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Apr. 7 | MAASA Joint Conference—April, 2011
Joint conference on material culture, April 7-11, 2011, UW-Madison

Annual Meeting

Submitting a Proposal (Closed)

Annual Meeting: Call for Proposals
"Crisis, Chains, and Change: American Studies for the 21st Century," November 18-21, 2010, San Antonio, Texas

The 2010 ASA Program Committee invites colleagues in American Studies and all related disciplines to submit proposals for individual papers, entire sessions, presentations, performances, films, roundtables, workshops, conversations, or alternative formats described below on any topic dealing with American cultures, including topics in disciplines that have been under-represented in American Studies research and teaching.

Proposals must be submitted through the ASA's 2010 submission site. Follow the submission instructions precisely and start the application process early. Emailed or posted proposals will NOT be accepted. It is not possible to extend the submission deadline or accept late submissions for any reason. The submission site will automatically shut down at 11:59 PM (Pacific) on January 26, 2010.

Meeting Theme

The theme for the 2010 ASA Annual Meeting, to be held in San Antonio, Texas, is "Crisis, Chains, and Change: American Studies for the 21st Century."

Ever since 20 January 2009, the US has had one African American man serving a term in the White House and more than a million serving terms in the Big House. US prisons and jails hold more than two million prisoners, mostly of color, virtually all modestly educated women and men in the prime of their lives. In the midst of multiple global crises - war, finance capital, economies, climate change, hunger - it has come to this. What is it that this is? Change, surely. But what changed?

During the next few years the planet-wide struggle over remedy for crisis, and the attendant reconfiguration of social orders, will doubtless become deeper and broader in a range of sites and scales. In the midst of crisis what can American Studies do - as an association of scholars, and as both an intellectual and annual meeting-place for questions and methods that cut across disciplines, institutions, places, and material and conceptual boundaries? We know how to find things out. What do we know now?

While traditionally historians claim change as their specialty, in fact we all study change all the time. Specialists in narrative, culture, production, reproduction, ecology, political economy, and geopolitics encounter in their objects of analysis change, including what does not change.

The program invites participants to conceive of their work as the analysis of commodity and other chains in their fullest complexity - consumables, durables, FIRE (finance, insurance, and real estate) products, armaments, ideologies, aesthetic forms, narrative structure, analytical methods, life-ways, labor, people, migrations, rights, scale, space, garbage, carbons, deities, rules, group-differentiated vulnerability to premature death, justice. A chain is a process no less than a restraint, and every process is full of events - some repetitive and dreary, others exciting, all dynamic - which create along the way people, places, and things.

The program, thus, invites continued consideration of topics central to American Studies - indigeneity, gender, race, sexuality, laws and status, dispossession, documentation, wage and custom, boom and bust, primitive accumulation, love for and loathing of risk, and stretching or shrinking: states, glaciers, empires, horizons. We will be interested in projects that engage broadly with the ways ordinary people create power -- understood as the capacity to compel or help others do things they would not do on their own. Some examples are: alternative household formations, resistance to rent and mortgage evictions, workplace activism, communities that challenge polluting industries, informal economies, economic delinking, sitting in, sitting down, tossing shoes, sabotage, quilombos, queering politics, buying in, walking out, redefining sexuality and sovereignty, underground armies, implacable pacifism, territorial imperatives, total war. The goal is to identify in our various projects, among other things, specific dialectics of homogenization and differentiation, persuasion and action, space and place, structure and agency, metaphor and materiality, expression and explanation, crisis and whole ways of life. Why? So that we might ask how our understandings of "there" or "then" inform the distinct yet densely interconnected geographies of the present.

