Monday Missive – October 19, 2015

October 19, 2015 by Mark West
Categories: Monday Missive
nuevolution
¡NUEVOlution! Latinos/Latinas and the New South — Over the next two weeks both the UNC Charlotte’s Center for the Study of the New South and the Charlotte Teachers Institute are sponsoring events related to Latinos/Latinas in the New South.  On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the Center for the Study of the New South is co-sponsoring a community conversation about the relationship between the Latino and the African-American communities in Charlotte.  The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Palmer Building (formerly known as Fireman’s Hall) at 2601 East Seventh Street. The event is open to the public without charge, but registration is requested: register here.   On Tuesday, October 27, the Charlotte Teachers Institute is focusing one of its “Exploding Canons” events on the changing role of Latinos/Latinas in the New South.  The program will begin at 5:15 p.m. at the Levine Museum of the News South and will feature a panel discussion moderated by our Dean, Nancy Gutierrez.  Participants will also be able to view the Levine Museum’s “¡NUEVOlution!” exhibit.  The event is free and open to the public.

The topic of Latinos/Latinas in the New South is of interest to several members of the English Department.  Maya Socolovsky addresses this topic in her book titled Troubling Nationhood in U.S. Latina Literature.  In her book, Maya examines fiction by several contemporary Latina authors, and she shows how these works reflect changing attitudes concerning nationality among recent immigrants to the New South and elsewhere in the United States.  Another member of the English Department who has taken an interest in this topic is Becky Roeder.  Recently, Becky, in collaboration with former graduate student Chase Walden, has studied Spanish on public signage in the first ring suburban area of Charlotte along Eastway between N. Tryon and Central.  Liz Miller is addressing this topic in one of her classes.  Liz’s graduate-level class, Seminar in Language, Culture, and Society (ENGL 6127), will be focusing on the intersection of language, race and ethnicity over the next few weeks. One of the research articles that her students will present and discuss focuses on the ideologies that inform Anglo-Americans’ joking use of “Mock Spanish” and how such seemingly innocuous utterances can reinforce racial/ethnic inequality.  As these three examples illustrate, the English Department is engaged in the recent conversations related to Latinos/Latinas in the New South.

Kudos— As you know, I like to use my Monday Missives to share news about recent accomplishments by members of our department.  Here is the latest news:

Pilar Blitvich recently gave a presentation on “Digital Discourse, Conflict and Identity” at the Oberman Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Iowa. She also led a round-table discussion on the topics of her most recent research (digital discourse, multiparty communication, massive on-line polylogues, native digital versus digitized theoretical models, globalization/transnational identities and the digital transnational public sphere).

Valerie Bright recently published an article titled “My Hedgehog Stories” in RISE:  A Children’s Literacy Journal.

Paula Martinac‘s short story, “Comfort Zone,” was accepted for publication by The Raleigh Review.

Upcoming Events and Deadlines— Here are some dates to keep in mind:

October 28 — A poetry reading featuring Coen Crisp and Quentin Talley will take place on October 28 at 4:00 p.m. in Fretwell 290B.
November 4 — Bryn Chancellor will give a reading and sign her new book, When Are You Coming Home?, at Park Road Books at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4. http://www.parkroadbooks.com/event/2015-11

Quirky Quiz Question — In Latino/Latina culture, a major holiday is celebrated in the beginning of November.  What is the name of this holiday?  For extra credit, what is the Spanish name for this holiday?

Last week’s answer: DC

The Folger Shakespeare Library was founded by Henry Clay Folger and Emily Jordan Folger.  It opened in 1932 and is known today as the premier center for Shakespeare studies outside of Great Britain.  In what American city is the Folger Shakespeare Library located?