Faculty, independent scholars, graduate and post-graduate students are invited to submit paper proposals on the topic of the creation and assimilation of literary, intellectual and popular notions and images of the Slavic world: its peoples, cultures, languages, etc. How do the Slavic peoples see themselves and their cultures? How are they perceived in other cultures? Papers may focus on any geographical or cultural area of the Slavic world (Russia, Ukraine, Poland, etc.) and on any time period. Possible topics include but are not limited to:

- Slavic archetypes in art and literature
- Cultural transfers and their different forms and channels: borrowing, appropriation, influences, etc.
- Problems of translation to and from Slavic languages
- Slavic histories: orality, construction, dissemination
- The impact of the historical events of the last two decades on the evolution of the field of Slavic Studies.
- The empirical realities vs the constructed nature of the “Slavic world”
- Linguistic and socio-linguistic aspects of Slavic national identity formation
- Construction of Slavic images and identities in the social, political and artistic practice and discourse
- Geopolitical and economic peculiarities of the Slavic countries from historical, contemporary and comparative perspectives
- The Slavic world in conflict with itself or “others” in politics and culture
- The Slavic world in Quebec and Canada taken in its cultural, linguistic, historical and other aspects

The conference is open to scholars from Quebec and beyond. Paper proposals in French or English (approximately 300 words) are to be submitted to qnss.rqes@gmail.com by January 15, 2011.

The Quebec Network for Slavic Studies (QNSS) was founded by a group of graduate and post-doctoral students based in Montreal, Canada and is open to new members. QNSS aims to facilitate intellectual exchange between scholars based at Quebec universities in any discipline whose research touches upon the area of Slavic studies, taken broadly. QNSS also promotes international ties of Quebec scholars for the purpose of generating and disseminating research related to Slavic studies.