2009 Regional Graduate Conference

"Locating Public(s): Culture, Space, Text and Thought
An interdisciplinary graduate conference
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Saturday April 4th, 2009

The conception of the Public (or Publics) has been contested in historical, social, and political arenas within the various discourses
of language and culture. Although, arguably, the public and its space have been a subject of investigation since antiquity, recent scholarship has reconceived earlier definitions in light of contemporary political shifts and the increasingly invasive presence of media and technology into the private sphere. By examining notions of the public, we hope to revisit this concept within a contemporary framework. What are the forms of the public and what issues are raised by its problematic definition? Is the dichotomy between public and private a dated conception? How can inquiries into the public inform our notions of other fields that require the public and publicity for their operation?

In addressing the need for a current and expanded conversation about the public that exceeds disciplinary boundaries, this conference aims to create a space for graduate and professional students from various fields within the Humanities to engage in dialogue, learn from interdisciplinary perspectives, make connections, and share in our investigation of the public and its bearings on our own work and lives.

Download a PDF of the schedule here