SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS France and America: Culture and Society in the Twentieth Century An interdisciplinary conference University of Southampton, UK, 6-7 July 2001 This conference will provide a unique forum for examining the social and cultu

SECOND CALL FOR PAPERS

France and America: Culture and Society in the Twentieth Century
An interdisciplinary conference

University of Southampton, UK, 6-7 July 2001


This conference will provide a unique forum for examining the social and cultural forms of the long twentieth century in France and America. By examining the French and American experiences together, the conference aims, firstly, to disrupt and re-evaluate the discourses of exceptionalism which have marked both French and American studies, and, secondly, to provide an opportunity for
rethinking exchanges between the two cultures. To this end, the organisers hope to establish a dialogue between Americanists and scholars in French cultural and historical studies, as well as attracting those working in more comparative and cross-cultural perspectives. Plenary speakers currently include Elaine Tyler May (author of _Homeward Bound: American Families in the Cold War Era_ and
_Barren in the Promised Land: Childless Americans and the Pursuit of Happiness_ ) and Kristin Ross (author of _Fast Cars, Clean Bodies: Decolonization and the Reordering of French Culture_).

Contributions are invited from scholars working in any relevant discipline, particularly history, literary studies, cultural studies, social and cultural theory, history of art and design, film and media studies. Likely topics for discussion include:

America/France as social model
Cold War culture and society
Colonialism/post-coloniality and modernisation
Franco-American encounters and modernism
The state
Utopia
Indochina
The body and sexuality
Migration
The rise of social science
Material culture
Technology and culture
Black cultural renaissance in France and America
Leisure and consumption
The city
The political/social imaginary
The working body and mind
Elites
Post-industrial society
Youth culture
Feminisms
Counter-cultures
Anti-capitalism

Proposals are invited for 20 minute papers. Abstracts of 200-300 words should be submitted by 15 January 2001 to:

Dr Jackie Clarke
School of Modern Languages
University of Southampton
Highfield
Southampton
SO17 1BJ
email: jc@lang.soton.ac.uk
(Abstracts may be submitted by email)