French and Francophone Sessions, NeMLA Boston
French (in) America: Then and Now
On the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Quebec, it is particularly appropriate to reflect on the contribution of the French presence in North America. This panel will focus on Quebec and Canadian literature in French, including poetry, fiction and theatre. Papers on historical texts or on those dealing with migration or displacement in the North American context are particularly encouraged. Jane Koustas: jkoustas@brocku.ca
The Cinemas from the Maghreb
"La toile de fond des films doit être réaliste; elle doit correspondre à un vécu vrai...il faut être juste dans la description d'une société."-Nouri Bouzid. This session will explore the significance of "social reality" in the cinemas of the Maghreb, addressing such questions as: Arab women's life experiences; social reality as a door wide open onto the other; urgency to learn about the Arab realities, at a time when the images of Arab men and women are socially and politically manipulated. Celine Philibert: philibcg@potsdam.edu
Contemporary Women's Writing in French: Feminist Responses to the Literary Canon
This panel will explore various facets of French and Francophone women's writing in the 20th and 21st centuries. Some possible themes to consider: the intersections between feminism and women's writing; the repudiation of feminist philosophy in women's writing; the role of the autobiographical in the content, reception, and history of women's writing; women writers and the canon; and new directions and trends in the twenty-first century. Please send 250-300 word abstracts to Professor Chelsea Ray at chelsea.d.ray@maine.edu.
Crime and Violence in 18th Century French Literature
Papers are invited on any aspect of crime and violence in novels of the 18th century. Send 250-word abstracts to Frédérique Donovan