2001: Humanities in the Culture of Technology

San Diego State University
College of Arts and Letters'
9th Annual Graduate Student Conference
October 19th and 20th

With our culture's ever-growing reliance and employment of technology in all spheres of public and private domains, the role of the Humanities comes under renewed critique. Some place it at odds with the ostensibly growing progress-oriented culture of technology. Conversely, others see the culture of technology as an emerging avenue for creative expression, infused by the values of the Humanities. Is there a way to see these interpretations as valid concurrent trends?

Organizers of the 2001 Crisis Carnival hope to create a forum by which issues involving the complex nature of the Humanities and Technology can be discussed and better understood. The purpose of this conference is to examine these trends and the possibilities such trends have for the Humanities.

Keynote Speaker
Dr. Charles Bazerman
University of California, Santa Barbara

Program Format
In progress

• Friday, October 19th will open with a keynote speaker. In keeping with both the theme of the conference and the focus of the faculty panel -- "Humanities in the Culture of Technology," we have asked a prominent scholar in the Humanities to be our keynote speaker. We hope to have informal gatherings of faculty both before and after the keynote's presentation.
• Saturday morning will begin with student presenters giving papers in three to four person panels grouped by theme. We expect to have two or three panels running concurrently. There will be a luncheon for presenters and faculty following sessions of student panels. It will be followed by two additional sessions.
• In the afternoon, a faculty panel will discuss a topic commensurate with the conference theme. We hope to have a diverse group of scholars and public figures both from within and without SDSU. · We will arrange an informal gathering for presenters and faculty afterwards, most likely at a comfortable bar or pub.
• Because we expect some submissions from out-of-state, we hope to provide a campus tour before Friday's proceedings. We are also currently undergoing a plan to provide lodging for our potential out-of-town presenters.

As in previous years, the organizers of the 2001 Crisis Carnival would like to attract submissions and invite participation from throughout the College of Arts and Letters. This year, however, the organizers have been diligent in inviting participation from outside San Diego State University in an effort to attract participants from other universities and disciplines. Other plans for the conference include:

• Actively pursuing submissions from all departments in the College of Arts and Letters, and in other universities throughout the nation.
• Extensive publicity, including announcements in The Reader and The Daily Aztec.
• An interview to be arranged for the keynote speaker on KPBS's "Fresh Air" radio program as well as the solicitation of ads.