FIGSO 2011
University of Texas at Austin
French and Italian Graduate Student Conference
April 15-16, 2011
“Contrasts: Cinematic, Literary and Linguistic Development through Difference”

Keynote speakers:

Zsuzsanna Fagyal
(French linguistics; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Michael Syrimis
(Italian studies; Tulane University)

*Extended deadline for submission of abstracts

The French and Italian Graduate Student Organization is proud to announce its 8th annual Graduate Student Conference. Contrasts in film, literature, and language exist because they arise from the contrastive nature of human cognition and social organizations. An exploration of these differences can broaden our understanding aid in the development of theory. We welcome papers that focus on various manifestations of contrasts in French and Italian linguistics, literature, culture, and film.

Possible topics may address:
-Literary and linguistic differences between dialects
-Marked transformations in an author’s body of work/Unexpected or sudden changes in an intellectual’s ideology
-Differences in the internal cognitive state of adults vs. children during language learning
-Distribution of linguistic forms in different text-types
-Literary changes in gender studies (normativity, performance)
-Linguistic gender roles
-Characterizations of speech and comprehension in language learners vs. native speakers
-Ante and post bellum literature
-Debates between intellectuals or theorists
-Geographical divisions and their cultural, linguistic and economic implications
-Changing theoretical currents
-The differences in language use in pre and post mass media culture
-Differences in linguistic and literary trends pre and post standardization of the language

Please send an abstract in English of no more than 500 words to FIGSO2011@gmail.com before MARCH 1, 2011 (Acceptance notification by March 15). Be sure to include your Name, Affiliation, and contact information in the abstract and place your Subject Area (French Linguistics, Italian Linguistics, French Literature, Italian Literature, French film, Italian film) in the subject line of your email.