The Teaching American Studies Network invites proposals for a one-day symposium to be held at the University of Warwick on 9 July 2024.

While the Teaching American Studies Network generally meets online or at the BAAS Annual Conference, the steering group also think it is important to create space for more in-depth discussions and longer conversations, to share pedagogical research, and to discuss ideas, good practice, and innovations.

The theme for the 2024 Symposium is “Decoloniality: Difficulties and Multiplicities”.

Keynote Speaker: Dr Jonathan Ward, Lecturer in Race and Diversity Studies at King’s College London, and creator of The Abolitionist Curriculum (https://abolitionistcurriculum.wordpress.com/).

We would be particularly interested in proposals from those teaching in American Studies and related fields in HE, that reflect on:

• Anti-racist and inclusive pedagogies
• Teaching “difficult” topics
• De- / anti- colonisation of the curriculum
• Decolonising methodologies
• Reparation and reclamation
• Decolonial futurities and joy
• Collaborations with museums, charities, schools, libraries, or other community organisations
• Co-creation of activities and materials with students

We encourage proposals for presentations in innovative formats, including roundtables, flash papers, reading groups, and workshops.

All proposals should be sent to Dr Lydia Plath at l.j.plath@warwick.ac.uk by 10 May 2024. Please include a title, an abstract of no more than 250 words, a brief biography (including institutional affiliation, where appropriate, and pronouns, if desired), and an email address.

We are planning to develop a special section for the Journal of American Studies out of the papers for this symposium, made up of a combination of research articles and shorter reflective pieces. If you would be interested in publishing a written version of your presentation as part of this publication, please include details as part of your submission.

We hope to be able to provide financial support to postgraduates and those not in full time academic employment, in order to facilitate attendance. This symposium is envisioned primarily as an in-person, immersive event. However, we are also mindful of the environmental impact of academic events, and so we will be offering a hybrid attendance option. We ask that those who would need to fly to attend this symposium consider attending online instead