The MLA Italian American Literature Discussion group is seeking scholars and instructors interested in presenting at its round-table session—Negotiating Ethnic Politics: Teaching Ethnic Literature in an Italian American Context—scheduled for the 2016 MLA Convention in Austin, TX, January 7-10.

The session proposes to explore approaches by which the teaching of ethnic literature can be expanded and enhanced through the development of courses within an Italian American context.

Possible topics could include:

• Challenging conventional definitions of ethnic literature through the inclusion of Italian American literature in course syllabi.
• Exploring how Italian American perspectives broaden literary investigation of diversity in American literature and/or Italian literature.
• Incorporating Italian American literature into courses focusing of the Italian diaspora.
• Developing and promoting courses focusing on Italian American literature.
• Utilizing points of collusion and collision between Italian American and other ethnic literatures, or between Italian American and Italian literature, in the classroom.
• Pedagogical approaches to teaching ethnic literature in an Italian American context.

Prospective participants should forward a 300 word abstract and a brief bio to Carla Simonini at casimonini@ysu.edu by March 26, 2015.

For over a century, the Academy has awarded the Rome Prize to support innovative work in the arts and humanities. Through a national juried competition, Rome Prizes are awarded to emerging and established artists and scholars working in the following disciplines:

• Ancient Studies
• Architecture
• Design (includes graphic, industrial, interior, exhibition, set, costume, and fashion design, urban design, city planning, engineering, and other design fields)
• Historic Preservation and Conservation
• Landscape Architecture (includes environmental design and planning, landscape/ecological urbanism, landscape history, sustainability and ecological studies, and geography)
• Literature
• Medieval Studies
• Modern Italian Studies
• Musical Composition
• Renaissance and Early Modern Studies
• Visual Arts (includes painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, film/video, installation, new media, digital arts, and other visual arts fields)

Ranging from six months to two years, the thirty fellowships include a stipend, room and board, and individual workspace at the Academy’s eleven-acre center in Rome. 

Submissions due: NOVEMBER 1, 2015
Visit aarome.org/apply for guidelines.

Attention students: applications are now open for the IASA Memorial Fellowship, and the IASA Annual Conference Travel Subsidy.

Students interested in applying for either or both of these funds should download the full documentation and application packages. Questions can be directed to the contacts listed in these packages. 

IASA Memorial Fellowship

IASA Annual Conference Travel Subsidy

Please note that separate applications must be submitted for these two funds.