Call for Papers
Association for Mormon Letters
March 29-30, 2013
Utah Valley University
Theme: Depictions of Christ in LDS literature, film, and art: Does it matter how we portray Him?
From Arnold Friberg to Levi Peterson to Jack Harrell, we have seen Christ as a Nordic, finely muscled man; a cigarette-smoking cowboy; a rough-hewn stranger at a Megadeath concert. Some have found Peterson’s “Cowboy Jesus” to be blasphemous; others have suggested that Mormon depictions of Christ (even those borrowed from non-LDS artists but displayed in temples and visitors’ centers) indicate a conspicuously white Savior at the helm of a conspicuously white church.
We invite proposals for papers discussing LDS books, films, and art. Papers may focus on particular works or on trends. We would also be interested in hearing about depictions of Christ from multi-cultural perspectives, or on the influence of LDS art on international congregations.
Deadline for submissions is February 20, 2013. Please submit proposals to Margaret Blair Young at Margaret_Young@byu.edu
The conference will begin on the evening of Friday, March 29th and conclude on the 30th.
Are there any requirements for format, or notes, or suggested length?
Proposals should be only a paragraph or two. The papers themselves need to be presented within twelve-fifteen minutes. Sessions will be 90 minutes, and we want time for questions and answers afterwards. Inasmuch as these will be oral presentations, we won’t look at documentation, though we’d expect all papers to be well-documented.
Do you have to be a member of AML to participate?
Also, are there a certain amount of proposals that are accepted? If so, how and when are you notified? Thank you!
Kai–you do NOT have to be a member of AML to participate. The number of accepted proposals depends on the number of submissions. Notification will be in early March. Hope to have something from you!!
Margaret, I never knew this was your baby.