Race and the Media Symposium in Metro DC

The Race and the Media Symposium will be help in Silver Spring, Maryland (Metro DC) on June 9, 2012.  Visit the symposium website for more details.  Presenters include Eddie Moore, Jr., Doreen Loury, William "Flip" Clay, Shane Kyla, Elgin Klugh, and Frederick Gooding (bios available here).  Register here.


-- Nick J. Sciullo

CFP: Tupac Amaru Shakur Collection Conference: “Hip Hop, Education, and Expanding the Archival Imagination”

Tupac Amaru Shakur Collection Conference: “Hip Hop, Education, and Expanding the Archival Imagination”

Submission Deadline: April 23, 2012

Meeting: September 28-29, 2012 Atlanta, GA

The Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library and the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation (TASF) present the first annual Tupac Amaru Shakur Collection Conference: “Hip Hop, Education, and Expanding the Archival Imagination.” In the fifteen years since Shakur’s passing, the TASF has continued to cultivate the legacy and sociocultural impact of his life and works. As part of this effort, the TASF and Shakur Estate partnered with the AUC Woodruff Library to collect and curate the papers, letters, images, and other archival materials of the hip hop artist. In 2011, The Tupac Amaru Shakur Collection, housed at the Library, was opened to the public to promote scholarship and research of a multi-dimensional artist who helped define a musical genre.

To commemorate the opening of the historic collection, this two-day academic conference will convene scholars, educators, and students to present papers on themes related to the life and works of Tupac Shakur, education, and Hip Hop culture more broadly. The following are some suggested (but not required) sub-topics:

• Tupac and education, pedagogy, and/or epistemology

• Hip Hop in college curriculum

• Hip Hop Studies and authorship (i.e. who counts as an author?)

• What counts as an archive? How do we preserve Hip Hop culture?

• Hip Hop as literary genre (autobiography, drama, poetry, etc).

• Hip Hop as history

• Hip Hop and information literacy

• Scholar Advocacy for Hip Hop archives

• Archivists as partners in teaching, learning, and scholarship of Hip Hop Studies

Submission of paper abstracts should be approximately 300 words. Panel proposals (of either 3 or 4 papers per panel) should be approximately 500 words. All proposals should address the themes of this year’s conference “Hip Hop, Education, and Expanding the Archival Imagination” and include presenters’ institutional affiliations, a 50-word biography, and appropriate email address. Please e-mail all proposals to ShakurConference@auctr.edu by April 23, 2012. Accepted papers and panels will be announced by/on June 15, 2012, and the conference will take place on September 28-29, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Round 3: Roots and Reality

Just finished talking. We had a great discussion, the three of us: Donald Tibbs, Camille Nelson, and me, Nick J. Sciullo. The audience was really active in their participation asking probing questions, making insightful comments, and actively listening. It was a true joy to participate in this great event. We covered important ground (I think), discussing how hip-hop and critical race theory intersect with critical theory, hip-hop and multiculturalism, and hip-hop as a pedagogical tool.

This work is important and the great audience members give me hope that more people will join the struggle. I believe I speak for the presenters when I extend a hearty, "Thank You!" to the audience and conference organizers.

Live from the Washington College of Law at American University

It's the start of the Roots and Reality II conference at the Washington College of Law at American University. Last night was stellar. There were so many powerful artists with such strong messages. I observed people come alive on the stage. It was quite remarkable to see so many great young leaders rising to the occasion.

Now as I sit in a 6th Floor classroom at WCL, I'm heartened to see so many outstanding law students, community members and scholars awaiting the panelists and performances. As I speak, Pam Bridgewater has begun her opening remarks and the conference is almost underway.

live blogging from busboys and poets; kickoff for Roots and Reality

live and direct... great crowd here so far... really good vibe... pam bridgewater puts on a great event... looking forward to some great performances... come out and enjoy... several great artists will be here and will really help set the atmosphere for thirty six hours of great commentrary on law, social change, hip hop, and possibilities for an exciting and more inclusive tomorrow... more to come...

nick j. sciullo

Conference (April 13): Roots and Reality II: Hip Hop, Law, and Social Justice Organizing at Washington College of Law at American University

There's a great conference being put on at the Washington College of Law at American UNiversity this month. The conference brings together great minds from law, hip-hop, organizing, and social justice. The conference can be found at http://www.wcl.american.edu/secle/founders/2011/20110413.cfm.

