Dear ESRA members,

Gender/Genre Conference Organized by TIES/IMAGER University of Paris Est (Crteil/Marne la Valle) November 22-23, 2013
The second part of the Gender/Genre conference will be held on November 22-23, 2013 at the University of Paris Est. It aims at investigating further the articulation of gender and literary genre from the middle ages to the 21st century. Continuing our debates on the deconstruction of norms, we will welcome papers on all genres in connection with such approaches as feminist studies, masculinity studies, LGBT studies, material culture, and translation studies. What this conference proposes to discuss is the question of identity at the crossroads between sexual gender and literary genres. Indeed etymologically, the term genus covers two meanings to be found in the dictionary: one concerning origin and the other, category.Genus designates that which separates, divides, identifies and delimits. Paradoxically, in defining itself, genre seems unable to do without its opposite, identity cannot be imagined outside an original division. Historically, subjects as well as texts could not be conceived of outside categories: we distinguish between men and women, tragedy and comedy, poetry and the novel. The question of identity inherent in genre may lead to questions concerning value, judgment and the hierarchical organization of sexual and/or generic categories. The question of otherness which is at the heart of the genre problematic is inseparable from the threat represented by the other. Genre logically implies a struggle between the genres in so far as each genre aspires to prevail and to reduce the others to sub-genres. Thus the concept of mauvais genre of what is disreputable confirms the logic of exclusion at work in all genres. The constraints and norms from which genre proceeds nonetheless provide a basis for what is possible. Indeed, genre is not only established a posteriori, it also serves as a model for future production: it has a creative function. Literature understood in the sense of writing, blurs, disturbs and shakes up categories whether they be sexual or literary, and introduces differentiation into genre. Categories which we held to be atemporal then turn out to be susceptible to historical variations and reversals as well as numerous, intermittent developments. In English, the term gender is a deconstructing force which elicits questions. Papers from very different fields: linguistics, the history of ideas and literary theory, or commentaries on singular works will be welcome, as long as they bring together notions of difference between the sexes and between literary genres. A selection of papers will be published in an edited volume. Abstracts (300 words) should be sent to Isabelle Alfandary (isabelle.alfandary@free.fr), Vincent Broqua (vincentbroqua@gmail.com), and Charlotte Coffin (charlotte.coffin@upec.fr) before Jan 15, 2013. Papers will be in French or in English.