CHALLENGES OF THE POST-TRUTH ERA IN AMERICAN STUDIES
30TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE POSTGRADUATE FORUM (PGF) OF THE GERMAN ASSOCIATION FOR AMERICAN STUDIES (GAAS/DGFA)
Since its inception in 1989, the PGF has been a platform for early career researchers in the field of American studies to present their current work and engage in critical conversations with scholars working in similar fields. The organizers of the 2019 Postgraduate Forum are pleased to announce the call for papers for the 30th anniversary conference hosted at the University of Passau from December 5-7, 2019.
Find the Call for Papers here.
CONFERENCE FORMAT
In addition to the regular panels, a poster session, the annual PGF conference meeting, and a Q&A with the editors of the COPAS journal (Current Objectives of Postgraduate American Studies), we want to provide participants with further opportunities to take part in group discussions and strengthen their social networks by offering two interactive workshop sessions, during which we will engage with the fundamental skills and practices of our field. In a session on “Critical Theory and Practice in American Studies,” we invite all interested participants to discuss a previously circulated secondary text on a topic, theme, or theoretical approach relevant across all disciplines of American Studies. We welcome suggestions for such a text or topic. The workshop “Teaching Media Literacy in American Studies” will be led by experts from the University of Passau’s interdisciplinary research project on teacher training (SKILL), who will engage participants in select exercises geared towards advanced skills in media, knowledge, and information systems management as well as ways to impart these competences to students. In order to specifically engage our conference’s topic as well as its widespread relevance, we are also planning a panel discussion with experts from the fields of American studies, politics, journalism, and education, which will bridge the gap between academia and the local public, encouraging exchange outside the alleged ivory tower of university research.
APPLICATION
We look forward to receiving applications from scholars of all disciplines of American Studies interested in presenting their post-graduate, doctoral, or post-doctoral works in progress within one of the following frames:
1. Individual papers: We invite proposals for individual 15-minute papers, which will be grouped into thematic panels with collective Q&As.
2. Posters: We additionally accept proposals for posters, which will be exhibited in a session separate from the remaining panels. Presenters will have the opportunity to engage head-on with audiences and answer specific questions about their projects in a more hands-on setting.
We encourage especially very early career scholars to apply for this format as it allows for an even more relaxed Q&A-setting. Applications for papers and posters should consist of an abstract of 250-300 words and a short biographical note (approx. 150 words) in a single PDF file. Please send all proposals to pgf@dgfa.de by September 1, 2019. For further information, please visit our conference website: pgf2019.wordpress.com.
We look forward to seeing you in Passau soon! Alexandra Hauke, Bettina Huber, and Thomas Stelzl
PGF Conference Team 2019