Brevity Conference Proceedings Now Online

Dear all,

We are proud to announce that the proceedings from the 2014 MLL Graduate Conference at Western University on Brevity are now online, and can be found at the following link: http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/mllgradconference/

The proceedings are housed at scholarship@Western, an academic repository supported by the Western University library system, and are searchable through Google Scholar. On the same website you will also find the proceedings from the 2013 MLL Graduate Conference, “Good Laugh, Bad Laugh, Ugly Laugh, My Laugh.”

The proceedings have been considered as pre-publications, meaning that the authors keep the authorship rights and are free to submit versions of their own work to journals, or to post in blogs.

We would like to thank the contributors and reviewers who worked on the proceedings website; and, once again, all the presenters, guests, volunteers and faculty members who made this conference possible.

Best,

Andrea Privitera and Natalia Caldas

Call for Papers: Conference Proceedings

Dear All,

We hope you enjoyed the 16th Annual Graduate Student Conference on Brevity at Western earlier this month. We would like to invite those interested to continue the lively discussions in our online publishing repository.

Submissions should be extended versions of papers presented and accepted papers will be featured on our page (http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/mllgradconference/) at Scholarship@Western. This academic repository, supported by Western Libraries, will also be indexed on Google Scholar. We consider papers as pre-publications, meaning that you will keep authorship rights, and are free to submit versions of your own work to other journals.

Please send your papers to brevitywestern@gmail.com by April 30, 2014. Papers will be reviewed by the conference committee and replies can be expected within the first couple of weeks in May.

Submissions in both Spanish and English will be accepted. All manuscripts must conform to standardized guidelines for formatting i. e. MLA (literature) and APA (linguistics). The author may use another formatting style provided that it is used consistently and that the author considers it necessary for the particular aims of their investigation. If written in Spanish please provide both an English and Spanish abstract. Proceedings should be 2000 to 5000 words in length, and a small abstract of 200 words must be included in the submission.

We look forward to reading your submissions!

Updates on Accommodation, Transportation, and Panels

We have a few announcements to make in regards to the 16th Annual Modern Languages and Literatures Conference on Brevity at Western University.

  1. On this page you will find some information on accomodation, such as hotels and hostels. In addition, for those with a restricted budget, some of our graduate students are offering a place to crash. Send us an email if you need more information. Please note we are offering this on a first come first serve basis.
  2. Since most of the lodging will be located off campus we have provided information on transportation on bus routes and taxi services.
  3. Panel schedules have been made. Please inform us of any corrections.
  4. A form is available on the conference blog that should be filled out by February 15, 2014 for our conference dinner held on Friday March 7, 2014.
Let us know of any questions or concerns.
Thank you, and we will see you in a month!
Natalia and Andrea

Conference Proceedings, 2013 (and publishing opportunities)

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We are proud to announce the first conference proceedings from the 15th Annual MLL Graduate Conference, “Good Laugh, Bad Laugh, Ugly Laugh, My Laugh”. The proceedings are housed at scholarship@Western, an online academic repository supported by the Western University library system, and are searchable through Google Scholar. They can be found at: http://ir.lib.uwo.ca/mllgradconference/.

The proceedings have been considered as pre-publications, meaning that the authors keep the authorship rights and are free to submit versions of their own work to journals, or to post in blogs.

In addition, we will be looking for papers to publish in the conference proceedings for the 16th Annual MLL Conference on Brevity, which will take place on March 6-8, 2014. Those who are interested in presenting a paper and, eventually, be published can submit an abstract at brevitywestern@gmail.com by January 1st, 2014.

Finally, we would like to thank Jaime Brenes Reyes for his support and contribution to the project.

Natalia Caldas and Andrea Privitera

Call for Papers / Convocatoria [EXTENDED DEADLINE: January 1st, 2014]

BREVITY

16th Annual Graduate Student Conference
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Western University, Canada

 Keynote speakers: Luca Somigli (University of Toronto); Mark McDayter (Western University).

 “Cuando despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba allí” [When (s)he woke up, the dinosaur was still there]. This is the entirety of a 1959 short story by Augusto Monterroso. It could easily fit in a Twitter status update almost three times over.

Brevity can be interpreted in many different ways – from a sense of briefness and urgency to an economization of words. At times, brevity may be perceived as superficial or frivolous, except to those of Spartan sensibilities. To others, such as Polonius, “brevity is the soul of wit [/ And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, / I will be brief: your noble son is mad]” (II, ii).

