International Pynchon Week '98

[Eric Alan Weinstein]

                         CALL FOR PAPERS
---------In the week beginning June 8, 1998---------
The University of Antwerp and the University of London
will host International Pynchon Week. Two
complementary events will take place, the first one in
Antwerp and the second one in London, with ample travel
time in between. The Programme for International Pynchon
Studies (PIPS) will help co-ordinate activities between sites,
informing and assisting participants whenever possible.

1. Antwerp: "Gravity's Rainbow: The First 25 Years"

"WHEN THE HEAVY ROCKET ATTACKS BEGAN AGAINST
 ANTWERP I KNEW IT COULD NOT BE AN ACCIDENT. . . ." (GR 546)

"Gravity's Rainbow: The First 25 Years," a two-day conference,
will attempt to deal with every possible aspect of Pynchon's most
intimidating novel, from the film-sprocket holes separating its
sections to the history of its critical reception. Unless the
number of acceptable proposals exceeds a workable limit, papers
(thirty minutes) might all be presented in plenary sessions, so
as to assure the development of a conference dynamic. Keynote
speakers will include Bernard Duyfhuizen, Steven Weisenburger,
and Hanjo Berressem. Publication of conference papers is a
certainty. Deadline for two-page proposals: 1 January 1998.
Conference organizer: Luc Herman, Department of English,
University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk
(Antwerp), Belgium. Fax: 32-3-820 27 62. E-mail: 

Luc.Herman at uia.ua.ac.be. 


2. London: "Thomas Pynchon: Beyond the Rainbow's End"

MESSMATES THRONG HERE FROM ALL OVER ENGLAND, 
EVEN SOME WHO ARE ALLERGIC OR OUTRIGHT HOSTILE
 TO BANANAS, JUST TO WATCH. (GR 5)

"Thomas Pynchon: Beyond the Rainbow's End," a three-day event,
will attempt to afford the greatest possible diversity of
expression arising from the totality of the Pynchon opus, while
also allowing for a substantial consideration of Mason & Dixon,
to which the second day of the conference will be devoted.
Participants will include internationally acclaimed critics,
novelists, poets, artists and filmmakers inspired by Pynchon's
achievement, as well as a wide variety of scholars wishing to
make their first venture Beyond the Rainbow's End. A variety of
multimedia events and archival displays will complement an
intensive and extensive academic conference schedule. Papers may
be any length not exceeding forty-five minutes. Publication of
conference papers is a certainty. Deadline for two-page
proposals: 1 January 1998. Conference organizer:
Eric Alan Weinstein, Centre for English Studies and Institute
of United States Studies, The School of Advanced Study,
University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, Bloomsbury,
London WC1 7HU, GB. Fax: 44-0171 436-4533. E-Mail: 

E.A.Weinstein at qmw.ac.uk or ces at sas.ac.uk. 

The paper-selection committee for International Pynchon Week
consists of John M. Krafft, Luc Herman, and Eric Alan Weinstein.
Eric Alan Weinstein
Centre For English Studies
University Of London
E.A.Weinstein at qmw.ac.uk