Mid-Atlantic Region
Events, Workshops & Symposia

Lace in Translation The Design Center at Philadelphia University 4200 Henry Ave. Philadelphia, PA. 19144 March 6, 2010 Save the Date Spend a Saturday with CSA's Mid Atlantic Region at Philadelphia University and get a behind the scenes tour of the current exhibit, Lace in Translation in the morning, then meet Project Runway Winner and University Alum Jay McCarroll in the afternoon. Download the Registration Form 11:00am Lace in Translation - the Design Center at Philadelphia Univesity's highly acclaimed "exhibition of contemporary work that explores the intersection of luxurious hand-craftsmanship with modern mass production", including interpretive work by artists, Cal Lane, Demakersvan, and Trod Boontje, plus a short film exploring the history of the Quaker Lace Co. (http://www.philau.edu/DesignCenter) 12:30 - Lunch 2:00pm The Imagination of Jay McCarroll - Jay McCarroll, Project Runway's first winner and Philadelphia University Fashion Department Alum, will discuss his passion for life, followed by Q&A. In addition to running his own design business, Jay continues his commitment to the University as both visiting critic and adjunct professor. (http://jaymccarroll.wordpress.com/) Tea and Wrap up Philadelphia University was originally Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science. Transportation provided to and from 30th Street Train Station if needed. Please contact Jane Likens. Fashion In Fiction - The Dark Side The Mid-Atlantic CSA & Drexel University's Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design Philadelphia, PA. October 8 - 10, 2010 Call For Papers Roland Barthes proposed that fashion was not just an industry, but also a set of fictions. Barthes did not wish to ignore the economic function of fashion, but rather underline fashion's mythic dimension and suggest that fashion is a language in itself. Fashion and fiction have long existed in close proximity; writers have been driven by their experience of fashion and fashion has been developed through and by literary tropes. What makes dress and fashion such a fascinating subject for writers? How are fashion's mythologies constructed and disseminated through fictional texts? How does fashion relate to art, popular culture, business, the body, consumer studies, and those who might read it as a form of text? This interdisciplinary conference seeks to investigate the role that fashion has played in our culture. These "mini-narratives" can include fiction, non-fiction, cultural and historical studies, and other types of comparative, descriptive and/or empirical research. In particular, it will examine the dark side of fashion discourse, assessing the role, function, and purpose of clothes, fashion movements, style, and image in creating narratives within narratives. The dark side of fashion can include such obvious topics as gothic, punk, the color black, and vampires. Other topics that have traditionally been viewed as "dark" include polyester fabric, couture knock-offs, deviant fashion advertising, sweatshops, and child labor. Authors are also encouraged to define their own meaning of "dark." Papers fitting the conference theme are sought from those engaged in the fields of fashion studies, social sciences, humanities, creative writing, media, cultural studies, design, philosophy, and business. Papers, work-in-progress and workshop proposals are invited. Possible topics may include, but are not limited to: gothic feminist versus feminized discourses in fashion and display animated texts fashion in crime fiction graphic novels the semiotics of fashion historical fiction queer readings of fashion mystery textiles the color black marketing the body/body image consumer studies new media script and cinematic texts metaphor/metaphorical fiction subcultural style Abstract Deadline: June 1, 2010 Submission Process: Those interested should send an abstract of no more than 500 words. Everyone will be notified of acceptance by July 1, 2010. Peer Review: All abstracts will be peer-reviewed. Those abstracts accepted for presentations will be published online as well as in the conference proceedings. Paper Submission for Possible Publication: Those interested in having their papers published may submit the entire manuscript for possible book publication with Berg Publishers. Please send abstracts to: jh...edu