Brevity can also allow us to linger on thought.  In his memo on quickness, Italo Calvino interpreted it as festina lente (“make haste, slowly”). Rapidity (and brevity) are seen to alter time, so that we can thoroughly reflect on concepts.

 And so we welcome you to the 16th Annual Graduate Student Conference hosted by the Comparative Literature and Hispanic Studies programs at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. This year we will focus on brevity: its possibilities, its requirements, and its ramifications. From the concise forms of the Antiquity to digital forms of the 21st century; from carpe diem to YOLO; from haiku to Twitter; from the wise aphorisms of Seneca to Oscar Wilde’s witty quips and today’s Internet memes.

The Conference will take place on March 6 – 8, 2014. The conference organizers particularly welcome papers that are interdisciplinary, including but not limited to literature, theory and criticism, cultural studies, film studies, visual arts, music, theatre and popular culture. Suggested paper topics may include, but are certainly not limited, to the following:

  • Narratives of brevity: short stories, novelle, fabliaux, fairy tales, short novels, entremeses.
  • Brevity in poetry: haiku, labor limae, modernist poetry, Ermetismo, Symbolism, fragment(ation)s.
  • Brevity of thought: aphorisms, maxims, proverbs, manifestos.
  • Thoughts on brevity: epitaphs, elegies.
  • Brevity in the  arts: short films, music videos, advertisements, miniseries, photography.
  • Brevity in linguistics: brevity in translation, discourse analysis and sociolinguistics; economy of language, elisions, abbreviations, pronouns, parataxis, nicknames, endangered languages.
  • Brevity as a good thing: brevity vs. nonsense; simplicity and clarity.
  • Brevity in new media: communications in instant messaging, Twitter, chats, hashtags.
  • Brevity as transience: impermanence in works of art, temporary exhibitions, happenings, trends, fads, movements, waves (both in commerce and literature), ruins.
  • Brevity in cultural studies and folk culture: proverbs, idioms, patronymic, epithets, disappearance of oral memory.
  • Visual arts: minimalism, conceptual art.

 Those interested in presenting 20-minute papers are asked to submit a 300-word abstract to brevitywestern@gmail.com by January 1st, 2014 (please note the extended deadline). We ask participants to please include name, affiliation, technical requirements and a 50-word bio, with their abstract. As this is a conference organized by two programs, we will accept abstracts and papers in both English and Spanish. For further information, please check out our Blog (brevitywestern.wordpress.com), Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @BrevityWestern.

Selected papers will be published.

 tl;dr: conference on brevity. Send us 300 words max by January 1st, 2014. go!

 The organizers:

Natalia Caldas and Andrea Privitera

 

—

 

BREVITY

16th Annual Graduate Student Conference
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Western University, Canada

 Ponentes plenarios: Luca Somigli (University of Toronto); Mark McDayter (Western University).

 “Cuando despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba allí”. Esto es el cuento completo de Agusto Monterroso publicado en 1959. Posiblemente el cuento mas corto de todos. Se podría poner en un status de Twitter. Técnicamente se puede meter en el status casi tres veces.

 ‘Brevedad’ se puede interpretar en diferentes maneras – desde la urgencia, la sensación de brevedad temporal hasta la economización de palabras. Para unos, lo breve se puede entender como algo superficial y frívolo, si no eres un espartano. Para otros, como Polonius, “brevity is the soul of wit [/ And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, / I will be brief: your noble son is mad]” (Hamlet, II, ii).

 Brevedad también nos permite reflexionar sobre una idea. En su memorándum, Calvino interpreto velocidad como festina lente (“apresúrate lentamente”). Rapidez (y brevedad) pueden alterar el tiempo, para mejor pensar y reflexionar sobre un concepto.

 Las y los invitamos a la Decimosexta Conferencia Anual de Estudios de Posgrado en Literatura Comparada y Estudios Hispánicos en Universidad de Western. Este evento tendrá lugar del 6 al 8 de marzo de 2014. Los organizadores de la conferencia acogen particularmente ensayos interdisciplinarios, incluyendo pero sin limitarse a la literatura, teoría, estudios culturales, estudios fílmicos, artes visuales, música, teatro, lingüística y cultura popular.

