Doris Lessing Receives 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature

Rhodesia-born British author Dorris Lessing was awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature and her publisher delivered her Nobel Address this past Friday. Lessing's Nobel lecture addressed the current political situation of the country of her birth, now called Zimbabwe.

"Our organisation got books from where we could, but remember that a good paperback from England cost a month's wages: that was before Mugabe's reign of terror. Now with inflation, it would cost several years' wages."

Click here to read the full text of Lessing's address, which also concerns storytelling and a life with books.

The Coen Bros on Charlie Rose

American author Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel No Country for Old Men has been adapted into a film by the Coen Brothers and is playing in theaters now. They recently discussed the problems of adapting the novel with Charlie Rose.

Northeast Modern Language Association Summer Fellowship!

This fellowship opportunity comes with one string attached--namely, NeMLA membership. Affordable, though, as for students, membership costs $39; for faculty, $79. Click the link below for information on what the application entails.

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NeMLA is committed to supporting research and teaching of the modern languages -- in particular the research of our members. As a member of NeMLA, you are eligible to apply for NeMLA's research fellowships:

NeMLA Summer Fellowship
The NeMLA Summer Fellowship Program is designed to support primarily untenured junior faculty, graduate students, and independent scholars. This does not preclude senior faculty from applying. The $1,000 Fellowships are intended to defray the cost of traveling incurred by researchers in pursuing their work-in-progress over the summer
Deadline: All application materials must be received by February 22, 2008
E-mail submission: mabee@oakland.edu . Hard copy submission:

Prof. Barbara Mabee
Dept. of Modern Languages and Literatures
Oakland University
Rochester, MI 48309.

Full details: http://www.nemla.org/awards/fellowship.html

The Northeast Modern Language Association (NEMLA) is a scholarly
organization for professionals in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish,
and other modern languages.

War is Hell - Call for Papers at McGill

“Writing War”: Literary Explorations of Conflict
McGill University, Montréal
14th Annual Graduate Conference on Language and Literature
March 28-30, 2008

The English Graduate Students Association of McGill University is pleased to announce its 14th annual Graduate Conference on Language and Literature, and is seeking papers on the theme “‘Writing War’: Literary Explorations of Conflict”. The conference will be held in Montréal, Canada, on March 28 - 30, 2008.

GENERAL CALL FOR PAPERS:

The conference title, “Writing War”, is taken from Margot Norris’s book Writing War in the Twentieth Century (Charlottesville, VA: UP of Virginia, 2000), in which the author explores the failure of twentieth century literature to put an end to the global conflicts that continued
even after the end of the Cold War. Now well into the twenty-first century, where global conflict abounds, the question “to what end do we write war?” continues to be asked of academics and the public alike. With this question in mind, the conference seeks to understand and reconcile the many roles of war literature: as historical documentation, memorialization, propaganda, and even as an expression of agency. Although Norris’s book focuses on twentieth century literature, we invite and encourage papers about writing as early as Beowulf, on a broad array of topics relating to war and literature.

Possible topics include:

- militarism in literature
- literature as propaganda
- mythic battles
- war and the construction/representation of gender
- war and the representation of personhood
- the representation of war in science-fiction
- literature as commemoration or memorialization
- women and war
- narratives of the homefront
- narratives of shell-shock and other trauma
- artistic reactions to war
- epic as genre
- wartime ephemera as literary text
- testimonials, archives, and/or diary writing as documents of war
- war literature as nation-building project
- reportage of war
- recuperation of lost voices through war literature
- the ethics of writing war

Please send proposals (300 words) for the General Call for Papers via
email to either Michèle at michele.rackham_at_mail.mcgill.ca
or Caroline at caroline.krzakowski_at_mail.mcgill.ca by January 15, 2008.

Another Call for Papers -

Submissions for a Conference on the Future or Rhetoric and Composition at Hofstra University are due January 10, 2008.

You can view a video of Prof. Hesse's 2005 presentation here.

