Eighteenth Annual Focus Graduate Student Conference

Cincinnati, September 20-21, 2013 The German Graduate Student Governance Association of the University of Cincinnati and the editors of the graduate student journal Focus on German Studies present the Eighteenth Annual Focus Graduate Student Conference to be held September 20-21, 2013 at the University of Cincinnati. Sponsored by the Charles Phelps Taft Research Center and the Graduate Student Government Association of the University of Cincinnati. Re: Working, Thinking, Seeing. Adapting to the 21st Century Keynote Speaker: Dr. Frans Mäyrä, University of Tampere Keynote Title: From Narrative to Gameplay (And Back) - Studying Transmedial Storyworlds Abstract Deadline: 8 August 2013 In the digital age, the lines between inspiration, adaptation, and plagiarism become increasingly blurred as new media are explored. Taking inspiration from others is nothing new; ideas are constantly reworked across time, cultures, and media. Societies change, new subcultures are introduced, the boundaries of law are explored, and adaptations often find themselves on the avant garde. Each adaptation becomes a new, independent, work in its own right, but is it possible or preferable to analyze it as such? How do adaptations change one’s perspective of the “original” work? Comparing adaptations across formats offers the opportunity to explore the unique possibilities and limitations of various traditional and new media. Questions of perspective and the effects of audience interaction, for example, are some of the aspects to be discussed when exploring new media adaptations of familiar narratives. New ways of telling a story, evoking emotion, protesting, advocating, and expressing oneself are being developed every day. In what ways does this affect older media, and where do we go from here? This conference seeks to explore what it means to adapt a narrative in the twenty-first century. In continuing the interdisciplinarity of last year’s conference, we encourage critical and reflective papers from all areas of study with a focus on adaptations involving a German contribution. Possible topics include but are not limited to the following: · Intermediary adaptations (print, film, stage, visual art, new media, etc.) · Intercultural adaptations · Adaptation reception · Defining adaptation · Comparative approaches to adaptation · Close readings of adaptations · Archetypes and stock characters · Adaptations of classics · Counterfactual history · Mythical and Biblical themes · Adaptation vs. Plagiarism · Satiric responses · “Based on a true story…” · Remakes, Restagings, Revivals · Fanfic · Music sampling · Memes Revised conference papers can also be submitted for publication to our Focus on German Studies journal. Please send an abstract of 250-300 words in either English or German as an MS-Word attachment to Alexandra Parks and Alex Hogue at fogs.editor@gmail.com (ATTN: Focus on GS Conference). Please include your university affiliation in your email when you submit your abstract. *Please Note: Conference participants have the option of housing with UC graduate students. http://www.facebook.com/UCGermanStudies/posts/475761869175774