Area CFP: Re-Remembering The Alamo

Despite its failure at the box office, the most recent cinematic reincarnation of the Battle of the Alamo has renewed interest among scholars and fans in Hollywood representations of this seminal event in the history of Texas. The upcoming Film & History League conference will feature a special session with Frank Thompson, a consultant for The Alamo (2004), and a noted scholar in the field of Alamo cinematic and popular culture representations. We'd also like to feature at least one panel devoted to the newest as well as previous cinematic representations of the Alamo, which would include everything from John Wayne's 1960 eponymous film to D.W. Griffith's Martyrs of the Alamo (1915). Some of the questions you might consider focusing your analysis on would include: How do these films fare in terms of historical accuracy? How does the historical context in which these films appear influence the production and consumption of the narratives? Do these films help or harm viewers in their understanding of contemporary cultural events, like the War in Iraq and the dilemmas of Mexican immigrants?

The Film & History League, with the Literature/Film Association, will be holding its conference on "War in Film, Television, and History" during November 11-14, 2004, near Dallas, TX. Full details on the location, registration procedures, and additional area topics can be found on the web site www.filmandhistory.org. Deadline for proposals is September 15, 2004.

If you're interested in presenting a paper, please contact the Chair for Re-Remembering the Alamo Area: