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
<div id=”conv_program_details”>

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]

We invite explorations of pedagogical practices addressing specific language structures in the context of a literary text, thus, uniting literature and English language studies.

Please send a 300-word abstract before 3 March 2017 to Rob Troyer, email: troyerr@wou.edu

We invite abstracts that approach texts from a linguistic perspective in order to explore potential commonalities and differences between literary and non-literary language.

Please send a 300-word abstract before 3 March 2017 to Rob Troyer, email: troyerr@wou.edu

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]

If you have suggestions for the GS prose fiction panel for MLA 2018, email me (jhg@ucla.edu) or one of the other committee members before MLA. I will collate all suggestions and bring them forward to the committee at our meeting.

All best,

Jonathan