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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congratulations to the American Studies Seniors who will be graduating on May 18th! We are including a special section in this final newsletter of the year about their post-graduation plans.
Please "like" our new Facebook page to keep up to date with American Studies events!
For all the latest news and events visit the Fordham American Studies blog! Check it out, and whether you love what you read, hate it, or just have something to add, feel free to respond using the comments sections. To keep up with the blog, sign on as a follower.
Graduating Seniors News
• Meg Farmer will be working as a New York City Teaching Fellow and getting her master's in special education after graduation.
• Teresa Gianotti will be working as a production assistant for MSNBC’s "UP" with Steve Kornacki.
• Anna E. Gildea will be going to Seton Hall Law starting in the fall.
• Jacob Guth who will be joining AmeriCorp's NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) Program and will be stationed in Sacramento, California.
• Samantha Hokanson will be working to save money before moving to Thailand in February to teach English.
• Kelly O'Brien will be pursuing a Fulbright through Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec in the fall. Over the summer, Kelly will also be traveling to Ireland for a four-week intensive language study funded through Fulbright and Fordham's Irish Studies program.
• Alexa Rodriguez will be teaching elementary education in Baltimore with Teach for America and will be attending Johns Hopkins School of Education in the fall.
• Emily Tabachuk will be interning this summer with Child's Play NY, a theater company that runs a summer camp and after school program for kids in elementary and middle school.
Congratulations to all the graduating American Studies seniors!
2013 Senior Theses
Apuzzo, Susannah. “Dancing Identities: American Youth in Competitive Irish Dance.”
Arne, Andrew. “Dreaming the Postmodern Social Landscape: Simulation, Spectacle, and Hyperreality in Richard Linklater's Waking Life.”
Farmer, Meghan. “The Hyper-Feminine vs. The Feminist: The Limitations of Feminism in American Culture.”
Gianotti, Teresa. “Homelessness Among Female Veterans: How the United States is Failing G.I. Jane.”
Gildea, Anna E. “‘You are not alone’: A Runner's World Community Founded on the Individual Pursuit.”
Guth, Jacob Anton. “Oregon Youth in the ‘Real’ World: Navigating Life After Release from Incarceration.”
Hokanson, Samantha. “Pro-anorexia Blogs: A Cause for Panic or Change?”
McDermott, Kelly Elizabeth. “An Argument for the Continued Employment of Drones by the United States Military in Light of its Ongoing Conflict with Terrorist Organizations in the Middle East.”
Novak, Nick. “Pa’lante y Pa’dentro: The Young Lords.”
O’Brien, Kelly. “‘Six Months Ago, You Told Me I Took Too Many Pills’: The Demystification of the American Housewife Onscreen.”
Pellegrini, Jillian. “Movin’ on Up: Social Mobility in Black Family Sitcoms.”
Ramirez, Sarah. “‘Read All About It:’ Community Journalism in the Post-Recession Bronx.”
Rodriguez, Alexa. “But Aren’t we all just Americans?: The Issues of Latino Representation in the Census.”
Tabachuk, Emily. “406 Clybourne Street: Exploring Race Relations in American Theatre in 1959 and 2012.”
White, Renee Alexandra. “A(dysfunctional)Sexuality: on the normalization and medicalization of a ‘normal’ sex life.”
UPCOMING FORDHAM EVENTS
Sunday, May 12 and Monday, May 13: "BodyVox," an original dance-theater-activist performance
7:00pm at the Veronica Lally Kehoe Studio Theatre, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, 113 West 60th Street (at Columbus Ave.)
BodyVOX! is an original dance-theater-activist performance written and performed collaboratively by young women. BodyVOX! explores the curvy lines between "sexy" and "sexualized," and demands that we not just critique the media messages forcefed to girls but that we take action and ignite change.
BodyVOX! is a collaboration between The Department of African and African American Studies and The Theatre Program at Fordham University, viBe Theater Experience, and SPARK Movement.
Created in an express 4-week process, this intergenerational team of artists, dancers, writers, activists and performers use performance to share creative strategies to end the sexualization of girls, a root cause of violence against women and girls.
Written and performed by: Aimee, Courtney, Erica, Nicosie, Mia, Mia, Quien, Stephanie & Tanzina, with Emma, Nadia and Aja & the SPARKteam. Directed by: Aimee Cox & Dana Edell.
Don't miss the special lobby installation created by FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture.
UPCOMING NEW YORK CITY EVENTS
Wednesday, May 8: "Lady at the O.K. Corral: The True Story of Josephine Marcus Earp," a talk by author Ann Kirschner (NEW)
7:00pm at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, Edmond J. Safra Plaza, 36 Battery Place
Author Ann Kirschner (Sala's Gift) will be discussing her latest book Lady at the O.K. Corral: The True Story of Josephine Marcus Earp. The book examines Earp's path from aspiring actress to frontierswoman and longtime companion of the legendary gunslinger Wyatt Earp. Kirschner will be in discussion with the Museum’s Manager of Institutional Projects Caroline Earp, descendant of Wyatt Earp.
