Brisbane conference to examine aspects of the American dream

American Studies scholars from Australia, New Zealand and around the world converge in Brisbane today to discuss topics ranging from cultural history to the American dream.

The Biennial Australian and New Zealand American Studies Association (ANZASA) Conference runs from Tuesday July 3 to Friday July 6 at The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus. It will showcase 80 research papers spanning American history, politics, literature, and film and television studies.

ANZASA President Associate Professor Chris Dixon said the conference will bring together leading scholars of American Studies.

“Since 1964, the association has provided a forum for scholars from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, from both sides of the Pacific, to extend and deepen their understandings of American society, culture, and history,” he said.

“This conference is no exception, with nearly 100 attendees discussing a wide array of topics, including literary and historical analyses of race relations, representations of contemporary and historical depictions of America through film and television, environmental history, and America's role as a superpower.”

This year's keynote speakers include Professor Karla Holloway (James B. Duke Professor of English and Professor of Law at Duke University in North Carolina), and Professor Paul Giles (Challis Chair of English at The University of Sydney).

ANZASA was established 48 years ago to open a dialogue on the ongoing Australian/American relationship.

“ANZASA brings together scholars from Australia and New Zealand with colleagues from around the world who specialise in American Studies,” said Professor Dixon.

“We enjoy a long and demonstrated interest in teaching American studies here at UQ.”

The conference program includes papers from a range of scholarly disciplines, and postgraduate students are particularly encouraged to attend.

US Consul General Niels Marquardt of Sydney, will be a special guest.

Keynote speaker Professor Ian Tyrrell, Scientia Professor of History at The University of New South Wales, will present on the topic of The Space and Times of US Transnational History.

The conference is supported by UQ’s Cultural History Project, the School of History, Philosophy, Religion, and Classics, and the Faculty of Arts.

Professor Ian Tyrrell will deliver the opening keynote address at 4.30pm on Tuesday July 3, followed by a reception.

For more information, please contact Shuting Jin (0488 022 071 or shuting@gmail.com).

Media: Dania Lawrence (07 33659163 or email d.lawrence@uq.edu.au).