2008 SAMEMES Conference, University of Bern, October 3-4

The first SAMEMES conference proposes to focus on some of the numerous critical and theoretical interests common to our institutionally divided disciplines, whether they relate to modes of textual production and reception (the advent of print culture does not spell out the demise of manuscript production, nor do these two forms of textuality reflect the wide range of literary transmission and reception, which is further affected by intermediality), to formal or thematic continuities and discontinuities (processses of cultural memory and/or amnesia), or whether they concern the effects of social and political change in (gendered and transgendered) construction of textual identities. Current theoretical approaches to literary history require that the study of diachronic and synchronic relationships between texts - pretexts and intertexts - take into account mechanisms of cultural transmission, as well as of gender and identity construction.

The conference is open to all interested participants and will host distinguished guest speakers from abroad. The following have already confirmed their participation in the event :

Stephen Orgel (Stanford University); Ad Putter (University of Bristol); David Wallace (University of Pennsylvania); Helen Wilcox (University Of Bangor)

A selection of papers will be published in a special issue of SPELL (Swiss Publications in English Language and Literature).

Conference attendance fees (60 CHF) will be waived for members and guest-speakers only. For further information consult the registration form.

A limited number of rooms has been reserved for the night of Friday 3 October at the centrally located Hotel Kreuz. Please make your reservation before 10 July and mention the SAMEMES conference to get the special rate (CHF 120 for single, 170 for double, 200 for triple). For other hotels please check http://www.berninfo.com.

• Abegg Stiftung, Riggisberg
• Landgasthof Rohrmoos, Pohlern
• Haus der Universität Bern