Free with suggested donation. Tickets will be available at the box office on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 4:00pm on the day of the program.
For more information, visit: http://www.mjhnyc.org/findex.html#.UYP4C3wjpr4
Wednesday, May 8: "After History: Alexandre Kojève as a Photographer," Exhibition Walk-Through with Katherine Carl (NEW)
5:30-6:30pm at The James Gallery, CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Ave btwn 34th & 35th St
Join James Gallery Curator Katherine Carl for a half-hour walk-through of the current exhibition, "After History: Alexandre Kojève as a Photographer," guest-curated by Boris Groys. The exhibition comprises the photographs, collected postcards, and hand-drawn itineraries of the French-Russian philosopher Alexandre Kojève (1902–1968), which present the author’s world-view in the tumultuous postwar era, when colonial history was being played out between the West and the so-called “Third World.” Might Kojève's project be considered an appropriation of the then-contemporary moment -- a readymade, compiled as an antidote to the condition of post-history? The tour will be followed by an open conversation.
The James Gallery is the only US venue for the exhibition made in collaboration with BAK Utrecht, the Netherlands. Cosponsored by the Andrew W. Mellon Committee on Globalization and Social Change, and the New York Council for the Humanities.
Read about the exhibition on Artforum.com, where it was a Critics' Pick.
Thursday, May 9: The Gotham History Forum presents "New York City Cartmen, 1667-1850"
6:30-8:00pm at the CUNY Graduate Center, Elebash Recital Hall, 365 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street
The cart men—unskilled workers who hauled goods on one horse carts—were perhaps the most important labor group in early American cities. Revised and re-issued in 2012, New York City Cartmen, 1667–1850 (NYU Press) uncovers the forgotten world of one-horse cart drivers who monopolized the movement of private and commercial goods in New York City from 1667-1850. The cart men dominated the city streets while proving politically adept at preserving and institutionalizing their economic and racial control over this entry-level occupation. The cart men possessed a hard-nosed political awareness, and because they transported essential goods, they achieved a status in New York City far above their skills or financial worth. The cart men's culture and their relationship with New York's municipal government are the direct ancestors of the city's fabled taxicab drivers. This is a stirring street-level account of the growth of New York, growth made possible by the efforts of the cart men and other unskilled laborers.
This Forum will be free and open to the public. No reservations required. A live stream of the event will be available on the Graduate Center's Video Commons: http://videostreaming.gc.cuny.edu/videos/
Friday, May 10: "Little Monsters: Fabulating a Queer Bestiary," a talk by Tavia Nyong’o (Associate Professor of Performance Studies, NYU) (NEW)
2:00pm at the CUNY Graduate Center, President's conference room, 8201.01, 365 Fifth Ave at 34th St
"Wildness" has emerged as a post-ecological motif among critics interested in pushing queer and critical race studies past the impasse of the death-bound subject. But where exactly is this wild to which we imagine a return located? This talk mounts an imaginative itinerary through the haunts and havens of the fabulous beasts and little monsters of today. It speculates that a new entelechy of the queer is increasingly subsuming the epistemology of the closet, with its emphasis of power-knowledge. Queerness is mutating and developing new immunities to disclosure and new vulnerabilities as raw life. Popular music increasingly moves along the grooves of this fugitive queer vitalism.
Thursday, May 16: "The Art of Perception," Presentation at the American Folk Art Museum (NEW)
6:00-7:00pm at the American Folk Art Museum, 2Lincoln Square, Columbus Ave at 66th St
Amy E. Herman designed, developed, and conducts all sessions of "The Art of Perception" using the analysis of works of art to improve perception and communication skills. Originally designed in 2000 to help medical students improve their observation and communication skills with patients, the program was subsequently adapted for law enforcement professionals and leaders in industry, education, and finance. She currently conducts the program nationally for a wide range of law enforcement agencies, including the NYPD, the FBI, the CIA, and the Department of Justice, as well as for hospitals, medical schools, and first responders.
During this very special evening program, Ms. Herman will give an introduction to her practice and methodology followed by an interactive session in the museum galleries, during which she will lead discussion with participants, applying her techniques to the artworks included in the exhibition Artist and Visionary: William Matthew Prior Revealed.
Seating is limited; tickets required. Tickets are $30; $25 members. Purchase tickets online or contact Rachel Rosen at 212.265.1040, ext. 381, or rrosen@folkartmuseum.org.
