The Department of Post-Graduate Studies and Research in English, Kuvempu University is organising a national seminar on ‘Re Thinking Cultural Studies’ on 28th and 29th April 2012. It is expected that leading scholars in the area will participate in this seminar which is planned to examine the brief and recent history of Cultural Studies in India and also to identify the trajectories of its development in the future.
Like most of the recent theories, cultural studies also entered the Indian academic world as a Euro-centric literary theory which had developed partly as a result of the negation between cultural materialism and Post-structuralist theories. It was found to possess immense explanatory power as well as the ability to draw in all kinds of literary and cultural texts for analysis. Much of the interesting research and writing in English Studies has been motivated by cultural studies in recent years. Popular culture, film studies, media-studies which have now attained independent status have also been introduced as part of cultural studies. It has added a political edge to the process of interpretation of texts. It has also introduced a literary eclecticism of approach (though some would consider it a short-coming). For colleges and institutions in the non-cosmopolitan places, cultural studies have inaugurated an exciting space in which local culture has became the subject of rigorous analysis.
However, serious doubts and concerns have also been expressed about the directions in which cultural studies seems to be developing. Some scholars would even wonder if it has a sense of direction now. More importantly there is need to understand the Indian perspective on cultural studies at a time when ‘culture’ is becoming a term fraught with political implications and caught in a matrix of various discourses. The proposed seminar is planned as a modest attempt to bring together scholars and academics to debate on these and related issues.
Kuvempu University, a rural university, blending in itself local ambience and a modern ethos is celebrating 25 years of its existence this year. It has been a ‘happening place’ where teachers and students hailing from rural and underprivileged locations have been consistently working on cultural issues which have global significance. We invite you to participate in the seminar which will be held on the lovely campus located on the lap of the Western Ghats. Kuvempu University is located at Shankaraghatta, 28 Kms from Shimoga city, the district head quarters of Shimoga district. Shimoga is well connected by road and rail and takes a five hour drive/train journey from Bangalore.
You can contact us by emailing to
Dr. Rachel Bari Thippeswamy B M
Associate Professor of English Faculty, ELTC, Department of English
Kuvempu University Kuvempu University
Shankaraghatta-577451 Shankaraghatta-577451
E mail- rachelbari@rediffmail.com E mail- thippeswamybm22@gmail.com
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH, KUVEMPU UNIVERSITY, SHANKARAGHATTA.
1. Dr. Nagya Naik B H — Chairman
2. Dr.Rajendra Chenni — Professor
3. Dr.Rachel Bari — Associate Professor
4. Dr.Namratha. M — Associate Professor
5. Dr. Ramprasad. B V — Associate Professor
6. Mr.Dattatreya. M — Assistant Professor
7. Mr.Vinay. K M — Assistant Professor
NATIONAL SEMINAR ON RETHINKING CULTURAL STUDIES
Organized by
DEPARTMENT OF PG STUDIES AND RESEARCH IN ENGLISH
JNANA SAHYADRI, KUVEMPU UNIVERSITY
SHANKARAGHATTA – 577451
As part of its Silver Jubilee Celebrations
on
28th and 29th APRIL 2012
Main Theme:: RE THINKING CULTURAL STUDIES
Deadline for Submission of Abstracts: 15th APRIL, 2012.
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Abstract of papers for presentation should be sent as an e mail attachment on MS Word ( not more than 200 words) in Times New Roman font of 12 points and 1.5 line spacing on or before 15th of April 2012.
Accepted papers will be intimated on or before 20th April 2012 and will have to send the full paper with a brief CV before 25th of April 2012. The full papers should limit itself to a reading time of not more than 10 minutes.
The abstract should be sent to rachelbari@rediffmail.com or thippeswamybm22@gmail.com.
Registration : Teachers – Rs 500
Students – Rs 250
DD should be drawn in favour of Chairman, Department of English, Kuvempu University payable at State Bank of Mysore, Jnana Sahyadri Branch, Shankaraghatta-577451. ( A/C no. 54023035991 )
Kuvempu University English Alumni Association 