Presseportal

HU200: American Economies – Cultural Dimensions of Economics – Economic Dimensions of Culture

Humboldt-Universität hosts 57th annual conference of the DGfA from May 27 to May 30, 2010

From Thursday, May 27, to Sunday, May 30, the 57th annual convention of the German Association of American Studies (DGfA Deutsche Gesellschaft für Amerikastudien) will be held at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Each year, the conference puts a different topic into focus. In the face of the global economic crisis - which has recently culminated in Greece’s economic collapse - renowned experts will discuss  "American Economies" in a very broad sense. This includes economics “proper”, but also narrative economies, symbolic economies, and visual economies, to mention only a few.

The conference includes lectures by four distinguished American keynote speakers: Economists James K. Galbraith and Julie A. Nelson, law professor Patricia Williams and sociologist Mary Pattillo will address economics from differing perspectives. The titles of their talks range from The Great Crisis and the American Response (Galbraith) and Gender and the Economy (Nelson), The Economies of Misfortune: Explosion, Implosion and the Meltdown of American Exceptionalism (Williams), to Race, Class, and Crime in the Redevelopment of American Cities (Pattillo). Further, Eva Boesenberg of Humboldt-Universität will speak on Discourses of Value: Reading Literature through Economics and vice versa.

"American Economies"
57th annual conference of the DGfA
from May 27 until May 30, 2010
at Humboldt-Universität zu  Berlin
Unter den Linden 6, 10117 Berlin, Audimax (Main Building)

In addition to the keynote lectures, writer Richard Price will read from his novel Lush Life in the context of the American Embassy Literature Series. He will also take part in a panel discussion on representations of economics in the HBO series 'The Wire'. Roundtables, workshops and receptions will offer participants further opportunities to engage in academic discussions, to share ideas, and to network.

Please note that registration is required for participating in the conference.
The keynotes, however, are open to the public.

For further details on registration procedures, the convention program, as well as fees, please go to: http://www.angl.hu-berlin.de/confslecs/dgfa2010fld/dgfaconvention2010

The conference is the convention of the German Association of American Studies (DGfA), which assembles ca. 860 scholars, teachers, and students of American Studies in Germany. The DGfA supports activities and study programs in the context of American Studies and especially tries to assist young academics. It also publishes Germany's leading academic journal on American history and culture "Amerikastudien/American Studies". This year—on the occasion of the 200th birthday of the Humboldt-Universität—the convention is organized by the Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. The Institut employs 8 full professors and 2 junior professors, various lecturers and academic as well as non-academic staff and serves 1350 students. The department offers a BA and an MA program in American Studies and a Research Colloquium for PhD students in the field. A brochure on the department can be downloaded from the website: http://www.angl.hu-berlin.de/.




FURTHER INFORMATION
Carina von Krosigk
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Department of English and American Studies
Unter den Linden 6
10099 Berlin
Phone: 030 2093-2766
Email: krosigkc@cms.hu-berlin.de