THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OUR PARTICIPANTS FOR MAKING LCLC51 A SMASHING SUCCESS!
LCLC52 is scheduled for two days of virtual panels on Monday February 17th and Tuesday February 18th 2025 followed by three days of in-person conferencing here in Louisville starting Thursday afternoon (2/20/25) and ending Saturday evening (2/22/25).
A RECAP OF LAST YEAR’S CONFERENCE:
LCLC51 saw many of the world’s most distinguished poets, writers, and theorists in attendance, renewing its reputation as the annual event for literature lovers. With official registrations just shy of 350 attendees, the 2024 LCLC continued to satisfy with over 85 activities, beginning with 8 virtual sessions spread over Monday and Tuesday, followed by three days of in-person events (Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Certainly, the most poignant moment of the conference happened Saturday afternoon when the poetry world came together in a hastily arranged hybrid zoom session on our campus to mourn the loss of Lyn Hijinian (who died that morning). Alternating between Zoom and in-person speakers, the session brought many in the packed assembly to tears while listening to eulogies delivered from Russia to Paris, from Berkeley to Boston.
Under the directorship of Dr. Matthew Biberman (ENGLISH), LCLC51 also offered exciting new programming beyond literature, thus renewing the conference’s original mission. Matthew organized the LCLC’s first-ever joint event with the music school, a keynote conversation between U of L music professor Jerry Tolson and the Grammy award-winning poet A. B. Spellman. Other events included a panel stream on the mixed media work of the celebrated artist John Yau, including a reading by Yau and his student Ronna Lobo held at the Schneider Hall Gallery (organized by Tiffany Calvert, Professor of Art), as well as a panel on public mourning featuring sculptor (and U of L alum) Amanda Matthews whose Frankfurt Covid memorial is the first such state memorial of its kind.
Thanks to CODRE funding, the LCLC was also able to host Gladys Tzul Tzul, a Maya K’iche’ activist, public intellectual, sociologist, and visual artist who was one of the first to study indigenous communal politics and gender relationships in Guatemala. Tzul Tzul’s appearance capped the LCLC’s Spanish offerings, highlighting the conference’s commitment to supporting the practice, study, and celebration of global art and culture.
With its virtual programming, the LCLC is now attracting participants from all over the world, and Biberman expects to see international attendance continue to grow at next year’s LCLC52 (consult
www.thelouisvilleconference.com for more details).
DETAILS FOR LCLC52
Individuals new to the LCLC experience are encouraged to review last year’s schedule. To access it, go to “Schedule” above and click on the link.
For LCLC52 we welcome inquiries from exhibitors, societies, or any collective interested in submitting proposals for events or panels or having a presence either on-site at the University of Louisville or offsite at the Brown Hotel or other local venues. Questions? E-mail smbibe01@louisville.edu
The Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture since 1900 is now in its 51st year and has become an international event attracting more than three hundred participants annually. Scholars working in English and Spanish are invited to submit proposals on any topic pertaining to literature and culture since 1900.
The Conference also welcomes submissions by creative writers. Reading committees select the strongest critical and creative works; the papers are then grouped for presentation at sectional meetings held on our campus. The conference also hosts national and international Group Societies and invites proposals for seminars.
Recent keynote speakers have included Jennifer Egan, Stephanie Burt, Merve Emre, Fernando Opere, Lauren Berlant, Colson Whitehead, Jean-Michel Rabaté, Fred Moten, Rodrigo Toscano, Johanna Drucker, Mat Johnson, Lisa Gitelman, Jack Halberstam, Juliana Spahr, James Smethurst, Dominic Pettman, M. NourbeSe Philip, Sianne Ngai, Douglas Kearney, Lynn Keller, Jed Rasula, Forrest Gander, Coral Bracho, and Marisa Parham.
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