 Temas sugeridos para ensayos incluyen pero no se limitan a los siguientes:

  • Narrativos de brevedad: cuentos, novelle, fabliaux, cuentos de hadas, novelas cortas, entremeses.
  • Brevedad en poesía: haiku, labor limae, poesía moderna, Ermetismo, Symbolismo, fragmentation(es).
  • Brevedad de pensamientos: aforismos, máximas, proverbios, manifiestos.
  • Brevedad en pensamientos: epitafios, elegías.
  • Brevedad en las artes: cortometrajes, videoclip, publicidad, miniserie, fotografía.
  • Brevedad en lingüística: traducción y brevedad, análisis de discurso y sociolingüística, economía de lenguaje, elisión, abreviación, pronombre, parataxis, apodos, idiomas amenazados.
  • Brevedad positiva: brevedad vs. Bullshit; simplicidad y claridad
  • Brevedad en medios de comunicación: comunicación en mensajería instantánea, Twitter, chat, hashtag.
  • Brevedad en transitorio: la impermanencia de ciertas obras de arte, exhibiciones temporarias, happening, modas, movimientos (literatura, economía, etc.), ruinas.
  • Brevedad en estudios de cultura y cultura popular: proverbios, modismos, patronímico, epíteto, la desaparición de la memoria oral.
  • Artes visuales: minimalismo, arte conceptual.

 Aquellos interesados en presentar un ensayo de 20 minutos deben enviar un resumen de 300 palabras a brevitywestern@gmail.com. La fecha tope es el 1º de enero 2014  (tomar nota que es el último plazo para enviar el abstract). Por favor incluir nombre, afiliación, requisitos técnicos y una autobiografía breve (no más de 50 palabras). Debido a que esta conferencia está siendo organizada por dos programas académicos, aceptaremos resúmenes y ensayos en inglés y español (con paneles exclusivamente en español). Para más información, por favor chequeen nuestra página de Facebook, Blog (brevitywestern.wordpress.com), y Twitter @BrevityWestern.

 Ensayos elegidos serán publicados.

 Tl;dr: conferencia sobre brevedad. Envíanos 300 palabras máximas para el 1º de enero 2014.

 Los organizadores:

Natalia Caldas y Andrea Privitera 

Call for Papers / Convocatoria

BREVITY

16th Annual Graduate Student Conference
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Western University, Canada

Keynote speakers: Luca Somigli (University of Toronto); Mark McDayter (Western University).

“Cuando despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba allí” [When (s)he woke up, the dinosaur was still there]. This is the entirety of a 1959 short story by Augusto Monterroso. It could easily fit in a Twitter status update almost three times over.

Brevity can be interpreted in many different ways – from a sense of briefness and urgency to an economization of words. At times, brevity may be perceived as superficial or frivolous, except to those of Spartan sensibilities. To others, such as Polonius, “brevity is the soul of wit [/ And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, / I will be brief: your noble son is mad]” (II, ii).

Brevity can also allow us to linger on thought. In his memo on quickness, Italo Calvino interpreted it as festina lente (“make haste, slowly”). Rapidity (and brevity) are seen to alter time, so that we can thoroughly reflect on concepts.

And so we welcome you to the 16th Annual Graduate Student Conference hosted by the Comparative Literature and Hispanic Studies programs at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada. This year we will focus on brevity: its possibilities, its requirements, and its ramifications. From the concise forms of the Antiquity to digital forms of the 21st century; from carpe diem to YOLO; from haiku to Twitter; from the wise aphorisms of Seneca to Oscar Wilde’s witty quips and today’s Internet memes.

The Conference will take place on March 6 – 8, 2014. The conference organizers particularly welcome papers that are interdisciplinary, including but not limited to literature, theory and criticism, cultural studies, film studies, visual arts, music, theatre and popular culture. Suggested paper topics may include, but are certainly not limited, to the following:

• Narratives of brevity: short stories, novelle, fabliaux, fairy tales, short novels, entremeses.
• Brevity in poetry: haiku, labor limae, modernist poetry, Ermetismo, Symbolism, fragment(ation)s.
• Brevity of thought: aphorisms, maxims, proverbs, manifestos.
• Thoughts on brevity: epitaphs, elegies.
• Brevity in the arts: short films, music videos, advertisements, miniseries, photography.
• Brevity in linguistics: brevity in translation, discourse analysis and sociolinguistics; economy of language, elisions,
abbreviations, pronouns, parataxis, nicknames, endangered languages.
• Brevity as a good thing: brevity vs. nonsense; simplicity and clarity.
• Brevity in new media: communications in instant messaging, Twitter, chats, hashtags.
• Brevity as transience: impermanence in works of art, temporary exhibitions, happenings, trends, fads, movements,
waves (both in commerce and literature), ruins.
• Brevity in cultural studies and folk culture: proverbs, idioms, patronymic, epithets, disappearance of oral memory.
• Visual arts: minimalism, conceptual art.