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“Who Owns Writing? Revisited

October 16–18, 2008

A Conference on the Future of Rhetoric and Composition at Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York

In his 2005 CCCC plenary address, Douglas Hesse asked “Who owns writing?” noting that ownership comprises both control and responsibility. In revisiting this question, we invite participants to consider what our discipline might aspire to own and on what terms. Given the redefinition of the nature of writing instruction in Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) and Writing in the Disciplines (WID) programs, the growing number of free-standing writing programs, and widespread national and institutional changes in liberal arts education, we want to consider what writing instruction and programs might look like in the near and distant
future. For this conference we seek individual papers and panels that address issues of pedagogical practices, research methodologies in the disciplines, changes in institutional structures and other matters pertinent to the future of the teaching of writing in higher education.

Please send abstracts of no more than 500 words and a curriculum vitae to the address listed below. If you are submitting a full panel, please include an abstract and CV for each member of the panel. Panels should not have more than four speakers.

The Joseph G. Astman Distinguished Conference Scholar and Keynote
Speaker:

Professor Douglas Hesse
Director, Marisco Writing Program and Professor of English, University of
Denver

Please submit paper/panel proposals by January 10, 2008 to:

Professor Ethna Lay
Professor Jennifer Rich
Hofstra University
Department of English and Freshman Composition
204 Mason Hall
124 Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York 11549-1240

Electronic submissions may be sent to: whoownswriting@hofstra.edu

Call for Papers: PCEA 2008 Annual Conference

The Pennsylvania College English Association is hosting a conference in April on American literature with an added bonus: a Best Paper Student Competition. Details follow. Note that it is required that those who submit are required to join PCEA, but don't let that dismay you, as dues are only $10 for a student membership. Visit their website to join.

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Pennsylvania College English Association (PCEA)
2008 Annual Conference
April 10-12, 2008
Ramada Inn and Conference Center
1450 South Atherton Street
State College, PA 16801
(814) 238-3001
Room rate: $76 plus tax

Celebrating American Literature

PCEA invites faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and independent scholars and writers to submit abstracts of 300 words or less proposing a panel or individual presentation. While this year’s conference theme celebrates American literature (honoring Fred Lewis Pattee, Penn State English Professor, who helped establish American literature as a field worthy of study in its own right), proposals in any area of literary, film, and composition studies are welcome. Both pedagogical and theoretical proposals are encouraged, as are proposals to present original creative writing. To preserve time for discussion, PCEA limits all presentations to 15 minutes. Presenters must join PCEA in order to participate.

Student Contest

Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to compete for the Best Paper Award, which is given by PCEA in three categories—critical, creative poetry, creative prose—and carries a small monetary prize. Students who compete must be PCEA members. Award winners will be considered for publication in PCEA's journal, Pennsylvania English.

To compete, submit 3 copies of the completed work by regular mail no later than February 1, 2008, to Ms. Jackie Atkins, at the address below. The student's name should be removed from the work; a cover sheet with the student's name, educational affiliation, year in school or graduate student level (master's or doctoral candidate), and contact information should be
included.

Submissions of critical work should be the equivalent of a conference paper, including notes and works cited. For creative work, submit 10-15 pages of double-spaced prose (fiction or creative nonfiction) or 4-6 poems. No mixed genre submissions, please. Students who wish to present their work at the conference must submit separately. Faculty members of PCEA are asked to encourage students who have written strong critical or creative work to
submit to the contest and/or the conference.

Submission

Please include your name, affiliation (if any), address, phone number, e-mail address, proposal title, AV needs, and any special needs. Send this information and your abstract to:

Ms. Jackie Atkins
Penn State DuBois
301 E. DuBois Ave.
DuBois, PA 15801
jkatkins@psu.edu (preferred)

Students should keep in mind that they must submit their work for the contest separately and via regular mail as discussed above.

Deadline

February 1, 2008

Keynote Speaker

William Heyen, Professor Emeritus at SUNY Brockport; author of The Swastika Poems, Hummingbird Corporation: Stories, and many other works of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction; National Book Award finalist

For additional information, visit the PCEA website at
http://www.english.iup.edu/pcea/.

Yet another contest - $50

The Brooklyn College Division of Student Affairs is offering a drawing for simply responding to a question. By e-mail. Couldn't be easier, huh?

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Respond and you will be entered into a drawing for prizes worth up to $50 each. Three winners will be chosen.

If you could improve or add something to student life at BC, what would it be and how do you think it could be done?

E-mail your response to studentaffairs@brooklyn.cuny.edu by Thursday, December 13, 2007.

Brooklyn College Library Contest -- Win $500

You only have a few days left to enter the Brooklyn College Library Contest. First prize is $500! Details below.