If you live in the DMV (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia metro area), you should certainly think about attending.

April 13, 2011

9:30-9:55 Registration

10:00-10:05 WCL Founders' Celebration and RRII Welcome RRII Student Planning Committee Member

10:10-10:20 Opening Address

andré douglas pond cummings

Professor of Law, West Virginia University College of Law

Editor, Evolution of Street Knowledge: Hip Hop Law Anthology

Co-Creator, HipHopLaw.com

10:25-10:45 Presentations 'All of the Lights': Life and Law in the DMV Slam! Winners *

Presenter: Dennis Williams, H.B.O. Corporate Responsibility and Slam! MC,

Skim, hip hop artist, Def Poetry Jam poet, activist and artist

10:45-11:40 Town Hall Meeting: Law(lessness) and (In)Justice in Hip Hop Music and the Hip Hop Nation

Moderator: Rosa Clemente, Hip Hop Activist, Former Candidate for Vice President (GP 08).

11:45-11:50 Performance – 'All of the Lights': Life and Law in the DMV Slam! 3rd Place Winner*

11:55-12:20 Address and Presentation

Paul Butler, Dean and Professor of Law, George Washington Law

Author, Let’s Get Free: A Hip Hop Theory of Justice

12:25-1:55 Lunch

Film Screening and Discussion

Beyond Beats and Rhymes

2:00-2:05 Performance – 'All of the Lights': Life and Law in the DMV Slam! 2nd Place Winner*

2:20-3:30 Hip Hop Legal Theory Panel: Hip Hop Nation in the Law School Classroom

Camille Nelson, Dean, Suffolk University Law School

Anthony Farley, James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence, Albany Law School

Nick J. Sciullo, J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, moderator and resident blogger for HipHopLaw.com

3:35-3:40 Performance 'All of the Lights' 1st Place Winner*

3:45-5:00 “On to the Next” Roundtable

Topic: Hip Hop in the Grassroots: Art, Politics Organizing and Activism

Rosa Clemente, Hip Hop Activist Former Vice Presidential Candidate (Invited)

Mazi Mutafa, Executive Director, Words Beats and Life 'All of the Lights': Life and Law in the DMV 1st place winner*

Skim, hip hop/spoken word artist, activist

Head Roc, hip hop artist, activist, advocate for DC Statehood/Green Party and DC City Paper Columnist

Part III Symposium Dinner and Keynote Address

5:10-6:30 Roots and Reality II Symposium Dinner: Social Justice Organizing and Mentoring in the Juvenile Justice System

R. Dwayne Betts, Keynote Address

National Spokesperson for Campaign for Youth

2010 Soros Justice Fellow

Cave Canem Fellow

2010 Winner of NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Debut for his memoir, A Question of Freedom

CFP: Rap and Hip Hop Culture

Who: PCA/ACA & Southwest/Texas Popular Culture and American Culture Associations Joint Conference

Dates: April 20-23, 2011

Where: San Antonio, TX

http://www.swtxpca.org

Proposal submission deadline: December 15, 2010

Conference hotel:
Marriott Rivercenter San Antonio
101 Bowie Street
San Antonio, Texas 78205
USA Phone: 1-210-223-1000

Proposals for both Panels and Individual Papers are now being accepted for the Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture Area. We had excellent representation in this Area for 2010, and we are looking to expand in both quantity and complexity for 2011. This year, we are particularly interested in proposals that address the following:
- Intersections of Hip Hop and Pedagogy
- Rap Music, Hip Hop Culture, and Space/Place
- Theoretical approaches to Hip Hop (i.e., Language Theory/Postmodernism/Social Theory)
- Rap, Hip Hop, and Academic Disciplinarity
- Rhetorical Approaches to Rap Music and Hip Hop Culture
- Rap, Hip Hop, and Film/Documentary
- Hip Hop Subjectivities/Agency
- Anthropological/Sociological approaches to Hip Hop Culture
- Economics and Hip Hop Culture
- Discussions of international Hip Hop
- Intersections of Hip Hop and Religion/Theology
- Hip Hop and Technology
- Latino Hip Hop
- Women and Hip Hop
- Hip Hop in the age of Obama

As always, papers and panels that consider the myriad ways that Rap Music and Hip Hop culture impact and feed upon Popular and American culture are encouraged. This Area should be construed broadly, and we seek papers that aren’t afraid to take risks. Proposals from Graduate Students are particularly welcome, with award opportunities for the best graduate papers.Please send abstracts of no more than 250 words with relevant audio/visual requests by December 15, 2010, to Robert Tinajero at the email below. Panel proposals should include one abstract of 200 words describing the panel, accompanied by the underlying abstracts of 250 words of the individual papers that comprise the panel.

