The Middle-Atlantic Writers Association, Inc.

MAWA Conference

The Caribbean Presence 

in Black Thought, Letters, & Arts

Deadline for Proposals: August 15, 2003 

The Middle-Atlantic Writers Association, Inc., invites scholars, educators, creative writers, publishers, book dealers, patrons of literature and community leaders to join in a major cultural and literary dialogue that addresses a subject seldom discussed fully and with complete openness--"The Caribbean Presence in Black Thought, Letters and the Arts."  This landmark conference will bring together major scholars in literature, sociology, psychology, history and media arts to examine closely these aspects of African and African American history and culture.  Papers are invited on (but are not limited to) the following topics:

Caribbean Folklore and Oral Literature

   a. Male/Female Representation in Caribbean Oral Literature

   b. The Picaresque Character in Caribbean Folklore and Oral Literature

   c. Caribbean Folktales and Folksongs

   d. Self versus the Community in Caribbean Folklore

 The Caribbean Writer and Society

   a. Race and Gender in Caribbean Writing

   b. The Caribbean Writer as Political Activist

   c. Caribbean Women Writing About Their Societies

   d. Caribbean Autobiographical Writing

   e. The Literature of the Caribbean Slave Trade

 Self and Society in French and Spanish Caribbean Writing

   a. From Negritude to Creolite

   b. Gender and Race in the Literature of French and Spanish Caribbean Writers

   c. African Influences on Literature, Politics and History

 Caribbean Artistic Expression

   a. Regional Musical Expression and Its Relation to Society

   b. Caribbean Musical Expression in Reaction to Its Times

   c. Representations of the Caribbean in American Film and Television

The Association welcomes proposals that address all aspects of this theme from individuals who want to

   a. present scholarly papers of 15-20 minutes

   b. present one-hour panels of two, three, or four participants

   c. read from original creative works

   d. present audio-visual displays

   e. present book and arts and crafts displays and sales

   f. perform dramatic works

   g.. host sessions and luncheons by other literary and scholarly organizations

 SEND PROPOSALS TO:  Dr. Sandra G. Shannon /  Department of English /  Howard University /  Washington, DC 20059

               OR   Email proposals in the body of the message to sshannon@howard.edu

Deadline for Proposals: August 15, 2003 /  Conference Dates:  October 15-18, 2003

All participants must become a member of MAWA. and pay the current conference registration fee