Those interested in presenting 20-minute papers are asked to submit a 300-word abstract to brevitywestern@gmail.com by December 1st, 2013. We ask participants to please include name, affiliation, technical requirements and a 50-word bio, with their abstract. As this is a conference organized by two programs, we will accept abstracts and papers in both English and Spanish. For further information, please check out our Blog and Facebook page.
Selected papers will be published.
tl;dr: conference on brevity. Send us 300 words max by December 1st. go!

The organizers:
Natalia Caldas and Andrea Privitera
________

BREVITY

16th Annual Graduate Student Conference
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Western University, Canada

Ponentes plenarios: Luca Somigli (University of Toronto); Mark McDayter (Western University).

“Cuando despertó, el dinosaurio todavía estaba allí”. Esto es el cuento completo de Agusto Monterroso publicado en 1959. Posiblemente el cuento mas corto de todos. Se podría poner en un status de Twitter. Técnicamente se puede meter en el status casi tres veces.

‘Brevedad’ se puede interpretar en diferentes maneras – desde la urgencia, la sensación de brevedad temporal hasta la economización de palabras. Para unos, lo breve se puede entender como algo superficial y frívolo, si no eres un espartano. Para otros, como Polonius, “brevity is the soul of wit [/ And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, / I will be brief: your noble son is mad]” (Hamlet, II, ii).

Brevedad también nos permite reflexionar sobre una idea. En su memorándum, Calvino interpreto velocidad como festina lente (“apresúrate lentamente”). Rapidez (y brevedad) pueden alterar el tiempo, para mejor pensar y reflexionar sobre un concepto.

Las y los invitamos a la Decimosexta Conferencia Anual de Estudios de Posgrado en Literatura Comparada y Estudios Hispánicos en Universidad de Western. Este evento tendrá lugar del 6 al 8 de marzo de 2014. Los organizadores de la conferencia acogen particularmente ensayos interdisciplinarios, incluyendo pero sin limitarse a la literatura, teoría, estudios culturales, estudios fílmicos, artes visuales, música, teatro, lingüística y cultura popular.

Temas sugeridos para ensayos incluyen pero no se limitan a los siguientes:
• Narrativos de brevedad: cuentos, novelle, fabliaux, cuentos de hadas, novelas cortas, entremeses.
• Brevedad en poesía: haiku, labor limae, poesía moderna, Ermetismo, Symbolismo, fragmentation(es).
• Brevedad de pensamientos: aforismos, máximas, proverbios, manifiestos.
• Brevedad en pensamientos: epitafios, elegías.
• Brevedad en las artes: cortometrajes, videoclip, publicidad, miniserie, fotografía.
• Brevedad en lingüística: traducción y brevedad, análisis de discurso y sociolingüística, economía de lenguaje, elisión, abreviación, pronombre, parataxis, apodos, idiomas amenazados.
• Brevedad positiva: brevedad vs. Bullshit; simplicidad y claridad
• Brevedad en medios de comunicación: comunicación en mensajería instantánea, Twitter, chat, hashtag.
• Brevedad en transitorio: la impermanencia de ciertas obras de arte, exhibiciones temporarias, happening, modas, movimientos (literatura, economía, etc.), ruinas.
• Brevedad en estudios de cultura y cultura popular: proverbios, modismos, patronímico, epíteto, la desaparición de la memoria oral.
• Artes visuales: minimalismo, arte conceptual.

Aquellos interesados en presentar un ensayo de 20 minutos deben enviar un resumen de 300 palabras a brevitywestern@gmail.com. La fecha tope es el primero de diciembre de 2013. Por favor incluir nombre, afiliación, requisitos técnicos y una autobiografía breve (no más de 50 palabras). Debido a que esta conferencia está siendo organizada por dos programas académicos, aceptaremos resúmenes y ensayos en inglés y español (con paneles exclusivamente en español). Para más información, por favor chequeen nuestra página de Facebook y Blog.
Ensayos elegidos serán publicados.

Tl;dr: conferencia sobre brevedad. Envíanos 300 palabras máximas para el 1er de diciembre.

Los organizadores:
Natalia Caldas y Andrea Privitera