Robert Tinajero, hiphopcfp@hotmail.com, www.swtxpca.org


-- Nick J. Sciullo

Call for Papers: Civil Rights, Social Justice, and the Midwest

Civil Rights, Social Justice, and the Midwest
THE SOCIETY FOR UTOPIAN STUDIES 35th Annual Meeting
Hilton Milwaukee City Center
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
October 28-31, 2010


Milwaukee in the 1960s and 1970s was a key site for civil rights marches, particularly around the open housing movement. From 1897 through much of the 20th Century, the city was governed by a succession of Socialist mayors, elected on their platform of practical, "sewer socialism." And Wisconsin itself and its Midwestern neighbors have long been home to experiments inintentional community.

We encourage papers, panels, presentations and performances on literary, political, social, and architectural aspects of the civil rights struggle, intentional communities, and practical socialism with a Midwestern focus for the 2010 conference. We also welcome papers on other aspects of the utopian tradition - from the earliest utopian visions to the utopian speculations and yearnings of the 21st century, including art, architecture, urban and rural planning, literary utopias, dystopian writings, utopian political activism, theories of utopian spaces and ontologies, music, new media, or intentional communities.

* * *

Milwaukee has a rich array of museums, restaurants, theaters, parks, and universities for conference attendees to visit. The city boasts the first U.S. commission by Santiago Calatrava, at the world-class Milwaukee Art Museum; Frank Lloyd Wright buildings; an excellent opera company; microbreweries galore; award-winning chefs; 19th Century beer baron mansions; Lake Michigan, and more.

Please send a 100-250 word abstract by June 1, 2010 to:

Brian Greenspan
Department of English
1812 Dunton Tower
Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON, Canada K1S 5B6

Or e-mail submissions to: brian_greenspan@carleton.ca (please put "sus submission" in the subject line). As you submit your abstract, please indicate if you have any scheduling restrictions, audiovisual needs (overhead projector; DVD/VHS player), special needs, or a need for a written letter of acceptance of your proposal.

For information about registration, travel or accommodations, please contact the Conference Coordinator, Peter Sands, at: sands@UWM.EDU


-- Nick J. Sciullo

Conference Alert and Call for Papers: From the Levin College of Law

We are currently planning the 2010 conference. Please email any suggestions for speakers or musical acts to MusicLawConference@gmail.com.

The Music Law Conference at The University of Florida Levin College of Law is hosting its 8th annual conference on February 27, 2010. The conference brings together musicians, lawyers, students, academics, policy makers and entertainment professionals for a weekend to network, learn, and share ideas. It is our goal that everyone, from the disgruntled ex-band member to the seasoned entertainment attorney, that attends the conference will leave with a new perspective on the music industry.

The theme of last year's conference was "From the Suits to the Stage." We explored topics that every musician and future entertainment professional needs to know.

Topics for this year will include: digital and retail markets, new forms of music distribution, international issues, ethical issues, protecting musicians' rights, understanding both sides of the table, the art of business, and basic D.I.Y. (Do-It-Yourself) ideas for new artists.

The Conference is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2010 (Saturday) at the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom at the University Levin College of Law. The conference and panel discussions, which will examine the music business, will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The live music showcase will be on the evening of Feb. 27, 2010 from 9pm to 1:30am at a local music venue.

Directions to get to the Levin College of Law from West 13th Street (SR 441): Go west approximately 2 miles on SR-26 (University Avenue). Turn left on Southwest Second Avenue. Continue to Southwest 25th Street. The law school is located at Southwest Second Avenue and 25th Street.

There is a registration fee required to attend the conference, but the panel discussions are free for all current UF students and faculty with a valid university ID. Seating is limited, so register early!

For more information about the conference please e-mail MusicLawConference@gmail.com. Visit our blog at musiclawconference.blogspot.com.

Thank you for your interest.

-- Nick J. Sciullo