Scholars of all specialties, methods, places, and periods are urged to submit paper and panel proposals. Taking our cue from the ground, the meetings will be an opportunity to hear from a variety of trans-border activists working around immigration, the wall, femicides, maquiladoras, and other aspects of the US-Mexico border's political ecology. We anticipate special focus on convergences and divergences in the Americas, in Islam in the Americas and beyond, and in the Atlantic or Pacific worlds, and hope as well to highlight comparative methods. Meeting plenary sessions will be designed for discussion and debate on the socio-spatial, cultural, political, educational, and economic dimensions of crisis, chains, and change in the spasmodic context of neo-liberalism's death-throes. What comes next is anybody's guess, but we should be working on life after the "n" word now not later.

Proposal Submissions

We encourage you to consult Getting on the ASA Meeting Program: A Practical Guide before you submit a proposal.

Please carefully read the proposal submission requirements and guidelines below before proceeding to use the online submission site. Follow the submission instructions precisely and start the application process early. The help menu on each page of the submission site should answer your site related questions.

The ASA staff is eager to help people submit their sessions and papers, but that work is possible only when the staff is not pushed up against the deadline. Contact us at least 72 hours before the submission deadline if you need assistance. The ASA staff will respond to emailed questions until 2 PM (Pacific) on January 26, 2010 at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). It is not possible to extend the submission deadline or accept late submissions for any reason. The submission site will automatically shut down at 11:59 PM (Pacific) on January 26, 2010.

We accept proposals only through our online submission site. Emailed or posted proposals will NOT be accepted. To submit a proposal for a complete session or for an individual paper visit: http://convention2.allacademic.com/one/theasa/theasa10/index.php?

There are a number of ways that our membership could help both themselves and the program committee when using the on-line system. First, ASA guidelines clearly state that a member may appear only once on the program. When members do not heed this advice, they create more work for the program committee as well as jeopardize both of the panels for which they have committed themselves. Second, we encourage members who have agreed to participate in a panel or have submitted a paper not to then double register as commentator and chair. Third, ASA guidelines state that sessions should reflect institutional and disciplinary diversity. One of the benefits of attending a national conference is to interact with scholars from institutions and fields other than our own. So, when proposals arrived with presenters from only one institution or field they are less attractive to a program committee regardless of content. Finally, it is important to remember that the competition for these slots is extremely competitive.

Proposal Types

Proposals on any topic dealing with American Studies may be submitted for traditional paper sessions. Proposals may be submitted for sessions with alterative formats including sessions with papers and sessions without papers (see below). Proposals may also be submitted for individual papers.

Proposals for sessions with papers, including traditional paper sessions, as well as those in talk, online, or exhibit formats, should indicate in a one-page description the session subject/s and the proposed format. Such proposals should also include all relevant information requested below in the submission guidelines and instructions and must include abstracts for each individual presenter.

Proposals for sessions without papers, such as workshops, dialogues, and performances, should indicate in a one-page description the session subject/s and the proposed format. Such proposals should also include all relevant information requested below, though they need not include individual presenter abstracts.

Proposed presentations should represent work in progress, rather than published work. Presentations should offer unique, original work not presented elsewhere.

Standing Committee, Caucus, Taskforce, and Program Committee members are authorized and encouraged to submit session proposals. Proposals from organizations affiliated with the ASA are also welcome.

All Standing Committee, Caucus, Taskforce, Affiliated Society, and Program Committee member proposals must adhere to the same conditions, deadlines and restrictions as other session proposals, and are subject to review by the Program Committee.

Alternative Proposal Formats for San Antonio, Texas, 2010

The Program Committee supports innovative formats that disrupt the conventional "three people reading papers" format.

The Program Committee believes that we cannot think about new, powerful connections between the academy and the world if we use only conventional academic forms. The Committee is proposing, therefore, several formats different from conventional paper-reading sessions. The Committee urges you to consider them if they seem appropriate and useful.

In order to broaden the modes of presentation and discussion in the Annual Meeting program, we invite proposals in two broad categories of non-traditional formats:

A. Sessions with Papers.

Although these resemble conventional sessions in having a chair, presentation of papers to an audience, and commentary, papers in these sessions will not be read aloud, allowing more time for informed, informal, and engaged discussion. These sessions require an abstract.

