Call For Papers:

Armenian-American Histories and Cultures

As a result of the Armenian diaspora over many centuries, many people of Armenian heritage live outside the borders of the Republic of Armenia, positioning people of Armenian heritage squarely within discussions of both transnationalism and the fluidity of cultures. In the last century-and-a-half, particularly following World War I, a sizeable portion of the Armenian diaspora has taken root in the US.

As editors of a proposed anthology on Armenian-Americans and their histories and cultures, we seek essays addressing various aspects of Armenian-American identities and experiences. Although the anthology will focus on Armenians in the US, we recognize the necessity of making connections to global issues and events related to the Armenian diaspora in general as well as the Armenian genocide. We particularly encourage essays (approximately 15-25 pages in length) that focus on diverse aspects of the Armenian-American experience by utilizing innovative and complex theoretical and heuristic approaches. Topics may include: acculturation, commemoration, the role of memory and “forgetting” in family dynamics and the diaspora, contested histories, “racial” controversies, political connections and controversies, feminism, gender identities, language, food, material culture, music, art, and exhibits, cross-cultural connections and comparisons, community networks and intra-Armenian community relations and/or solidarities/divisions (re other hyphenated identities of Armenian-Americans, such as [“Ottoman”]-Armenians, or Lebanese-Armenians, Palestinian-Armenians, Iranian-Armenians, etc.), involvement in and reactions to current economic, social, and political developments both in the US and other parts of the world (including Israel/Palestine), popular culture and representation, analysis of educational curriculum pertaining to Armenian history and cultures, and the role of religion and the church in the diaspora.

Deadline for paper proposals: May 1, 2009. Please send an abstract (350-500 words) as Microsoft Word file to Kim Hewitt khewitt333@yahoo.com and Leah Sneider sneider@unm.edu.