CONFERENCE CALL: 25th INTERNATIONAL MELOW CONFERENCE - KATHMANDU, NEPAL
Conference Call
25th MELOW International Conference to be held at Kathmandu University, NEPAL
27-29 September 2024
on
Echoes of the Earth: Interplay of Literature and Landscape
Throughout history, terrestrial landscapes have captivated human curiosity, serving as a significant muse for creative practitioners. Whether it be the enigmatic allure of towering mountains, the mystical charm of dense forests, or the vast expanse of oceans, the natural environment has served as a symbolic platform for portraying human existence, emotive expression, and contemplation of the human condition.
The dynamic relationship between literature and landscape is multifaceted, serving as both a backdrop for narrative events and a vehicle for emotional expression. In fictional works, landscapes such as the untamed wilderness in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and the tropical setting of Kerala in Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things not only provide a physical setting but also reflect the thematic elements of the narratives. Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones exemplifies how the landscape, like the jungle, can symbolize the psychological state of characters. In poetry, the landscape serves as a vehicle for memory and emotional expression, as seen in William Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey" and Siddhicharan Shrestha's "Mero Pyaro Okhaldhunga." Additionally, in argumentative writings such as Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, the relationship between humans and nature is explored, emphasizing the urgency of environmental conservation.
The September 2024 MELOW International Conference will explore the relationship between literature and landscapes, investigating both the depiction of landscapes in literature and literature's role in enhancing our understanding of landscapes.
The conference will address the following sub-themes:
1. Theoretical considerations
2. Environment, indigeneity, and spirituality
3. Forests and fantasies, woods, and wilderness
4. Landscapes –urban and rural: aesthetics and identity
5. Low-lying locations: plains and possibilities, deserts and desolation
6. Mountains, mountaineering, mystery and menace
7. Water bodies: rivers and reflections, oceans, and odyssey
The thrust of each panel will be on Literature and its relationship with Nature.
Important Dates
Announcement/Call for Abstract: 15 April
Abstract Submission: 20 May 2024
Notification to Authors: 15 June 2024
Full-length papers due (those competing for the ISM Award*): 15 Aug 2024
Full-length Paper Due (those who wish to publish in the MELOW journal: 1 Sept 2024
Programme to be finalized: 10 Sept 2024
MODE OF ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
The subject line of your message should be: ABSTRACT NEPAL 2024 [YOUR NAME]
If you’re competing for the ISM Award*: state clearly, “Indian citizen below 40 competing for the ISM Award.”
Abstracts may be sent in the format given below.
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1. THEME under which abstract may be considered (1 to 7 as given above): Note: Please send only ONE abstract. Double submissions will not be considered. |
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2. MELOW conferences attended earlier (in which year and where): |
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3. Are you currently a member of MELOW? Or do you need a fresh / renewed membership? Please specify. |
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4. Competing for ISM Award*: YES or NO |
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5. PPT presentation YES or NO |
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6. Name of Delegate Official designation (Designation/Dept/College/University) Email id |
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7. Title of Abstract |
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8. ABSTRACT [Text] 200-250 words |
Send your abstract to melusmelow@gmail.com with a copy to khagendra@ku.edu.np
The deadline for receipt of abstracts is 20 May 2024
Presenters need to be at least postgraduate research scholars, teachers, or independent scholars.
All abstracts will be peer-reviewed before they are accepted.
This is an in-person conference. Online sessions may be considered for delegates from outside India/Nepal/Bangladesh.
All paper presenters need to be members of MELOW. In case you are not a member, you may send your abstract now and apply for membership once it is accepted.
Details of membership/registration fees will be sent along with the acceptance letter.
* ISAAC SEQUEIRA MEMORIAL AWARD:
In memory of the late Prof Isaac Sequeira, MELOW annually awards a prize for the best paper presented by a young scholar (below forty at the time of the conference) at its conference. The award comprises a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 5,000. The competition is open to Indian citizens who are members of MELOW. The abstract and paper should be submitted by the stipulated deadline in the required format. Joint entries will not be accepted for the ISM Award.
For further inquiries, please email: melusmelow@gmail.com
Our website: www.melow.in