"Talk" formatPresenters will write papers, as usual, and distribute them to the chair, commentator, and other panelists by the deadline. But in the session they will "talk" their paper from notes, speaking directly to the audience rather than reading line-by-line.

On-line format. Presenters will post their papers on the Internet one month before the meeting. These sessions will be prominently marked in the program as intended primarily for an audience that has read the papers in advance and followed whatever on-line discussion they may have generated. The session will be devoted to formal commentary and group discussion. The panel will set up the web site on their own server, post the online papers, and provide the forum for discussion of those papers. The ASA will publicize the on line sessions and install the links from the on line program to the panel's web site and discussion blog.

Exhibit format. Presenters will post their materials on a large bulletin board that can accommodate text pages in large type, graphics, primary source extracts, etc. Video and audio clips can also be used. These sessions will feature three or four such presentations grouped around a common theme. The first half of the session gives the audience time to read and discuss each exhibit with the presenters. The second half encourages group discussion, facilitated by a chair and commentators.

B. Sessions without Papers.

In past meetings, the ASA has already sponsored many kinds of alternative sessions: roundtables, conversations, performances, multi-media presentations, readings of creative work, workshops involving audience participation, and presentations linked to the community outside the hotel (community centers, museums, secondary schools, prisons, etc.). These formats will experiment with creative forms of expression, performance and dialogue that represent a significant departure to conventional presentations of papers.

Performative format. Presenters will perform their work. This could include the range of artistic performing arts (dance, music, drama, spoken word, performance art) to multi-media presentations (video, film, audio, digital media) and readings of creative fiction and non-fiction.

Dialogue format (Roundtables).Presenters will engage in dialogues with each other and the audience. Possible formats could include roundtables of academics; forums with scholars, community activists, mass or alternative media-makers and public officials; conversations between performing and/or visual artists, curators, and educators about aesthetic and expressive innovations or the challenges of developing public cultures in diverse communities. This format might be particularly well suited to creating linkages with the communities outside the hotel (community centers, performing arts centers, museums, secondary schools, prisons, libraries, and other public sites).

Workshop format. Presenters will create venues to verbally and physically interact with the audience. Educators, artists, and curators, for example, could lead these workshops to emphasize the interactive challenges and possibilities of interdisciplinarity and American Studies.

We are excited about the possibilities for San Antonio, Texas 2010. We hope you will join us in making this a stimulating, conversational, and useful conference for the American Studies Association and its members.

ASA Individual Paper Submission Instructions

All individual paper submitters will need the following:

Individual Paper Title (maximum of 15 words per title. Do not begin the title with quotes or other characters.)
Paper Abstract (maximum of 500 words per abstract)
Session Keywords
Special Requests
Individual Author information including: first name, last name, affiliation, e-mail address, and one page vitae.

Those submitting individual paper proposals will receive a confirmation e-mail that the paper has been submitted. The Program Committee will organize as many individual papers as possible into sessions. Individual paper submitters will each have to create a brand new user account at the convention submission site, even if he or she submitted last year, and the submitter can edit his or her personal information, paper titles, and abstracts. Proposals may be edited after submission only until January 26, 2010, but personal information may be updated at any time.

ASA Session Submission Instructions:

Session submitters will need the following:

Session Title (maximum of 15 words)
Session Abstract (maximum of 500 words)
Session Keywords
Special Requests
Individual Paper or Presentation Titles from each session participant (maximum of 15 words per title)
Paper Abstract from each session participant (maximum of 500 words per abstract) for sessions with papers only
Contact and biographical information from each session participant including: first name, last name, affiliation, e-mail address, and one page vitae

Standing Committee, Caucus, Task Force, Program Committee, and Affiliated Society proposals should indicate their sponsorship in the special requests box of the submission form.

The session submitter will receive a confirmation e-mail upon submission and will serve as the primary contact with panelists and the ASA. Session participants will each have (to create) a user account at the convention submission site http://convention2.allacademic.com/one/theasa/theasa10/index.php? and can access and edit only their affiliation and contact information. The session submitter is responsible for editing paper titles, abstracts, and vitae. The proposal may be accessed only through the session submitter's account. The submitter may edit the session proposal until January 26, 2010. Individuals may update their affiliation and contact information through their own user account at any time.