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To celebrate the debut of its online art catalogue, http://library.brooklyn.cuny.edu/art/index.html the Brooklyn College Library is sponsoring a contest with a $500 award. Enter the contest by submitting a response to any work(s) of art in the Brooklyn College Library. The award, endowed by Maria and Archie Rand, will be given to the creator(s) of one exceptional response.

1. The prize is open to all Brooklyn College undergraduate and graduate students who possess a valid ID. The prize is $500.

2. Each person may submit only one entry.

3. Submissions may be presented in any medium: essays, poems, short stories, musical compositions, films, photographs, and art work (still or moving) are all welcome.

4. Entries that can be submitted electronically should be emailed to Professor Miriam Deutch, miriamd@brooklyn.cuny.edu. Entries that cannot be submitted electronically should be Room 412 in the Library between 9am and 5pm, Monday-Friday.

5. The student's name, telephone number, address and e-mail should be on a separate page and attached to the work. Joint submissions should include this information for each person. If a joint submission is awarded the prize, the prize money will be paid in equal portions to each of the persons listed on the information sheet attached to the submitted entry.

6. All entries must be received by December 10, 2007.

7. The judges' decision is final.

8. Works will be judged by a panel of professors from the Library, Art, Music, and English Departments. A judge will recuse himself/herself if an entrant is enrolled in his/her classes.

9.The award will be announced in February 2008.

Spring Class Schedule is Online!

The schedule for Spring 2008 is online now. Click here to view.

Descriptions of English course listings are available here.

Registration begins December 4th.

Course descriptions for CUNY courses offered through the Graduate Center are also available online, and may be accessed by clicking here.

Graduate English Committee presents: Ingmar Bergman's Persona

The Graduate English Committee (GEC) is a new student organization for fostering a social yet academically focused community amongst M.A. English, M.F.A. Creative Writing and M.A. English Teacher students.

The GEC is hosting a screening of Ingmar Bergman's 1966 classic Persona on Thursday, November 29th in room 3146 Boylan Hall. The film will begin after Thursday night classes (8pm-ish) with some introductory comments from students. The film is a little under an hour and a half so you can get home at a reasonable time. Some refreshment provided but feel free to bring your own snacks and drinks.

From the imdb.com description:

“A young nurse, Alma, is put in charge of Elisabeth Vogler: an actress who is seemingly healthy in all respects, but will not talk. As they spend time together, Alma speaks to Elisabeth constantly, never receiving any answer. Alma eventually confesses her secrets to a seemingly sympathetic Elisabeth and finds that her own personality is being submerged into Elisabeth's persona.”

Persona
Thursday 29 November 2007
3146 Boylan Hall
8pm

E-mail gec.brooklyn@gmail.com for information and to sign up for the mailing list.

Spring GIP Grants Available

The Graduate Investment Program, through the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, has announced that they are accepting applications for GIP Research and Travel Grants. These grants allow Master's level students to solicit funds for research materials and travel necessities. Several BC English students received GIP grants during the fall semester (stay tuned for details from these students on their research projects), and all it takes is filling out a simple application. You should have received information through your e-mail regarding eligibility requirements and application materials, but if not, these e-mails are reproduced below. If you have questions about how to proceed, contact your friendly blog host for information.

Please Note: The deadline is FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14th!

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Solicitation for Research Funds for Masters-Level Students, Winter 2007/2008

The Dean of Research and Graduate Studies announces the availability of research funds for master's students. The funds will allow masters-level graduate students to purchase items/supplies beneficial to their academic progress in their degree program.

This program has been made possible by the City University of New York in an effort to improve services to graduate students through the Graduate Investment Program (GIP). The college has the opportunity to help graduate students to enrich their graduate experience by encouraging them to participate in research related to their academic studies.

Qualifying applicants must be matriculated graduate students with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or above. Students requesting funding for Intersession/Early Spring semester must be registered for classes in the Spring, 2008 semester.

Applicants must have completed a minimum of six (6) Brooklyn College graduate credits in the program in which they are currently registered.

Graduate Investment Program funds can not be applied towards items previously purchased. Please review the materials you are requesting so that they are what you really need for your project. If your application is approved, only the items from your initial request may be purchased. Certain equipment such as cameras, software licenses and other permanent items will remain the property of the student's department once the project is complete.

