Hi,
I am putting together a panel (actually, probably more of a roundtable discussion) on the anti-hero in popular fiction at the Spring conference of the Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA). You can find out more about the conference here.
The "official" call for papers goes something like this:
This panel examines the meaning and significance of the "anti-hero" in popular fiction. The anti-hero, while he or she may ultimately "save the day," does not live by the same set of rules as the traditional heroic figure. Sometimes, such characters serve ultimately noble ends but employ the most despicable tactics, bringing sharply into focus the perennial question, "does the end justify the means?" Elsewhere the anti-hero's inevitable destiny carries the character along despite her/his most dreadful character flaws and self-absorption. Often, these anti-heroes suggest that real "purity" is not only unlikely, but also potentially dangerous. The panel sets out to explore these themes.
Moorcock's work is obviously relevant here, so if anyone is interested please submit a short abstract of your work by September 10, 2006. (And feel free to pass this on to anyone else who might be interested!!) All theoretical/interpretive approaches are welcome--I only ask that participants avoid jargon as much as possible to keep the discussion generally accessible.
You may email abstracts or papers to me at [email protected].
Thanks!!
I am putting together a panel (actually, probably more of a roundtable discussion) on the anti-hero in popular fiction at the Spring conference of the Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA). You can find out more about the conference here.
The "official" call for papers goes something like this:
This panel examines the meaning and significance of the "anti-hero" in popular fiction. The anti-hero, while he or she may ultimately "save the day," does not live by the same set of rules as the traditional heroic figure. Sometimes, such characters serve ultimately noble ends but employ the most despicable tactics, bringing sharply into focus the perennial question, "does the end justify the means?" Elsewhere the anti-hero's inevitable destiny carries the character along despite her/his most dreadful character flaws and self-absorption. Often, these anti-heroes suggest that real "purity" is not only unlikely, but also potentially dangerous. The panel sets out to explore these themes.
Moorcock's work is obviously relevant here, so if anyone is interested please submit a short abstract of your work by September 10, 2006. (And feel free to pass this on to anyone else who might be interested!!) All theoretical/interpretive approaches are welcome--I only ask that participants avoid jargon as much as possible to keep the discussion generally accessible.
You may email abstracts or papers to me at [email protected].
Thanks!!

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