Spanish and Portuguese Studies

The Spanish & Portuguese are encompasses literatures and cultural expressions from Latin America, Spain, Portugal as well as other hispanophone and lusophone countries. Although predominantly focused on the Spanish and Portuguese languages this does not preclude any submissions on any other of the languages used in Latin America or other countries of Hispanic or Lusophone expression.

NeMLA welcomes panel proposal submissions in the following areas in Spanish, Portuguese or English:

• Golden Age Literature
• Medieval Literature
• Women’s Writing
• Latin American Literature
• Iberian Literature
• Caribbean Literatures in Spanish
• Transatlantic Studies
• Spanish/Portuguese language pedagogy
• Spanish/Portuguese linguistics

If there is a literature group not listed please let us know and we will include it on our webpage. It is our endeavour to provide a venue for our strong areas to continue to flourish and for those under represented areas to grow. More importantly, submit a panel proposal for that area.

If you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact the current Area Director.

This specific section of NeMLA emphasizes submissions in language and literature because Cultural Studies & Media Studies area is dedicated to Cultural Studies and Film. We always welcome panels that look at film and other expressions of culture in Spanish and Portuguese but it is up to the individual to decide whether your panel proposal would fit better under Cultural Studies or Literature and submit accordingly.

NeMLA is committed to developing and encouraging submissions in underdeveloped areas. Traditionally the Spanish and Portuguese section has seen a very strong submission record in proposals in Spanish literature and/or language. NeMLA would like to see a growth in the submissions in Portuguese and/or Lusophone culture, literature and language. For instance, in the field of Latin American studies it would be interesting to include literatures in both Spanish and Portuguese. While we cannot guarantee acceptance of any panel proposal, and while all proposals are assessed for the quality of the proposal, a major factor we take into consideration is whether or not the panel would help an under-represented area grow. Some of the areas that have been under-represented have been:

• Colonial and Post-colonial Literatures
• Latina/Chicana Literature
• African Literature in Portuguese
• Portuguese Literature
• Portuguese Linguistics

We have seen growth in these areas but would still like to develop more panels in this area, especially those dealing with Portuguese and Lusophone topics.

Victoria L. Ketz 
<ketz@lasalle.edu>
Global Languages, Literatures, and Perspectives, La Salle University