Sunday, May 19: Columbia University Global Cultural Studies and The boundary 2 Collective present: "Humanities & a Borderless World"
10:00am-5:00pm at Columbia University School of Social Work, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, Room C06, Concourse Level
Featuring presentations by: Rachel Adams, Emily Apter, Jonathan Arac, Charles Bernstein, Paul Bové, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Ronald Judy, Evan Mwangi, Donald Pease, Bruce Robbins, Richard Jean So, and Jennifer Wenzel.
Please RSVP by sending the name of each attendee to eventrsvpcolumbia@gmail.com.
Undergraduate Student Opportunities
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY: City Councilwoman Jessica Lappin Campaign Summer Internship
At your internship, you could be a tiny cog in a big company. Or, you could be a key member of a team of organizers working to change New York City for the better.
New Yorkers for Great Public Schools (NY-GPS) aims to undo the damage of Mayor Bloomberg's market-driven education "reforms," which are pitting communities against each other, disempowering parents, and causing schools to fail and close, very often being replaced by schools that do worse (by the DOE's own assessment model). As a member of this team, you'll be part of an active political issue campaign. You'll get hands-on experience with organizing, and if you work hard, you will make a difference. Students who can either do community organizing, or who are willing to learn, are needed. Also needed are researchers, aspiring filmmakers / editors, logistics coordinators, web developers / designers, and more. This position runs ideally through the fall Mayoral election, though NY-GPS will accommodate shortened schedules in some circumstances and has different hourly structures for different commitment levels.
Email josh.nygps@gmail.com or maria.nygps@gmail.com today with your resume and cover letter.
AWARD: LALSI "José Martí Award" for the Best Undergraduate Paper on a Latin American or Latino Topic
The Latin American and Latino Studies Institute (LALSI) at Fordham is offering a $300 prize for any paper written in the Fall of 2012 or the Spring of 2013 on a Latin American or Latino topic from any LALS cross-listed course. Professors in all LALSI cross-listed courses will nominate papers. Keep this prize in mind when you are writing your final papers. All students qualify; there is no need to be a LALS Major or Minor. The prize will be announced at graduation ceremonies, and the winning paper will be uploaded to the LALSI website.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY: LIFT-The Bronx
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
LIFT is a growing movement whose mission is to help community members achieve economic stability and well-being. LIFT currently runs centers staffed by trained volunteers in Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, to serve low-income individuals and families. LIFT clients and volunteers work one-on-one to find jobs, secure safe and stable housing, make ends meet through public benefits and tax credits, and obtain quality referrals for services like childcare and healthcare.
Interning at LIFT is a unique opportunity to grow and develop both personally and professionally as you will be working with diverse groups of people, engaging in interpersonal and administrative work, as well as experiencing firsthand non-profit organization and office management. LIFT – The Bronx seeks driven and independent leaders to serve as Client Advocates. Client Advocates work one-on-one community members to find jobs, secure housing, enroll in public benefits, and help these community members obtain referrals for services such as childcare and healthcare. Client Advocates are also responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations of LIFT – The Bronx. We look for individuals who are passionate about community development and are committed to LIFT’s anti-poverty mission. Client Advocates will report to the AmeriCorps Members/Site Coordinators at LIFT – The Bronx.
For eligibility requirements and more information, visit www.liftcommunities.org/new-york.
To apply, email an application and a resume to Tiffany Jackson at tjackson@liftcommunities.org and Betty Gilmore at Bgilmore@liftcommunities.org.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY: The Center for Architecture Foundation
The Center for Architecture Foundation promotes public awareness and a broader appreciation of the important role architecture and design play in our daily lives. We engage general public audiences in contemporary topics on the built environment to encourage design literacy. The Center for Architecture Foundation seeks an Arts Administration Intern to assist with fundraising, event planning and logistics, prospect research, and general administrative tasks for 10-15 hours per week.
For eligibility requirements and more information about the Center for Architecture Foundation, visit www.cfafoundation.org.
Faculty and Graduate Student Opportunities
CFP: Exhibit Catalog "The American Revolution in New Jersey: Where the Battlefront Meets the Homefront"
Deadline: Submissions are due Friday, May 17. If selected final articles are to be approximately 15 pages and will be due Friday, October 25.
New Jersey spent much of the American Revolution as a theater of war, with troops from both sides continuing to march through the state, land destroyed in battles and provisions used by soldiers. Yet life had to go on, and New Jersey civilians were responsible for keeping the economy intact, tables filled and New Jersey troops outfitted. This is the rarely told story of New Jersey’s farmers, women and tradesmen and their actions during the war. We will explore the local civil wars that erupted between revolutionaries and loyalists, the multiple rolesthat women took on as their men went off to war, and the how civilian life was affected by the regular presence of troops.
