1)
My Panels: I’ve had the
great opportunity to put together and chair three panels at the 2014
conference: one right in my scholarly wheelhouse, on literary and cultural
images of the river in America; and two roundtables on vital 21st
century topics about which I have as much to learn as anyone: the place of
classical tradition in the digital writing classroom; and how an organization
like NeMLA can better serve adjunct and contingent faculty members. I can’t
wait for all three conversations!
2)
George Saunders: For many
years, thanks to those two future AmericanStudiers pictured above, I’ve had to
dart in and out of conferences, rarely able to stay for much beyond my own
panels or events. But as the NeMLA 2nd VP, I’ll be staying for the
whole of the 2014 conference, and that means I’ll get to attend the Thursday
evening reading that opens the conference—a reading that happens to feature one
of the contemporary writers whose work I’m most anxious to learn more about, George Saunders!
3)
Exploring the City: Like
many Americans cities these days, Harrisburg has had its well-publicized
recent struggles; but it’s also one of the most
historic American spaces, and one for which, I’m quite sure, the narratives
of decline don’t begin to tell the whole story. So for past and present
reasons, and as am AmericanStudier who takes
a great deal away from every place I visit, I can’t wait to spend some time
getting to know Harrisburg.
4)
Hartford Community
Connections: I’ve written
before in this space about one of my central goals for my 2016 NeMLA
conference—to find ways to connect the conference to the city, not just in
terms of daytrips or the like but also through genuine and hopefully lasting
efforts to contribute in at least small ways to the community hosting our
gathering. Like Harrisburg, Hartford has had its share of struggles, and is
working to rebuild and rebound—but I also worry that such efforts tend to focus
more on the commercial and tourism and less on the area toward which I hope I
can focus NeMLA’s efforts: the public
school system. Any thoughts on particular ways we could focus those efforts
would be much appreciated!
5)
Hartford and the CEM: I’m
also very interested in Hartford’s past, and most especially in one
particularly under-remembered part of that history: the decade or so during
which Hartford hosted Yung
Wing’s Chinese Educational Mission.
One of my public scholarly dreams is to help create a historic site dedicated
to the CEM, which was one of the most unique yet also exemplary spaces and
ideas in American history. And what better time to think about such efforts
than while I plan a conference to be held in the CEM’s host city? Again, any
and all thoughts and suggestions on how to raise awareness for this kind of
historic, cultural site in a community would be very welcome!
Next series starts Monday,
Ben
PS. NeMLA connections you’d share?
Other organizations or conferences you’d highlight?
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