This interdisciplinary conference will focus on the Latino cultures of New York City and its surrounding areas. At a moment when Latino migration to the United States has become a hot-button political issue and Latino culture continues to exert phenomenal worldwide influence, we propose to examine and discuss the historical and current role New York City, or other urban spaces, play in Latino culture, and how Latino migration has changed the way such sites are conceived. We welcome paper proposals that analyze these issues from both geopolitical and rhetorical perspectives; we are particularly interested in fresh readings of Latino cultural objects (defined widely¨Ceither produced by Latino subjects or focusing on Latino culture), including literature, film, music, visual art, websites, video games, or television.

Sub-topics may include:

¡öBilingual and Multilingual culture
¡öNative and aboriginal cultures and immigration to NYC
¡öLatino panethnicity
¡öThe marketing and branding of Latino identity
¡öNew York City as exemplar or exception
¡öComparative approach to NYC and its environs, or to NYC and other major metropolises
¡öClass, race, and/or gender concerns
¡öNY Latino cultures as paradigms of diaspora/migration
¡öLegacies of U.S. imperialism
¡öEthnic studies and its discontents
¡öN.Y. Latino response to state immigration laws
¡öNYC neighborhoods in history and in transition
¡öAesthetic experimentation and politics
Papers will be limited to 20 minutes and should be delivered in English. Proposals for non-traditional presentations are also welcome.

Please submit abstracts of approx. 250 words and a 1-page vita by 12/15/10.

All submissions will be considered individually; however, you may indicate whether separate submissions are intended to compose a panel.