Possible article subjects may include but are not limited to:
• The environmental impact of the Revolutionary War
• African Americans in New Jersey at the time
• American Indians in New Jersey at the time
• The role of women in the Revolutionary War
• The role of agriculture
• The impact of the Revolutionary War on New Jersey's economy
• The impact of the Revolutionary War on New Jersey's burgeoning iron industry
• Loyalists in New Jersey
To submit, send an abstract of 150-200 words and CV to curator@metc.org.
CFP: NYMASA Annual Conference: "American Masculinities"
Submissions due by Saturday, June 1. Conference takes place Saturday, November 2.
The New York Metro American Studies Association's Annual Conference provides a dynamic forum for area scholars, while attracting presenters nationally. NYMASA announces a call for papers for the 2013 annual one-day conference, "American Masculinities," taking place on November 2 at Pace University (Manhattan Campus).
The theme for this year's conference explores the intersections of U.S. concepts of masculinity, manhood, and maleness. This query feels particularly relevant to American studies as definitions of masculinity have been foundational to American ideology and identities since its inception. For this reason, contested and contesting challenges to masculinity have signaled major shifts in American society, opening new spaces for gendering practices.
In imagining this conference, participants are invited to engage with any of the following issues (or any other these topic inspires):
Founding fathers; Emersonian men; Radical men; Men in power; Masculinity and the marketplace; Technologies of gender; Military men; Female masculinities and feminine men; Emasculated men; Queer masculinities / Masculinity and queerness; Drag and performative gender; (Psycho) analyzing men and pathologized masculinity; Sports and gym culture; Race Men and other black masculinities; Ethnic masculinities; Feminist men and Reactionary manhood; Male desires; Paternalism and paternity; Fraternalism and fraternities; Lad Lit and Guy Movies; Pedagogy of masculinities; Becoming men: coming of age and transgender men; Boyhood; Laboring men; Traveling men: cowboys, frontiersman, sailors, and salesman; Medical men; Violence and men; Heroes and superheroes; Incarcerated men.
Papers on any historical period in American Studies, as well as 21st century topics, are welcome. NYMASA particularly encourages presentations that circulate across historical and disciplinary borders, presentations that are non-traditional in form, and presentations that incorporate performance and/or visual art. While proposals on any element of American Studies are welcome, NYMASA will especially privilege presentations focusing on the New York area. Please note that abstracts will be accepted for individual paper presentations only, not pre-constituted panels.
Please send abstracts of no more than 500 words to nymasamasculinities@gmail.com by Saturday, June 1.
CFP: Special Issue of Radical Teacher on The Professions
Deadline: Monday, July 15
The professions are an anomaly within the capitalist world. For more than a hundred years, their members had more autonomy than other workers, regulating entry into their fields through educational and other requirements, while at the same time ostensibly serving a social purpose broader than mere gain. No longer. Since the postwar boom peaked, around 1970, capital went after hand workers, then turned its outsourcing, union-busting, and marketizing techniques to mind workers. As a result, the professions are in decline: losing control of the work they do, the protected markets in which they used to do it, the process of admitting new people to their ranks. Pay is declining; respect and authority, too. Most professionals even in privileged fields such as medicine and law work for bosses, now. One way or another, the labor of professionals is increasingly measured by cost-benefit criteria, managed by businesses, and organized to maximize profit.
Higher education privatizes by different, though similar, routes: the disappearance from the work force of tenure track people and their replacement by part-timers and other temporary instructors is only the most obvious and destructive. See also the growth of administrations in numbers, pay, and power; the rise of for-profit institutions; the push for electronic instruction; the commercialization of research, and the emphasis on vocational training. If professional decline is felt even in medicine (where many doctors feel they work for insurance companies) and in law (where 40% of recent law school grads failed to get full time jobs requiring the training they have gone deep into debt to pay for), it is more painful in fields that never fully professionalized. Consider what has happened in journalism, for just one example.
Radical Teacher seeks articles that explore this shift or consider ways of teaching about professions, or both. For instance:
• case studies of the forces that have attacked various professions, how, and against what resistance
• how professional practices and conditions of practice are changing
• what is happening to our control of the bodies of knowledge that authorized our privileges
• how conservative think tanks and foundations are contributing to the decline
• how employers and legislators are mobilizing new technologies to replace or degrade the labor of professional workers
• how professional organizations or unions have tried to halt or control de-professionalization
• new kinds of organizations--e.g., of contingent workers--responding to this situation, and what they have accomplished
• what kinds of resistance seem promising now, or futile
• where professionals can look for allies
• who is teaching--to whom, and how--about the academic profession and others
• what courses for entering graduate or professional systems are alerting them to the perils they face and arm them for later struggles around organization of and pay for their labor
• how guidance counselors "teach" about declining career chances, the risk of unpayable debt, and so on
Send proposals, correspondence, or drafts to Richard Ohmann: richardohmann@earthlink.net, and Ellen Schrecker: ellen.schrecker@gmail.com by July 15.
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