Leonard Cohen: Call for Papers
International Undergraduate and Graduate Conference
Jagiellonian University in Krakow
Institute of American Studies and Polish
Diaspora
October 24, 2014
“The
poet laureate of pessimism”, “the grocer of despair”, “the godfather of gloom”
and “the prince of bummers” – to name just a few labels Leonard Cohen, an
artist of many faces, has been given through the years. We are looking forward
to exploring, analyzing, delving into those labels and then diving underneath
them during the International Undergraduate and Graduate academic conference
organized by Jagiellonian University in Krakow American Studies Students' Academic
Society on October 24, 2014.
Born
in Montreal in 1934, Cohen showed a great passion for words from an early age,
writing and performing his poems, studying music and literature, and publishing
his first book of poetry – “Let Us Compare Mythologies” – in 1956. Being
already an acclaimed author, he published his first novel “The Favourite Game”
in 1963, followed by “Flowers for Hitler” next year, and “Beautiful Losers”
hailed as “the most revolting book ever written in Canada” in 1966.
Simultaneously, to his literary career, Cohen developed his skills as a songwriter,
getting involved in New York’s music scene. His first album “The Songs of
Leonard Cohen” was released in 1968, starting a long road of successful and
critically acclaimed musical adventures through many musical styles, from acoustic
folk to electro-pop. Forty five years later Leonard Cohen’s music still gains
worldwide attention, with his twelfth and latest album “Old Ideas” topping the
charts in eleven countries, including Canada and Poland.
Both
his music and writing have had a tremendous cultural impact, but Cohen is,
first and foremost, a talented writer and therein lies the key to his ongoing
successes as a musician. The artist described as “part wolf and part angel” fascinates
many and his legacy cannot, and should not go unnoticed among those interested
in North-American culture. Therefore, we – American Studies Students' Academic Society
in collaboration with Institute of American Studies and Polish Diaspora of the
Jagiellonian University – invite you to participate in the conference focusing
on Leonard Cohen’s life and work. We are hoping to see those in a new light and
from a new perspective. We are looking for critical and in-depth analysis and
an original approach to the topic.
All
interested in the conference, please send your abstracts to festiwalkulturykanadyjskiej@gmail.com
along with your short biographical note (university affiliation, your past
conferences, publications, fields of research, personal interests). The
deadline for submissions is September 20, 2014. Both abstracts and
presentations will be accepted in English only. We will contact the authors of
presentations accepted no later than October 1. The planned length of the
presentations must not exceed 15 minutes. The conference fee for the presenters
is 25EURO/100PLN, which must be paid by the accepted speakers no later than October
10. Further details for the speakers will be sent via e-mail.
With
any questions please contact us via festiwalkulturykanadyjskiej@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/ujkna.
With
regards,
The
American Studies Academic Circle
