Call for Conference Committee Members!

Dear Comparative Studies PhD students,

We are hoping that this year’s conference will continue in the tradition of former conferences sponsored by PISA and will be a grand success! To make this happen, we are calling on our fellow students and members to help and participate. Please consider becoming a conference committee member and help us plan, orchestrate and execute the best conference to date. If you wish to participate, a lot or just a little, as every hand counts, please sign up here and/or email PISA at Pisa0506@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Vote on Conference Title and Theme by Friday September 30th at 4PM

Ladies and gentlemen, the conference topic and titles have been narrowed down and we are ready to put it to a vote. Please vote by commenting here or by emailing PISA PISA0506@yahoo.com. We need all the votes in by 4 pm Friday September 30th!

1) "The Arts, Society and Culture: The Necessity of Humor in the Academy and Beyond"

Literary critic and master rhetorician Kenneth Burke stated “the comic analysis of exploitation prompts us to be on the lookout also for those subtler ways in which the private appropriation of the public domain continues.” Within society, a tragic frame of reference is often used to exclude members and groups from the wider workings of society as well as creating of these groups and individuals a scapegoat. How can humor successfully be used to correct the tragic frame and offer a new perspective by incongruity? What role should academia play in exploring the power of humor in the face appropriation of groups and individuals? How can humor work to alter the tragic frame in film, television, music, literature and theatre? Is humor an effective tool in combating injustice or, instead, does it tend to belittle the importance and seriousness of injustice?

2) "The Arts, Society and Culture: Humor in the face of catastrophe/tragedy"

During times of catastrophe and within frames of tragedy, comedy and humor have offered therapeutic outlets for individuals and society. What rhetorician and literary critic Kenneth Burke referred to as the “comic corrective.” The comic and humorous have also served as effective means of protest. In which ways do the arts, society and cultures utilize humor to represent and/or relieve the tensions of tragedy? How is humor used by the arts and by different cultures to protest events and socialinequalities? Can humor be an effective means for social change as well as a medicine for our woes?

3) "The Arts, Society and Culture: Intersections of Class, race and Gender"

How do the intersections of race, class, and gender inform historical, sociological, linguistic, literary, and media studies? This conference will provide avenues of discussion relating to ethnic, class and sexual identity, collective consciousness, collective action, as well as the contribution that academic research can bring to such issues. True to its interdisciplinary nature, PISA will welcome speakers from the academy as well as community activists and journalists. The goal of this conference would be the creation of a dialogue toward the discovery and promotion of new insights on how definitions of race, class, and gender affect academic and public discourse.

4) “The Arts, Society and Culture: Education, in the classroom and beyond" (Although we are not absolutely sure what Anonymous wanted with this suggestion, here is our two cents)

How can education be utilized in the classroom and beyond to promote the arts and cultural diversity? What role should formal education play in promoting the arts and cultural diversity? What is the role of society in fostering cultural awareness?

5) "The Arts, Society and Culture: Protesting Faces of War in America"

In today's late capitalist society, the idea of war has brought on new struggles to define contemporary society. Old definitions of war no longer hold truth for today's populations. Today, wars are fought, not only abroad against foreign "declared" enemies, but within contemporary society against poverty, hunger, environmental degradation, terrorism, natural disasters, and disease. Surprisingly, states no longer play authoritative roles in these wars-the wars of individuals, families, communities, villages and academic institutions. Just what wars exist today in contemporary society and how the arts, society, and culture can rise up to fight them individually and collectively-protesting faces of war in America?

6) "An Annual Graduate Conference instead of a Themed Conference"

Instead of a themed conference and the attendant worry of whether the theme is too narrow or too broad to draw appropriate interest, how about developing it into an annual graduate conference in comparative studies? A graduate conference would draw paper presentations from grad students around the country, presenting in arts, humanities, cultural studies, social issues, social sciences, all the interdisciplines represented in our program. The University of California-Riverside has a good model in its annual disjunctions conference in the humanities. There are 50-100 panels over two days of a weekend when there are lots of rooms available on campus. They also schedule a student film festival, performances/readings and an art exhibit. Their keynote speaker this year was from a neighboring institution. A multi-disciplinary graduate conference would require coordination and involvement from many departments; it might give our program a stronger working relationship with a broader array of faculties and students at FAU.

CV and Academic Application Workshop

What: CV and Academic Application Workshop

When: October 7, 2005 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Where: FAU, Boca Campus, Room SU 222

PISA has hooked up with the Career Development Center to offer a CV Writing & Components of Academic Application Workshop on October 7, 2005 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM--Room SU 222

All PISA Students interested should register for the workshop here .

Unfortunately, if you do not RSVP for this event, you will not be able to participate. As most of us will need to navigate the tangled web of Academic Applications and CVs, I highly urge you to take advantage of this opportunity.

You can also find out about other Graduate Workshops that the Career Development Center offers by visiting the Career Development Center's Website. Once on their main page go to the right of the page, click on the “calendar of events” and see what they have in store.

Thanks!

Opening Year Party at the Boca Raton Historical Society

Semester Kick-Off Soiree

Do Not Forget to RSVP on the Invite.com invitation emailed to you

Host: FAU Comparative Studies Student Association

Location: Boca Raton Historical Society -- 71 N Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33432

When: Saturday, September 24, 7:00pm

About:
You and a guest are cordially invited to attend the annual Comparative Studies Program semester kick-off soiree!This annual event is hosted by PISA, the Comparative Studies Student Association. It is sure to be the social event of the season. Alright, at least the semester, or maybe just the weekend! If nothing else it's a great opportunity to mix and mingle with your fellow students, professors, and others who are instrumental to our program. Please plan to join in this casual evening of food, friends, and drink in the unique setting of the Boca Raton Historical Society. This is a pot-luck and BYOB event. So RSVP below and be sure to let us know what you'll be bringing by clicking on the pull-down menu below the response check-in. Or you can enter information in the comments section of your response.We look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones!

Directions:
From 1-95 take the Palmetto Park Road (Exit 44), then go east, going towards the Beach. When you hit Dixie Hwy, take a left. Soon after taking that left, you will come to E. Boca Raton Road, take a right. Immediately, you will come to US-1, take a right and arrive at 71 N. Federal Hwy, Boca Raton.

Boca Ratan Historical Society Website

Book Exchange

So, you are in PI 1 (or another class) and you have to buy all these books!  The library is now out of them, and your purse has shrunk.  What are you to do?  May we suggest borrowing the needed edition from your fellow students?  And fellow students, be kind enough to lend these precious commodities?  Of course this is the honor system, but if you need a book, you can post your need here under the comments section.  If a fellow student has the book to lend, they can contact you to let you know.  Please remember to leave your email address so your fellow students can contact you.