'Desiring Divas: the Diva in Modern Italian Culture' 22-23 September 2011, Downing College, University of Cambridge (UK) Call For Papers This two-day conference, hosted and funded by the Department of Italian at the University of Cambridge, will explore and attempt to account for the 'mythification' of performing female artists as a phenomenon of modernity in Italy, and will investigate the historical, cultural, regional, geo-political and social contexts in which the Italian diva has gained notoriety. Areas which will be addressed include: Hollywood divas; the female singer as diva; the diva's production, consumption and reception in local, regional, national and international contexts; drawing-room and concert hall divas; child divas; diva fandom; male divas; diva rivalry and solidarity; TV and internet divas; divas in literature, opera and theatre. Proposals for papers of twenty minutes are invited on the figure of the diva in Italian film, theatre and literary studies, as well as cultural studies, women's studies, media studies and star studies. Plenary speakers: Professor Mary Wood, University of London (Birkbeck) Professor Lucia Re, University of California, Los Angeles Dr Susan Rutherford, University of Manchester Abstracts should be sent by 9 May 2011 to one of the organizers: Dr Kate Mitchell, University of Strathclyde ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) Dr Catherine O'Rawe, University of Bristol ([log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>) Film screenings of Febo Mari's Cenere and Peter Delpeut's Diva Dolorosa will be shown at the Arts Picturehouse, Cambridge, under the auspices of the Cambridge Film Festival 2011 during the course of the event. Dr Katharine Mitchell Lecturer in Italian School of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Strathclyde Glasgow G1 1XQ tel. +44 (0)141 548 3509 The University of Strathclyde is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, number SC015263 Dr Katharine Mitchell Lecturer in Italian School of Humanities and Social Sciences University of Strathclyde Glasgow G1 1XQ tel. +44 (0)141 548 3509 The University of Strathclyde is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, number SC015263 ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu