Southwest/Texas Popular & American Popular Culture Associations 30th Annual Conference

Albuquerque, NM. February 25-28, 2009
Hyatt Regency Albuquerque
330 Tijeras
Albuquerque, NM 87102
Phone: 1.505.842.1234
Fax: 1.505.766.6710

Panels now forming on topics related to American Indians Today. I am looking for panels or papers that examine the influence that American pop culture has on aspects of contemporary American Indian life ways and vice versa. American Indian culture is diverse and an examination of the culture, influences, adaptation, and cultural syncretism as it is presented in contemporary America is welcome.

Proposals may examine any aspect of American Indian life ways and pop culture as represented or interpreted in: the arts and performing arts (storytelling, myth, legend, theater, music); poetry; oral tradition; myth; legend; philosophy; sciences, arts; fashion; artifacts; foods; journalism; media (radio, television); photography; cultural, spiritual or identity appropriation; stereotypes; mascots; tribal politics; history; gaming; Indians in the military; activist movements; social influences; reservation, rural and urban influences; languages; assimilation, adaptation, and syncretism; sovereignty, peoplehood and any influence one may observe that has its genesis in American popular culture as adapted by contemporary American Indians.

This year marks our milestone 30th Anniversary! We will mark this accomplishment with our conference theme that celebrates our roots, “Reeling in the Years: 30 Years of Film, TV, and Popular Culture.” For this special theme, papers are particularly sought on aspects of film, TV, and popular culture of the last 30 years with an emphasis on the popular culture of 1979.

We are honored to have as our Luncheon Keynote, former New Mexico Governor David Cargo (1967-1971). Among his many accomplishments, Governor Cargo founded the New Mexico Film Commission, the first of its kind nationwide, which brought Hollywood film production to New Mexico. Continuing a tradition of governors who act, David Cargo played roles in several films including The Gatling Gun (1973), Bunny O’Hare (1971), and Up in the Cellar (1971) about a student poet who seduces his college president's wife, daughter, and girlfriend over lost financial aid.

Priority Submission and Registration: December 1, 2008.

Final Submission Deadline: Dec. 15, 2008.

Conference Registration: Dec. 31, 2008 (all participants must be registered by this date!).

Send abstracts and proposals for panels of 100-250 words. Submissions may be directed to me at the address below by 15 December 2008. :

Richard L. Allen, Area Chair
American Indians Today
Cherokee Nation
P.O. Box 948
Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74465
(918) 453- 5466
Email: rallen@cherokee.org

Details regarding the conference (listing of all areas, hotel registration) can be found at http://swtxpca.org/documents/home.html