Past Events

Call for Papers:

Eastern American Studies Association

The Eastern American Studies Association is sponsoring a conference with the theme “Tradition and Innovation in American Culture” in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31, 2012. New Brunswick is the county seat of Middlesex County and the home of Rutgers University. It is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, 27 miles southwest of Manhattan on the southern bank of the Raritan River. New Brunswick is noted for its rich ethnic heritage. At one time, one quarter of the Hungarian population in New Jersey resided in the city. Today, much of that Hungarian community continues to thrive as well as a growing Hispanic community.

The conference will be held at the Rutgers Continuing Studies Conference Center, nestled on 21 beautiful wooded acres in the heart of the Rutgers campus. It is an ideal location for a small meeting such as ours. Surrounded in tranquility, the Center features guest rooms thoughtfully designed to provide comfort while attending the meeting. No need to drive back and forth between a hotel and the conference. All guest rooms include a separate workspace, ample lighting and high speed wireless Internet access. The Center plays home to sun-washed dining room surrounded by a panoramic view of the lawns and woods. Here, we will enjoy all our meals during the conference.

Proposals are invited for presentations that give interdisciplinary perspectives on “Tradition and Innovation in American Culture.” Tradition, of course, is the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction. Innovation, on the other hand, is the introduction of something new. The binary oppostion of tradition and innovation is a concept quite familiar to folkorists, but it can be readily applied to ideas in the realm of popular culture and elite culture as well.

Graduate students should identify their status and program/school affiliation when making submissions. Accepted graduate students will be encouraged to submit their final papers electronically several weeks prior to the conference, so as to be considered for the Simon J. Bronner Award for the outstanding graduate paper in American Studies. During the luncheon ndear the conclusion of the conference, the award is presented along with the Francis Ryan Award for Undergraduate Research.

Submit abstracts and resumes no longer than two pages to “EASA Conference” at agillespie @amst.rutgers.edu before January 10, 2012. For more information, call the American Studies Department at Rutgers University at 732.932.9174.

• American Studies Students Map Local New Jersey Monuments at http://amstmonuments.wordpress.com/