NASA/StudentNASA Fall Event 25 Nov. 2011: “American Borders”

“American Borders: Contact, Conflict and Exchange”

Under the auspices of the NASA, and coinciding with the 2nd StudentNASA event.

Conceived broadly, “American Borders” constitute the central parameter of this one-day international symposium which focuses on nations, cultures and individuals engaged in or concerned with transatlantic or transnational contact. The symposium will explore the centrality of borders and boundaries within United States culture, politics and society, and the situations of contact, conflict and exchange that arise from cross-border encounters. We will look at “borders” in terms of their geographical and political reality (e.g. borders with Canada, Mexico, immigration) as well as in terms of their acquired metaphorical meanings (e.g. the “repeating border,” integration) and their ideological meaning and character (e.g. cultural diplomacy, religion). In addition, we will explore the implications of the porousness of the United States as a national container for literary studies, cultural studies, US foreign and domestic policy, and for the practice of cultural diplomacy.

For the first time, this NASA Fall event coincides with the StudentNASA event. After a shared opening participants can follow one of two diverse tracks or choose to participate in both—there is an academic program (NASA) as well as a student-oriented program (StudentNASA). The opening and closing sessions are attended by both audiences.

More can be found here.