CALL FOR PAPERS: SOCIALIST REALISM AS ARTISTIC STYLE IN THE AMERICAS Popular and American Culture Association at the Fifth International Congress of the Americas, to be held in Puebla, Mexico, 18-20 October 2001. Panels: Socialist Realism as Artistic Style in the Republics of the American Continent 1930-1999. I am the organizer of various panels that will deal with manifestations of socialist realism in several fields in the American hemisphere, from the Thirties onwards. Originated in the Soviet Union around 1932, as a theory and method of literary composition, socialist realism spread rapidly towards other arts, namely painting, theater, sculpture, film, and so on. Understood as a way to overcome 19th century realism, socialist realism attempted to portray reality, in order to transform it and, in a parallel way, to mold the consciousness of the masses and facilitate the building of socialism in the world, with the objective to construct a classless society. But almost from its origins, socialist realism provoked polemic, and many attempts to redefine and reinterpret it, not just within the Soviet Union itself, but also in other parts of the world. Then, the papers we are asking for should concentrate in how the societies of the American republics experienced the arrival of socialist realism, how it influenced several artistic manifestations in these nations, and/or how indigenous artistic manifestations of the American republics enriched socialist realism to the point that it became an artistic style, how it was at the end linked, at least in some ways, to 19th century romanticism and naturalism in its attempts to become a faithful and objective mirror of life, encouraging the heightening and idealization of new social heroes and events: workers, farmers, historical developments, and their unglamorous lives and environments. Although they are not excluded, discussions should not be concentrated, for example, in the links between socialist realism and the "Mexican school of Painting" (Orozco, Siqueiros, Rivera), or the links between this artistic expression with social realism in the United States. These topics are more than welcomed but we attempt to propitiate also new approaches and more attention to the manifestations of socialist realism in the rest of the American continent. If you wish to present a paper, send an abstract of 100-200 words to Francisco Peredo Castro, Galjoenstraat 40, 1503 AT Zaandam, The Netherlands by 1st June, 2001. In order to prepare the program and to have it ready in time, we strongly recommend you, and we will appreciate very much if you can send your abstract, your paper, and your information as soon as possible. (E mail address: [log in to unmask], or fax +31 299 42 71 26). More information about the conference can be found at our web sites: PCA/ACA: http//h-net.msu.edu/pcaaca or www.udlap.mx.congress/ The registration form is available on the UDLA web site (Universidad de las Americas, Puebla/University of the Americas, Puebla). As you must register to be included in the program we strongly suggest you to complete the form and register as early as you can. Francisco Peredo [log in to unmask] ---- For past messages, visit the Screen-L Archives: http://bama.ua.edu/archives/screen-l.html