Students may receive the GIP Research Award no more than twice.

Both the Research Request and the Research Application can be downloaded from the following link:

https://login.brooklyn.cuny.edu/portalcontent/xml/gip/GIP_Research_request.pdf
https://login.brooklyn.cuny.edu/portalcontent/xml/gip/GIP_Research_Application.pdf

Applications are also available in the Dean's Office of Research and Graduate Studies room 3238 Boylan Hall.

Submission of an application does not guarantee approval.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY DECEMBER 14TH, 2007- Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Applications can be filed in person or via fax or email

Applications can be mailed to:
Brooklyn College
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn ,NY 11210
Attn: Ms. Jennifer De Palma
Room 3238 Boylan Hall

Fax Number: (718) 951-4727
Email: depalma@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Solicitation for Travel Funds for Masters-Level Students, Winter 2007/2008
(There will be another solicitation later in the Spring semester)

The Dean of Research and Graduate Studies announces the availability of travel funds for master's students. The funds permit masters-level graduate students to further their academic and professional development by participating in conferences that are directly related to their field of study at Brooklyn College. The travel program is intended primarily to assist students in attending established professional conferences. Travel related to thesis research may be requested, but will require a strong justification and a clearly specified need.

The travel program has been made possible by the City University of New York in an effort to improve services to graduate students through the Graduate Investment Program (GIP).

Qualifying applicants must be matriculated graduate students with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or above. Students requesting funding for Intersession/Early Spring semester must be registered for classes in the Spring, 2008 semester.

Preference will be given to students who are presenting at conferences.

Applicants must have completed a minimum of 6 (six) Brooklyn College graduate credits in the prorgram in which they are currently registered.

2. Applicants must include with their application a recommendation letter from their faculty advisors or graduate deputies.

3. Applicants presenting at a professional conference must submit a letter of acceptance from the conference committee along with their application.

4. All applicants must submit a statement of about 100 words describing at least three objectives they wish to achieve by attending the conference.
Applicants must also include in their statements how this conference/travel will benefit their academic studies.

5. A brochure advertising the conference must be attached.

6. Applicants must attach a preliminary itemized budget listing the following travel expenses. The budget must include estimated costs for each category of expense. The failure to develop an itemized budget may lead to rejection of the request:
-- Transportation (describe the specific mode of transportation)
-- Lodging for single occupancy
-- Conference and/or Registration Fees
-- Meals. Indicate whether or not you are requesting reimbursement for meals. Costs for meals will be added to your request at an approved daily rate, based on location and the duration and schedule for the trip.

Please note: The sum provided by the GIP Travel Award is not intended to fund the entire trip. Funding amount is based on the number of applicants and the available funds. Students may receive the GIP Travel Award no more than twice.

Both the travel request and the travel application can be downloaded from the following link:

https://login.brooklyn.cuny.edu/portalcontent/xml/gip/GIP_Travel_Request.pdf
https://login.brooklyn.cuny.edu/portalcontent/xml/gip/GIP_Travel_Application.pdf

Applications will also be available in the Dean's Office of Research and Graduate Studies, room 3238 Boylan Hall.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2007- Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Applications can be filed in person or by fax or mail.

Applications can be mailed to:
Brooklyn College
2900 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11210
Attn: Ms. Jennifer De Palma- Coordinator of Graduate Student Services
Room 3238 Boylan Hall

Fax Number: (718) 951-4727
Email: depalma@brooklyn.cuny.edu

Graduate Center Workshops

From the Office of the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies:

The Office of the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies is pleased to offer the Fall 2007 series of academic workshops.

THE GRADUATE STUDENTS LECTURE SERIES
Lecture series showcasing Graduate Students Wed. Dec. 6th
Speaker: Anselma Rodriguez, Convener
Place: Woody Tanger Auditorium, Library
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

YOUR SUCCESS IS IMPORTANT TO US!!!!!!!!!!!

Visit our website at: http://depthome.brooklyn.cuny.edu/gradstudies/

Or E-mail us at: grad@brooklyn.cuny.edu

The workshops include Mastering Your Road to Success, Taking the Comprehensive Exam. Thesis Writing and Research and Bridges to the Doctorate. The workshops involve faculty interacting with students, providing information on a variety of academic questions and problems.