Southwest Region
Regional director: Karen Youmans, Oklahoma Baptist University (Karen.Youmans@okbu.edu)
Southwest 2010 Regional Conference
Christian Literary Values and the Changing Print Culture
Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 2010
Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma City
Guest Speaker: Dana Gioia
Dana Gioia will deliver the conference plenary lecture in conjunction with the 6th annual McBride Lecture for Faith & Literature.
CALL FOR PAPERS
In his essay “Disappearing Ink,” Dana Gioia identifies poetry as one of humanity’s “essential spiritual resources” for a time when the printed text faces strong competition from other media. Following the tradition of Christian writers, critics, and readers who have contemplated the spiritual value of works in all literary genres, the conference will explore the continuing role of literature as an essential spiritual resource. We especially invite papers or panels examining the connection between Christian faith and literature in these topic areas:
• Works of literature as an essential spiritual resource today
• Literary values in “high culture” and popular culture
• Continuity (or change) in literary values for contemporary genres/audiences
• Values in literary criticism and/or reviewing new works
• Language change and literary values
• The Christian writer’s voice in the changing print culture
• Faith, gender, and literary values
• Poetry reading in a transitional age
• Contemporary Christian song/lyric and traditional modes
• Cinematic adaptation of faith-based works
• Potential faith venues: Fan fiction, web publication, gaming, texting ...
• Teaching literature in the changing print culture
• Connecting Christian students to faith through non-Christian texts
• Other topics exploring the connection of Christianity and literary values
In addition, original creative work – particularly poetry – may be submitted as a panel or by individuals seeking to present with others. We also encourage panels of outstanding undergraduate work in the categories above. Faculty sponsors may submit these as organized panels or as individual proposals.
All those accepted to present must be members of CCL at the time of the conference.
Graduate-student CCL members may apply for a grant to meet travel and registration fees to a regional CCL conference. Details and deadlines appear on the Graduate Student Grant Page of the CCL Website: http://www.pepperdine.edu/sponsored/ccl/awardsandcontests/gradstudentgrant.htm
Abstract / Proposal (250-500 Words) due by May 30, 2010
Online submission will be available on the conference website, when the website becomes available.
Papers for presentation should be 8-10 double spaced pages with a reading time of no more than 20 minutes.
Address inquiries to the Program Chair: Merle Gatewood, Department of Language and Literature, Oklahoma Christian University, Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73136-1100, merle.gatewood@oc.edu.
2009 Regional Conference
Phillip Donnelly of Baylor University was the keynote speaker at the 2009 meeting, which was titled "From Lesser Lights to Greater: Grace and Literary Traditions." The conference was held October 1-3 at Houston Baptist University.
2008 Regional Conference
Gregory Wolfe provided the keynote address to at the 2008 Southwest Regional conference, which met October 2-3 at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Almost 100 people attended the meeting, and dozens of papers were delivered on various aspects of the conference theme, "Christianity and the Things of This World."
The 2007 Regional Conference
titled "Alarming Necessities": Taste, Reading, and Theology, met September 28-29, 2007, in Arlington, Texas. The conference was hosted by Dallas Baptist University and featured keynote speakers Steven Prickett and Frank Burch Brown.
The 2006 Regional Conference
met Sept. 28-30 concurrently with Inscription: A Conference on the Christian Teaching of Writing, Rhetoric, and Literature, at Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas. Speakers included Jill Baumgaertner, David Jeffrey, and David Naugle.
2005 Regional Conference
The Southwest CCL Region held its 2005 meeting at the University of Texas, Brownsville. The keynote speaker was Ruben Martinez, author of The Other Side, Crossing Over, and The New Americans.
Return to the CCL Regional Conferences page
Questions to Tammy Ditmore (tammy.ditmore@pepperdine.edu)