I am seeking original essays for a collection provisionally entitled, “Historicizing Fat.” The aim of the collection is to use history to interrogate the construction of “fat”. In particular, I am especially interested in using history in order to undercut the claim that the contemporary category, “obesity,” is a transhistorical and universal phenomenon. I can see a variety of essays that would fit into the volume from essays that are more theoretical in nature to those that offer more specific, contextualized readings of “fat”.

Although no abstract is required, I will gladly read and comment on them if you send one to me in the body of the e-mail before the date. Completed essays of 5000 to 7000 words by July 6, 2007. Send them by attachment to levye@uww.edu or by mail to Elena Levy-Navarro at the Program in English / University of Wisconsin, Whitewater / Whitewater, WI 53190. Direct all inquiries to Elena Levy-Navarro at levye@uww.edu