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Call for Papers
42nd Annual Convention, Northeast Modern Language Association
(NeMLA)
April 7-10, 2011
New Brunswick, NY – Hyatt New Brunswick
Host Institution: Rutgers University

The Spatial Turn in Literary Theory

Broadly construed as a major shift in focus and trajectory,
the so-called "spatial turn" describes a move away from questions
of time and chronology towards those of space and topography. In
recent years, a wide range of disciplines from the social
sciences to the humanities have turned to the relevance of space
(and topography) as constitutive of society, culture, and
knowledge.

We welcome proposals for interdisciplinary papers that critically
examine theoretical attempts to conceptualize spatiality, and
critically evaluate the significance of the spatial turn for
literary theory. At the same time we invite reflections of
spatial constructions in literary texts: In what ways do literary
texts conceptualize and sometimes transgress their own spatial
order, and how are these imaginary spaces related to theoretical
understandings of the spatial? Contributions may range from a
variety of disciplines, including but not limited to philosophy
(Kant, Descartes, Heidegger), psychoanalysis (Lacan, La topique
de l'imaginaire), phenomenology (Bachelard, La poétique de
l'espace), feminism (Kristeva's and Irigaray's revisions of
Plato's Chora), poststructuralism (Deleuze/Guattari, Mille
Plateaux; Foucault, Des Espaces autres), everyday culture
(Lefebvre, La production de l'espace and de Certeau, Pratiques
d'espace), anthropology (Augé, Non-Lieux), and the theory of
architecture (i.e. the collaboration between Jacques Derrida
and Peter Eisenman).

This seminar addresses the significance of the so-called
"spatial turn" for literary theory. We welcome proposals for
papers that examine theoretical attempts to conceptualize
spatiality, but are also interested in papers that focus on
specific spatial constructions in exemplary literary texts.
Please send 300-400 word abstract to Nicola Behrmann
(behrmannrci.rutgers.edu) or Julia Weber
(julia.weberfu-berlin.de)

Deadline: September 30, 2010

Please include with your abstract:
Name and Affiliation
Email address
Postal address
Telephone number
A/V requirements (if any; $10 handling fee with registration)

The 42nd Annual Convention will feature approximately 360
sessions, as well as dynamic speakers and cultural events.
Details and the complete Call for Papers for the 2011
Convention will be posted in June: www.nemla.org.

Interested participants may submit abstracts to more than
one NeMLA session; however panelists can only present one
paper (panel or seminar). Convention participants may
present a paper at a panel and also present at a creative
session or participate in a roundtable. Do not accept a
slot if you may cancel to present on another session.