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Text Book Seeks Contributions on Indian Women

LONDON

Contributions from North American and Indian scholars dealing with the challenges women face as public performers in global context is sought by a London publisher. The series is called Civic Discourse for the Third Millennium.

Chapter essays are solicited for Intercultural Communication and Creative Practice: Women, Performance and Civic Discourse in Global Contexts. This book will examine the challenges and successes women face as public performers in global contexts, particularly in developing nations.

Exploring women's role in music, dance and theater, the book will focus on women performers in post-colonial and orientalist contexts, which have rendered them as the exotic 'Other', or in other settings where women have traditionally been silenced from public civic discourse.

It also examines how the media represents women performers. That is the media of both developing nations and that imported into developing nations.

Drawing from feminist discourses emerging from the so-called 'Third World', the book problematizes the historical positions of women on public stages and how the past creates barriers to women's success as contemporary musicians, dancers and theatrical performers.

The book examines architectural and spatial boundaries traditionally erected for women generally and women performers specifically. Moroccan feminist Fatima Mernissi argues that "the ritualized trespasses" of women in the public sphere equates women, on stage and on the street, as prostitutes.

The editor of the book seeks women authors from regions such as Africa and Asia, and those who have conducted field research in these areas, who interrogate the problems women face in the public sphere, the objectification and exploitation of women, and the historicized notions of femininity and sexuality in developing nations.

While theoretically rigorous, the book will be accessible and engaging to undergraduate and graduate students and also scholars. The book will present women's civic discourse in a unique way -- through an examination of the intersections of intercultural communication and creative practice. Finally, the book looks to the future of intercultural and creative practice as civic discourse as women performers move into the Third Millennium.

The deadline for submission of one-page (250 words) abstract, preferably by e-mail: September 30.

Deadline for submission of essays: December 15, 1999.

As a Fulbright Scholar in Tunisia and an American Institute of Maghreb Studies Fellow in Tunisia and Morocco, editor Laura Lengel has conducted feminist and critical ethnographic work exploring women's role in music and the mass media. Her research and lecturing experience covers north Africa, the Mediterranean Middle East, eastern and western Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Inquiries, abstracts and essays should be sent to: Laura Lengel, Assistant Professor, Department of Communications, The American International University in London 1 St Albans Grove, London W8 5PN England; (44) 171-603-3292; e-mail: lengell@vptech.demon.co.uk.

Web site: http://www.vptech.demon.co.uk/lengel/publications/call.html.

Dance and Music at Carnegie Mellon

PITTSBURGH

A variety of classical music and dances from India are organized by Srishti, in association with Mayur at Carnegie Mellon University.

The Festival of Dance and Music from India is scheduled for September 10 and 11, Rangos Hall, University Center, CMU.

September 10, 7 pm, Hindustani classical vocal by Charu Collur; Meghadutam, dance theater presentation. Choreography: Sreyashi Dey Saturday.

September 11, 6 pm, Odissi dance by Sreyashi Dey; Carnatic violin and flute jugalbandi by Shankar and Ajit; Choreographic-Narrative Collaboration by Sreyashi Dey, Andrea Read and Sylvia Nanyonga-Tamasuza: Indian and African dance, music, live drumming and poetry. Narrator/MC: Brita Chakraborty.

Admission free. Contact tyagi@andrew.cmu.edu or (412) 820-2532.

South Asian Affairs Conference

EAST LANSING, Michigan

The Asian Studies Center at Michigan State University is hosting the 48th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs, an affiliate of the Association for Asian Studies, September 24 to 26, 1999 at the Kellogg Center on MSU's campus.

One of the highlights will be a classical music performance by Asian artists in MSU's School of Music on Friday, September 24. This is a free concert opened exclusively to those who register for the MCAA meeting. It is designed to highlight Asian talent in the school and contributions by Asian talent to performing arts in America.

There will also be a dinner banquet, Kabuki Restaurant, September 25. Susan Mann, President of the Association for Asian Studies, will be speaking at the banquet.

Contact information (for preliminary program, registration forms, etc) is available at MCAA Conference Committee, The Asian Studies Center, Michigan State University, 110 Center for International Programs, East Lansing, MI 48824-1035.

Telephone: (571) 353- 1680; Fax: (517) 432-2659; Email: asiansc@pilot.msu.edu

Website: http://www.isp.msu.edu/AsianStudies.

If you would like to post any information about forthcoming events or community happenings, please email the details to bettypais@aol.com

Information and photographs can also be mailed to Betty Pais at 87-52 108th Street, 2nd Floor, Richmond Hill, NY 11418-2229, USA.

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