Please come to the East Asian Languages and Literatures Reception on Saturday night at 8:45 pm in Marriott 411-412. There will be food and drink! I hope to see you there.

Christopher Lupke

Submitted by faculty members in MLA-related fields at Israeli universities

This statement, at MLABoycott’s website, is presented anonymously by Israeli academics who support the boycott of Israeli universities.  The faculty are forced to sign anonymously because of a 2011 law passed by the Israeli parliament that prohibits support for BDS a…[Read more]

Both Judith Butler and Ariella Azoulay have recently posted at MLABoycott’s site, articulating their rationale for supporting the boycott of Israeli academic institutions at this time.

Azoulay writes:

“The boycott targets the Israeli regime, not Israeli citizens, unless they act as representatives of the regime. What, then, is the position…[Read more]

2017 GS Prose Fiction panels in Philadelphia

49. We Can’t Stop Talking about Elena Ferrante
Thursday, 5 January, 1:45–3:00 p.m., 401-403, Philadelphia Marriott
Presiding: Hester Blum, Penn State Univ., University Park

1. “The Function of Collaboration at the Present Time,” Sarah Blackwood, Pace Univ., New York; Sarah Mesle, Univ. of Southern Ca…[Read more]

<p style=”text-align: center;”>2017 GS Prose Fiction panels in Philadelphia</p>
49. We Can’t Stop Talking about Elena Ferrante
Thursday, 5 January, 1:45–3:00 p.m., 401-403, Philadelphia Marriott
Presiding: Hester Blum, Penn State Univ., University Park

1. “The Function of Collaboration at the Present Time,” Sarah Blackwood, Pace Univ., New York; [Read more]

<p style=”text-align: center;”>2017 GS Prose Fiction panels in Philadelphia</p>

49. We Can’t Stop Talking about Elena Ferrante
Thursday, 5 January, 1:45–3:00 p.m., 401-403, Philadelphia Marriott
Presiding: Hester Blum, Penn State Univ., University Park

1. “The Function of Collaboration at the Present Time,” Sarah Blackwood, Pace Univ., New Yo…[Read more]

<p style=”text-align: center;”>2017 GS Prose Fiction panels in Philadelphia</p>

49. We Can’t Stop Talking about Elena Ferrante
Thursday, 5 January, 1:45–3:00 p.m., 401-403, Philadelphia Marriott
Presiding: Hester Blum, Penn State Univ., University Park

1. “The Function of Collaboration at the Present Time,” Sarah Blackwood, Pace Univ., New Yo…[Read more]

<p style=”text-align: center;”>2017 GS Prose Fiction panels in Philadelphia</p>

49. We Can’t Stop Talking about Elena Ferrante
Thursday, 5 January, 1:45–3:00 p.m., 401-403, Philadelphia Marriott
Presiding: Hester Blum, Penn State Univ., University Park

1. “The Function of Collaboration at the Present Time,” Sarah Blackwood, Pace Univ., New Yo…[Read more]

<p style=”text-align: center;”>2017 GS Prose Fiction panels in Philadelphia</p>
49. We Can’t Stop Talking about Elena Ferrante
Thursday, 5 January, 1:45–3:00 p.m., 401-403, Philadelphia Marriott
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Presiding:<i> </i>Hester Blum, Penn State Univ., University Park

1. “The Function of Collaboration at the Present T…[Read more]

“How do I start a short story”? Edit

What method work best for you to start a short story?  I have just had some productive use of the famed US writer Ray Bradbury’s “vomit in the morning, clean up in the afternoon” method. (Author of _Fahrenheit 451_, _The Martian Chronicles_, _The Illustrated Man_, etc.)  Just allow your unconscious t…[Read more]

We have received the sad news that the great essayist and art critic <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jan/02/john-berger-obituary">John Berger</a> died today, January 2, at age 90. He was a principled supporter of BDS.  In 2006 he wrote what is referred to as <a…[Read more]

Jewish Studies scholar Daniel Boyarin has issued the following statement about academic boycott:

"I am on record, even on Israeli television, as a supporter of BDS and of a limited academic boycott as well. By limited boycott I mean that I do not countenance boycotts of individuals (Let he who is sinless cast the first stone) but of…[Read more]

In a recent blog issues in his capacity as MLA President, <a href="https://president.mla.hcommons-staging.org/2016/11/02/taking-issue-taking-stock/">Anthony Appiah</a> addressed the current debate around justice and academic freedom for our Palestinian colleagues.

MLA Colleagues Bill Mullen, Jacques Lezra and Tim Reiss respond…[Read more]

The Brandeis Center, notorious these days for launching efforts to censor other people's freedom of speech, has just threatened the MLA with a lawsuit if it passes the boycott resolution. For responses to this clumsy effort at intimidation, see David Lloyd…[Read more]