>
>
>Call for Papers for the Popular Culture Conference, New Orleans,
>Louisiana, April 16-19, 2003.
>
>Send abstracts of no more than 2 pages (double-spaced), or papers of no
>more than 15 minutes in length, with a short personal bibliography by
>September 6, 2002 to the addresses below (email preferred). Please note
>that two panels are planned, the one with a German, the other with a
>European focus, although comparative papers are welcome for both.
>Panelists will be notified of acceptance by September 20, 2002 and must be
>or become members of PCA/ACA in order to present at the conference.
>
>Panel Title:  "Pop Fights Back: Cultural Responses to Racial Violence in
>           Modern Germany and Europe"
>
>Panel Description:
>Papers dealing with how German and European popular culture responds to
>racial violence in modern Germany and Europe. How the non-Caucasian
>"Others" of Germany and Europe confront and force society to deal with
>their presence and contributions to society. Although the primary focus in
>on Germany, comparative submissions and those dealing with responses to
>racial violence and discrimination in other European countries will
>receive full consideration. For the panel abstract, see below.
>
>Contact Information:
>Claude P. Desmarais
>York University
>Ross Building, S561, DLLL
>4700 Keele Street
>Toronto, ON
>Canada M3J 1P3
>Phone : 416-736-2100, ext. 66291
>Email: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
>Email submissions are encouraged and welcomed.
>
>
>Panel Abstract: "Pop Fights Back: Cultural Responses to Racial Violence in
>Modern Germany and Europe."
>
>Throughout European history, but perhaps particularly since the colonial
>past has come back to challenge notions of the European in the post World
>War II period, discrimination and violence against "non-Europeans" (i.e.
>non-Caucasians) has been an ongoing concern. In Germany, such violence
>became all the more prevalent after reunification in 1989, and can be
>linked not only to that event, but also to the European backlash against
>immigration. The latter a trend which has been paralleled by xenophobic,
>racist attacks.
>         In light of the specific German and wider European developments,
>artists and writers in Germany and Europe have shaped a variety of
>responses, demonstrating that they are not simply an object of German and
>European hatred, but rather subjects and an integral part of the new
>Europe. Thus, as residents and citizens they deserve, need and demand the
>acknowledgment and protection of their rights and contributions to
>society.
>       The cultural responses that fight back, responding to the
>discrimination and violence perpetrated against "foreigners" in Germany
>that has increased since reunification are many. They range, to name but a
>few, from "minority writing" in Emine Sevgi zdamar's works, Akif
>Pirincci's Felidae detective novels, and Feridun Zaimoglu's Kanak Sprak
>(1995), to the Hiphop, Soul and Reggae musicians Brothers-Keepers and
>their album Letzte Warnung (2000). The latter was recorded in memory of
>Alberto Adriano, who died on June 17, 2000 after being attacked by
>neo-Nazis.
>       By expressing their place and role in society, by demanding their
>rights, but also in much more socially proactive ways (and thus the title
>of this panel), the "Others" of Germany have started to engage that
>society in the process of confronting its present-day reality. In doing
>so, they also fight against those who would shut themselves and others off
>to that same reality. This panel will endeavour to show the manifold ways
>that German and European artists fight back against such racism in order
>to claim their rightful place in society.