Mennonite/s Writing IX
Thirty Years of Mennonite/s Writing: Responding to the Past, Creating the Future
22-25 October 2020, Goshen College, Goshen, Indiana, USA
This international conference celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of the first Mennonite/s Writing conference in Waterloo, Ontario, in 1990 and looks to the future of Mennonite literature. Since 1990, seven more conferences have helped to establish Mennonite literature as a presence in both creative writing and literary criticism. The 2020 conference hopes to reflect back on this history, celebrate new and ongoing work, and encourage the future of the Mennonite/s Writing project as it moves into its fourth decade. The conference will include a celebration of the 40+ years of publishing in the Goshen College English Department and a day of pre-conference workshops for students, creative writers, and teachers. We are especially interested in welcoming new and diverse voices as we honor past accomplishments.
We invite scholarly and creative proposals related to the field of Mennonite literature from any area of the world and from any time period. Those submitting proposals are welcome to consider the work of established writers or writers new to the scene. What trends in the field might elicit further study? What might the publishing future of the field look like? How might one explore the relationship between Mennonite literature and other art forms? What relationship does Mennonite literature have to the Mennonite faith community or to other areas of Mennonite studies? What is the relationship between Mennonite literature and other fields of literary studies? What has been the fruit of teaching Mennonite Literature and mentoring writers?
Please submit a 250-word abstract and short C.V. to Ann Hostetler, head conference organizer, at anneh@goshen.edu by 1 January 2020. The selection committee will make decisions on proposals by 1 April 2020.