Fat Studies
Call For Papers
2008 PCA/ACA
Fat Studies is becoming an interdisciplinary, cross-disciplinary field of study that confronts and critiques cultural constraints against notions of “fatness” and “the fat body”; explores fat bodies as they live in, are shaped by, and remake the world; and creates paradigms for the development of fat acceptance or celebration within mass culture.
Proposals in the area of Fat Studies are being accepted for the 2008 PCA /ACA (Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association) National Conference in San Francisco, CA (March 19-22 2008; San Francisco Marriott). We welcome papers and performances from academics, researchers, intellectuals, activists, and artists, in any field of study, and at any stage in their career.
Topics may include but are not limited to
- representations of fat people in literature, film, music, nonfiction, and the visual arts
- cross-cultural or global constructions of fatness and fat bodies
- cultural, historical, or philosophical meanings of fat and fat bodies
- portrayals of fat individuals and groups in news, media, magazines
- fatness as a social or political identity
- fat acceptance, activism, and/or pride movements and tactics
- approaches to fat and body image in philosophy, psychology, religion, sociology
- fat children in literature, media, and/or pedagogy
- fat as it intersects with race, ethnicity, class, religion, ability, gender, and/or sexuality
- history and/or critique of diet books and scams
- functions of fatphobia or fat oppression in economic and political systems
By November 30, 2007, please send an abstract of 100 - 250 words or a completed paper to Fat Studies area co-chairs, Julia McCrossin (jmccross@gwu.edu) and Lesleigh Owen (goddess_les@yahoo.com).
Please include your complete contact information, and a CV and/or 50 word bio, along with anticipated A/V needs.
Presenters must become members of the Popular Culture Association. Find more information on the conference and organization at http://www.pcaaca.org/conference/ 2008/index.php