In the past one individual was permitted to organize numerous sessions so long as they were only participating in one session in accordance with the participation guidelines. This policy changed in 2009. SESSION ORGANIZERS ARE ONLY PERMITTED TO SUBMIT ONE PROPOSAL.

Submission Restrictions and Guidelines

Please note that each person is allowed to make and/or be listed as a participant on only one submission. The Program Committee reserves the right to eliminate from consideration those who submit and/or are listed as a participant on more than one proposal.

So that as many members as possible will have the opportunity to be actively involved in the Annual Meeting, participants will be strictly limited to one formal appearance in one session on the program. A person may not present a paper in one session and serve as a chair or commentator in the same session with papers or another session (with or without papers). Nor may a person serve as chair and/or commentator on more than one session at the same annual meeting. A session organizer may chair and present on the same session without papers. Those who otherwise have more than one appearance on a proposal or appear on two or more proposals will render those proposals ineligible for consideration by the Program Committee.

Sessions submitted without a chair will not be considered. A person may chair and comment on the same session.

If a panel has a commentator, he or she should not be the dissertation advisor of any member of the panel.

Session organizers should seek out a mix of junior and senior panelists, as well as a mix of institutions represented by faculty and graduate student panelists.

A major headache at all Annual Meetings is papers that go on for too long, wearying the audience and disrupting the schedule. Session organizers should make sure that their session begins on time, and that participants do not abuse the time limits. All sessions are 105 minutes in length. This includes the reading of papers, responses by the commentators and comments from the audience. When an audience has sat through a typical session of three papers and one response by a commentator, they quite rightly feel cheated and frustrated if no time is left for audience participation. The following chart can be used by the session chair as a guide to allocating time during the session, assuming that one takes five minutes for introductions.

Session Length	Number of Papers or Presentations	Time Allowed per Paper or Presentation	Time Allowed for a Single Commentator	Time Allowed for Audience Comments
105 minutes	3	20	20	20
105 minutes	4	16	16	20
105 minutes	5	13	15	20

Participation Requirements

The association expects that people agreeing to appear on the ASA program should recognize their professional responsibility to support the organization with their dues as well as conference registration fees.

All participants on the convention program must be listed on the ASA membership roll by May 1, 2010. If a program participant does not join the ASA by May 1, 2010, he or she will not be listed in the printed program book and should be replaced immediately.

All members of overseas affiliated societies may participate in the convention as full members, i.e., may pay member registration fees.

On occasion, non-academic participants or specially invited distinguished academic speakers may, with written permission of the Executive Director, be exempted from the membership requirement. Applications for exemption shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Director of ASA by April 30, 2010. These non-members, however, must register for the conference at the non-member rate.

All participants on the Convention program must pre-register for the Convention by June 1, 2010. If a program participant does not pre-register for the convention by June 1, 2010 he or she will not be listed in the printed program book and should be replaced immediately.

The Program Committee advises each participant of his or her professional and ethical obligation to appear, and also to locate suitable replacements in the event of an unavoidable withdrawal.

Fees and Funding

Participant Registration Fee (due on or before June 1, 2010):

ASA Member or International Affiliate $75.00
ASA Member or International Affiliate-Income under $15,000 $50.00
ASA Member-Student/K-12 Educator $25.00

Non-Member $100.00
Non-Member-Income under $15,000/year $75.00
Non-Member-Student/K-12 Educator $50.00

All participants are responsible for obtaining the funding they need to attend the Annual Meeting. Neither the ASA nor the Program Committee can underwrite travel funds, honoraria, per diem, or other subsidies for any chair, commentator, or panelist; breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, cocktail parties, receptions, and the like; professional or individual video tape recording of sessions or events.

Membership and registration fees are neither refundable nor transferable.

