American/Diaspora
/ Cultural Studies and Media Studies
Tom Hertweck (Fordham University)
This session is sponsored by the Kurt Vonnegut Society and seeks abstracts that engage the conference theme of "(R)EVOLUTION."
We are open to what shape presentations might take, but possibilities might include:
* Vonnegut's understanding of American Revolution (e.g. Breakfast of Champions, "Harrison Bergeron"). * What might be considered "revolutionary ideas" in Vonnegut, like Bokonism, Ice-Nine, Granfalloons, "freeing" characters in Breakfast, and unwavering bands of light, for instance. * Vonnegut's evolution as a writer: thinking through changes in style or content in relation to changing social, political, and cultural moments. * Vonnegut's evolution throughout his Prefaces: comparing the Vonnegut who writes in the Preface to SH5 to the Vonnegut who writes in the Preface of Hocus Pocus. * The evolution of Kilgore Trout (or Rabo Karabekian, Eliot Rosewater, and Tralfamadore) through Vonnegut's oeuvre. * Vonnegut's treatment of species' evolution in, for example, Galapagos.
Any other takes on Vonnegut and (R)evolution are encouraged and welcomed!
This session is sponsored by the Kurt Vonnegut Society and seeks abstracts that engage the conference theme of "(R)EVOLUTION" including Vonnegut's understanding of American Revolution, his "revolutionary ideas", his evolution as a writer, his evolving prefaces, the evolution of his characters, or his treatment of species' evolution.