FW: CFP on Inherent Vice as crime fiction

[Krafft, John M.]

Call for Papers

“Paranoiac Knowledge and Literary Sub-Genres in the Writing of Thomas Pynchon”


Panel to Be Held at the American Literature Association Symposium, “Mysterious America: Crime Fiction in American Culture,” Savannah, Georgia, September 22 – 24, 2011.

Panel Description:

This panel proposes to take Thomas Pynchon’s 2009 novel, Inherent Vice, as a point of departure for reflections on paranoia as an “epistemic mode” in Pynchon’s writing and how it plays with, challenges the limits of, etc. other epistemic modes such as history (by e.g. postulating alternate histories), science (by validating “fringe” science), etc. How does paranoiac knowledge as an epistemic mode relate to the literary sub-genre or “underworld” of crime fiction, and how do the kinds of literary sub-genres that populate Pynchon’s literary imagination bear on other “marginal” discourses?  While Inherent Vice is the starting point for our reflections on paranoiac knowledge in Pynchon’s writings, papers that consider his most recent novel in light of other of Pynchon’s writings, or its relationship to other discourses (scientific, philosophical, historical, etc.) are especially encouraged. Session is 1 hour/20 min. and presentations are approx. 15 min. each, with time for discussion at the end.

Send Abstracts of 500 words and cv (electronic submissions via email preferred) to  Scott McClintock, Assistant Professor, College of Letters and Sciences, National University, 3390 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, (714) 429-5410.

email: smcclintock at nu.edu


Information about the Symposium

Keynote Speaker:
Allen Josephs, University of West Florida

Location: DeSoto Hilton Savannah
15 East Liberty Street
Savannah, Georgia

Hotel Rate: The DeSoto is offering a special rate of $159 (plus tax) per night for a single or double room.  Please make your reservations before September 1st by calling 800-445-8667 or 912-232-9000 and requesting the ALA conference rate.

Conference Directors:
Alfred Bendixen, Texas A & M University
Olivia Carr Edenfield, Georgia Southern University

Conference Fee:  $150
Conference Details:   The DeSoto is located in the heart of the historic district, nestled between two of Savannah’s loveliest squares and only a short walk from River Street, City Market, and Forsythe Park.
Sessions run Friday and Saturday, September 23-24. On Friday September 23rd, there will be a luncheon as well as an evening reception featuring key note speaker Allen Josephs. The second luncheon will be Saturday September 23th with a closing reception scheduled for the evening.

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Scott McClintock
Department of Arts and Humanities
National University
3390 Harbor Boulevard
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714-429-5410