian American Studies (AAAS) conference in Chicago, 16-20 April 2008. As a note, AAAS does have limited funding for which graduate students may apply.
Panel or Roundtable Proposal
1. A one-page description of your panel or roundtable
2. One-page abstracts of each paper or presenter
3. One-page CV from each presenter, the panel chair, and/or
the discussant or facilitator
4. AV needs
5. Contact information for each participant
Individual Paper Proposal
1. A one-page abstract of your paper
2. One-page CV
3. AV needs
4. Contact information
Performance, Reading, Video or Film Proposal
1. A one-page description of your project
2. A one-page artist resume
3. If a film, video, or performance, send a sample video or
DVD, if available (this can be returned to you upon request)
4. AV needs
5. Contact information
Please mail all materials to
or
Asian American Studies Program
1208 W. Nevada St., MC-142
Urbana, IL 61801
Contact:
Fiona I.B. Ngô OR Mimi Nguyen
(217) 265-6240
For updates and more information:
http://www.aasp.uiuc.edu/SEAsianDiaspora
Fiona I.B. Ngô
Asian American Studies Program and
Gender and Women’s Studies Program
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
1208 W. Nevada St., MC-142
Urbana, IL 61801
SANACS 