Forfeited registration fees will automatically transfer to the Baxter Travel Grant Fund. The Baxter Grants provide partial travel reimbursement to advanced graduate students who are members of the ASA and will travel to the convention in order to appear on the Annual Meeting program.

Audio-Visual Equipment

The ASA will supply all session rooms with a Digital Equipment Package. Included: LCD/multimedia data projector, with speakers, laptop (MS Powerpoint, CD, & DVD capable, PC but MAC compatible), screen, and on site technical support. Not included: live internet connection. If you want additional digital equipment, WIFI, or live internet connection you will have to rent it at your own expense. If you want to use analog equipment such as an Overhead Projector, Slide Projectors, or TV/VCR/DVD's, you will have to bring your own equipment or rent it at your own expense.

Program Decisions

The Program Committee will organize sessions from individual paper proposals and, on occasion, will combine individual papers with proposed full sessions. If your paper or panel is not accepted, the Committee may call upon you to play an alternative role at the meeting as a chair or commentator. To facilitate the Committee's work, please indicate on the online submission form whether you are willing to act as chair or commentator on another session. The Committee also invites self-nominations from ASA members to serve as chairs and commentators exclusively on sessions constructed from individual submissions.

After the January 26, 2010, deadline for submission of proposals, the Program Committee will meet to review the proposals and select the sessions to be held at the upcoming Annual Meeting. The Committee will approve proposals on the basis of their quality in relation to the others submitted. The Committee will also: attempt to include sessions on a wide variety of subjects and approaches, including scholarly, pedagogical, and professional subjects; consciously support the inclusion of panels focused on topics of concern to different minority groups; strive to balance its selections between topics of continuing interest and new topics to which little or no attention has been paid; look for sessions in which scholars in different fields engage one another on a common topic; and try to span different time periods and subject matters in sessions constructed from individual papers. There will be room for specialized sessions on particular subjects.

To avoid favoritism, the Committee will take care not to overload the sessions with faculty and graduate students from institutions represented by members of the Committee. This does not disallow members of the Committee from presenting papers. The Committee will make every effort to assure diverse representation through the inclusion of minorities, women, graduate students, and international colleagues, and will seek to reflect the regional and disciplinary diversity of the Association's membership.

Notification and Participation

Once the Committee has finalized the program, all persons who have submitted proposals will be notified in writing of the Committee's decisions. Session organizers are responsible for notifying the members of the proposed panel of the Program Committee's decision. If you do not receive an official letter or e-mail by April 30, 2010, please Contact us or e-mail the conference director at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The session chair will coordinate contact among the session participants to ensure maximum integration of presentations. Participants should send the session chair a brief biographical statement to be used in introductions.

If a session has a commentator, that session's participants must send copies of their completed papers to him or her by October 12, 2010

It is not possible to guarantee any session or panelist a day or time on the program. If notified by April 30, the Program Committee will try to honor requests not to schedule a presentation on a religious holiday.

No-Shows

The ASA reminds participants of their professional and ethical obligation to appear in person at their session at the annual meeting. No-shows are conspicuous in their absence. They inconvenience the chair and fellow presenters, as well as those attending their session. The American Studies Association defines a no-show as someone on the program who is not physically present at her/his session at the annual meeting and either (1) has not notified ASA in advance that s/he cannot attend the meeting by October 1, 2010, or (2) has not submitted a presentation to be read by the chair or another person at the meeting by October 1, 2010. No-shows will not be considered for the following year's program. If you notify ASA in advance or submit a presentation to be made by someone else at their session, you will not be penalized. You are responsible for finding your own alternative presenter.

Contact Us

For further information about the Call for Proposals, you may contact the Program Co-Chairs Ruth Wilson Gilmore, President-elect of the American Studies Association and Department of American Studies and Ethnicity, University of Southern California, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); Laura Liu, Department of Urban Studies, Eugene Lang College, New School University, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address); and Colleen Lye, Department of English, UC Berkeley, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)